Green, J. of the Texian Expedition Against Mier (tjg

On our first arrival at Mataguala, Captain Romano and troop went back to see what had become of Colonel Barragan, and we were turned over to the authorities of the place. On the third day after he returned with the intelligence that our men had defeated Barragan, dispersed his troops, took his horses, arms, munitions of war, and money, and made their way homeward.

In leaving Mataguala on February 15th, which we did under the escort of the first gentlemen of the place, we addressed Colonel Aquirre and Don Palos the following note:

Mataguala, Feb. 14th,1843.
To Don Matias Martin D'Aquirre and Don
Manuel Fernandez Palos and others.

Gentlemen,
Before our departure from your city, we beg to express to yourselves particularly, and, through you, to the officers and citizens who have had us in charge, our heartfelt gratitude for the many kindnesses extended us during the few days we have remained here.

[154] To conquer in the field of battle depends much upon the chances of war; to temper that victory with generosity and humanity requires the exercise of those high moral qualities which constitute man superior to all other creatures. You, sirs, have given us a bright example of that superiority.

It has been our fortune to enter your country, in solemn duty to the requirements of our own, as political enemies; we fought you as men, and since, through the chances of war, we have become your captives, we submit with the philosophy of men.

Please, gentlemen, accept the highest considerations and esteem of your very obedient servants.

The good old colonel, to make the time of our party the lighter - for, says he, "I have three times been a prisoner" - sent us a bundle of English books from his hacienda, which met us on the road. To fall into the hands of such an officer is to rob war of its most rugged features; and if the young officers of the Mexican nation had half the sensibility, magnanimity, and humanity of the old ones, this war might have been conducted with the most high-toned spirit of chivalry; whereas, their repeated acts of perfidy, treachery, and brutality must force us to retaliate, as the only recource of justice and safety.

We return to the 11th of February, 1843, with a national pride which no other circumstance of our Revolution can inspire; and it should be an ever-memorable day in the history of Texian liberty, [155] alike honourable to the country for the spirit in which that glorious movement was planned and executed. As our