fun; and upon inquiry how they were off for rations, they replied, "Oh! we have plenty of brains, general." In the same building, one hundred and thirty-six of the enemy's wounded were stretched out on the floor, many of whom had been shot in the head, and their brains had oozed out, from the size of a marble to that of one's fist. It was a horrible sight, but will explain what our fun-making wounded meant.

The enemy were mostly wounded in the head [110] and breast, a large portion of whom died the first night. From many observations, I find that the lacerating effect of the rifle ball is far more dangerous than the smooth bore; and that the wound of a rifle ball carrying eighty to one hundred per pound is more dangerous, both from the lacerating effect the former has upon the flesh, and the small orifice it makes, which is insufficient to discharge the blood, and, consequently, the patient bleeds inwardly.

The evening after the battle Colonel Fisher addressed the following note to General Ampudia:

Thus ended the battle of Mier, the best fought of any during the revolution. To the brave men who justly won it, their inglorious surrender proved a sore defeat; but in all the moral and political consequences of this battle to Texas, a glorious triumph! [111]

We repeat that the battle of Mier, in its moral and political consequences to our country, was a glorious triumph. It was there that the people of Texas demonstrated the entire practicability of conquering and holding that rich valley against immense odds. It was there that the people of Texas pursued and fought them nine to one, killing treble their own numbers, and proving themselves invincible to everything but duplicity and treachery; and it was there that the Texian made the name of his rifle and death synonymous terms throughout Mexico.21 Far from being of the least political advantage to Texas