two shots fired, and certain it is they were the last two which my faithful gun fired.

Some few moments elapsed between Dr. Sinnickson's first communication with Colonel Fisher and the astounding information which was communicated to our men, that it was a demand for us to surrender, for up to this time a general impression prevailed that they were asking terms of us. When this information was communicated to our men, it was promptly met by a general burst of disapprobation, "that they would never surrender their arms." The Mexican officers, who had been watching the reception which the white flag met, saw that it was still detained, and some discussion going on near it, and without any invitation or understanding upon our part, took occasion to slip clandestinely into our ranks from a direction different from that in which [98] the flag had come. The officers who had thus, like spies, obtruded themselves into our lines without our permission, were General De la Vega, Colonels Carasco, Blanco, and one other, and the priest of Comargo, Padre De Lire.12 These officers, who had thus unwarrantably introduced themselves among us, saluted Colonel Fisher (several of whom were previously acquainted with him in the Federal War) with their hypocritical Mexican hug, calling him their dear friend, and pledging the straps upon their shoulders, with all the sanctity of honour and candour, that General Ampudia's terms would be fully carried out; the priest of Comargo, at the same time, pledging the holy Catholic religion to this observance, and in his fervency at deception, says to Colonel Fisher, with uplifted eyes, "My dear son, do not throw yourself away." During the Federal War Colonel Fisher had been confined at Comargo with the smallpox, when this priest administered extreme unction to him, for which reason he doubtless took the liberty of so familiar an address. I believed then, as I do now, and have done since the murder of Colonel Fannin and his four hundred, that no confidence could be placed in a Mexican's word. That these officers had forfeited their lives by introducing themselves as spies into our camp, and to let them return with their knowledge of our strength, situation, &c., would prove ruinous to us. My first impulse, under these reflections, was to shoot them for thus introducing [99] themselves into our lines, and for, as it appeared to me, this most novel and unprecedented attempt to gull us into a surrender. Acting under this impression, I quickly brought my repeating rifle to bear upon them, when Captain William Ryan jumped before me, knocked it up, and begged that I would hold until more could be known of their propositions and intentions. They continued, in the most fervent manner, to pledge their good faith to Colonel Fisher, Captain Eastland, and some others of our officers, who were talking with them, when I ordered Captain Cameron to form his company near by, and be in readiness for farther orders, which he promptly did. Then stepping up to Colonel Fisher, I