B. was not only constitutionally brave, but, being a Santa Fé prisoner, he was doubtless stimulated to a more obstinate resistance, which could neither prevail over numbers, nor was calculated to inspire their savage breasts with magnanimity for such heroism. Thus fell a brave man and a pure patriot, without the last sad rites of burial. His bones now lie bleaching upon the banks of Rio del Norte. His spirit, if congenial spirits meet in heaven, will hold glorious communion with those of Milam and Travis, of Fannin, Grant, and Ward, of Bowie, Crocket, Brennem, Fitzgerald, and a host of other heroes who fell in the same struggle for liberty.

On the evening of the 27th, the cavalry which had been despatched to bring in our camp-guard returned with 320 of our most indifferent horses and mules, and a quantity of rubbish, consisting of [116] old saddles, empty saddlebags, blankets, &c. Captain Alderette, the officer who had been sent in charge of the cavalry, as an excuse for not bringing in our camp-guard, represented them to be one hundred and twenty strong, and that they had retreated upon the best horses. General Ampudia expressed surprise that our men had not surrendered, and came in and informed Colonel Fisher and myself what the officer had said about their number. We answered that it was not in the history of our nation to surrender without fighting, and that the officer had told him a falsehood to screen himself for not fighting them. We informed General A. at the same time that our camp-guard were well apprized of our fate, and had selected all our fine American horses, and it would be idle to pursue them. He, however, started Colonel Carasco, with six hundred cavalry, in pursuit, who returned the fourth day deeply chagrined to confirm what we had said.

Preparations were now busily making for the march to Matamoras. Their dead were lowered from the house-tops by means of cords, which occupied all the day succeeding the battle, and their wounded were billeted about the town upon the citizens, according to their respective abilities to maintain them. Dr. Sinnickson was left in charge of our wounded men, and every kindness promised to be afforded him and them. From the doctor's report, none of these promises were carried out, but they were, instead, treated by the commandant in [117] charge of them in a most brutal manner.2 Some two weeks after, eight of these wounded men made their escape to Texas (see Appendix No. I.), and the doctor, with the balance, were sent off to Matamoras.

December the 31st, General Ampudia took up the line of march for Matamoras in the following order: Colonel Fisher, myself, Adjutant Murry, and our four small boys, were kept with the general, under the special charge of Captain Clemente Castro, a brave, honourable, and good man, who had so miraculously survived his artillery company. We will ever feel grateful for the many kindnesses extended us by this officer, and rejoice to hear of his promotion, which he so well deserved. Our men were marched in double file, in the centre of the road, with artillery before and in their rear. On each side of them was a single