Our usual time of starting in the morning was half an hour after sunrise, and so soon as the main body of our men had succeeded in driving their guards, Captain Fitzgerald was to lead a party around the buildings, force our gate, and assist us, if necessary, against our guards. Captain Romano, contrary to our former custom, had started us about eight or ten minutes previous to sunrise. In this time we had proceeded about three fourths of a mile, when the sun made its appearance over the mountains. I was riding by the side of my old sailingmaster, Lyon, and remarked, upon seeing the sun, that "if our boys were going to do anything, now was the time." I had barely made the remark when I heard the first gun. I knew what it meant, and exclaimed, "We have them!" The second, third, and fourth guns were fired before Captain Romano noticed it. He halted us, and sent his lieutenant, Aredondo, back to see what was the matter. Aredondo galloped back a few hundred yards, returned in great haste, and reported that the Texians had charged Colonel Barragan, and his troops were flying in every direction. This, [148] however, we could plainly see: men, women, and children, infantry and cavalry, were scampering in every direction, hither and thither, leaving clouds of dust behind them.

Captain Romano ordered us on from the scene of action at full gallop, with his cavalry lances at a charge on each side of us. After going two or three hundred yards, we were halted and made to dismount. The firing had now become very brisk, and the excitement in our party intense: each had his speculations as to the result. I believed from the first that our men would prevail, with a loss not exceeding ten. Colonel Fisher believed that the attack was injudicious, and the whole of our men would be killed. Most of our party believed with me. At length a short pause was discernible in the firing; then it commenced brisker than ever, and in a few minutes another pause, which was quickly succeeded by a loud shout, which we knew to be Texian. This shout for the moment quieted our excitement, but it was to be quickly succeeded by one of more interest to us. At this time a lieutenant came up at full speed, with orders from Colonel Barragan to Captain Romano to shoot us and come immediately to his assistance. Both his countenance and actions showed determination to execute the order. He ordered his men to reprime their escopetas and make ready, which was instantly done.8 This was a critical moment, and it was necessary to be met with coolness and promptness upon our part. Colonel [149] Fisher and myself asked him "if he was most bound to obey the orders of Governor Ortega, to take us to Mexico, or any subsequent order of Colonel Barragan;" and that we expected "we were in the hands of a gentleman and a soldier, not a murderer." His eyes were instantly lowered to the pommel of his saddle, and his countenance underwent hesitation, change, and satisfaction in as many seconds, when he raised himself in his stirrups, and, proudly clapping his hand upon his bosom, ordered the interpreter to say to the gentlemen "that they are in the hands of a gentleman