is the geographical knowledge acquired by our countrymen, both of the Valley of the Rio Grande and the situation of its towns, the river and mountain passes, and its defensible positions.

Though the survivers of the Mier men have suffered all the horrors of multiplied deaths, and many of their brave companions have gone to their eternal homes in all the agonies of human suffering, yet it was a tribute they freely rendered to their country's honour and liberty. It is for that country to say whether it shall prove a burnt-offering or a positive good. [112]
 

Chapter Nine

 
White Flag. Dr. Sinnickson's Statement. Cavalry sent after our Camp-guard. Camp-guard Escapes. Major Bonnel's Death. Return of Cavalry. Preparation to march for Matamoras. Dr. Sinnickson left in Charge of our Wounded. Their Treatment and Escape. March for Matamoras. Suffering of our Men. Triumphal Entry into Comargo. Camp in a Cow-pen. The Bull Comedy. Camp in a Sheep-pen. A new Comedy. Triumphal Entry into Rhinosa. Ridiculous Show. Arrival at Guadaloupe. Congratulations to Ampudia. Visit of Tom and Esau. Triumphal Entry into Matamoras. Texas Negroes in Matamoras. Our Incarceration in Prison, and Note to General Ampudia.

Much has been said of our improper surrender at the battle of Mier, and now all agree that it was not only improper, but wholly unnecessary. The reader will therefore see why it is that we have been seemingly tedious in our report of that battle. We have detailed facts apparently unimportant, for the purpose of affording opportunity to the reader to draw his own conclusion as to whom the wrong was attributable, if to any. There can be no difference of opinion that it was a radical mistake in not forcing the white flag off as soon as its object was known. Colonel Fisher says that he ordered Dr. Sinnickson to retire with it seven or eight times, and was not obeyed. Dr. Sinnickson is a gentleman long and favourably known in Texas, and, to do him full justice, we herewith connect his statement of this affair.1 (See Appendix No. IV.) On the other hand, it has been said, if Colonel Fisher, as commander, was not obeyed the first time that [113] he ordered the flag off, he wore his sword to little purpose not to use it in so critical a juncture. Nothing can be more certain than that the whole of our command was both in better temper and order to make effectual resistance at this identical period than at any previous time during the battle. The second grand mistake was in permitting the before-mentioned Mexican officers and the priest of Comargo to introduce