our reach, they had recourse to throwing a lasso over it from behind a corner, and dragging it off, in which they were more successful than in roping the steamboat Yellow Stone, as she passed down the Brasos River in 1836:5 this caused a yell of exultation from their troops. Just about this time they were blowing a charge in different directions. The writer was in the upper end of the buildings nearest the square, when he received information that Colonel Fisher was wounded: hastening to where he was, he found him vomiting from the effects of his wound.*6 The [94] lamented Captain Cameron7 and his gallant company had occupied, during the battle, a yard in the rear of our buildings. This yard had a low stone wall around it, which they had bravely defended, and from which they had done effectual execution. Here Cameron had seven men wounded and three killed, who had been brought inside the buildings. During this time, when the expected charge was looked for, Cameron came in under much excitement, and asked for a re-enforcement to defend his position. For the first time, here something like a confusion took place. Many were talking, and each one had his plan of defence, and the voice of each was drowned in the cabal. This was a critical moment. It was the first occasion which seemed to demand our whole united strength, for previously the picked riflemen had principally been in requisition. In this state of things, I mounted a table and commanded silence in the most peremptory tone, ordered a sufficient force to Cameron's position, and appointed the remaining force to the defence of the buildings. Suddenly, from a temporary confusion, no men ever behaved better. Each man went cheerfully to the post assigned him, without murmuring or the obtrusion of his farther opinion, and at this identical time they were in a better situation and temper to make effectual resistance than at any moment previous, for now they seemed more impressed with the necessity of it, when a white flag approached from a street leading east.[95] At this juncture, in the midst of victory, we date our misfortunes.

Dr. Sinnickson, who, of the eight, had been taken prisoner over the Alcantra, having been brought to General Ampudia's headquarters, was put upon his examination as to our force, &c.; it, however, fully corroborated Walker's statement. In General Ampudia's staff, as surgeon-general, was Dr. Humphries,8 a Scotchman by birth, formerly surgeon in the Texian army. In 1838 he was tried

* The effect of this wound upon Colonel Fisher was that of deadly nausea, which produced vomiting. Such, however, is usually the effect of gunshot wounds upon the nerves, which, unlike those from the sword or knife, show a fall of countenance and a corresponding depression of spirits. This physiological fact has been remarked, and I have often been struck with the truth of the following remarks of Lord Byron, in the fifth note to the "Giaour." He says: "It is to be remarked, in cases of violent deaths by gunshot wounds, the expression is always that of languor, whatever the natural energy of the sufferer's character; but in death from a stab, the countenance preserves its traits of feeling or ferocity, and the mind its bias to the last."

It has been said by some of Colonel Fannin's warmest friends, who survived the bloody butchery of Goliad, that after he received his wound at the battle of Coletto, his spirits sank under it, which had an undue influence upon the surrender. I am clearly of the opinion that in future the advice of a wounded commander should be received with great caution, if at all.