men advanced farther into the country, the more oppressive became the conduct of those under whose charge they were. On sundry occasions, the Mexican soldiers had been permitted to beat several of them: this was in such gross violation of our articles of capitulation, and afforded such a precious foretaste of "Mexican magnanimity," that they determined not to let slip this last opportunity of regaining their liberty; and the prospect of having their officers with them in the glorious enterprise determined the blow. Among the privates foremost in the charge, as well as in bringing about the result - and to their lasting honour we record their names - were Dr. R. F. Brennem, S. H. Walker, J. D. Cooke [Cocke], Colonel William F. Wilson, Patrick Lyons, and others. The officers were generally in favour of the attempt; and at the appointed time, the lamented Cameron, with a quiet coolness peculiar to him in trying emergencies, raised his hat, and giving it a gentle flourish in the air, said, in a distinct tone, a little mixed with his Highland brogue, "Well, boys, we will go it!" Thus saying, and suiting the action to the word, he grappled one of the sentinels at the inner door of their prison-yard, while S. H. Walker seized the other. It was the work of an instant to upset and disarm these, and get possession of the outer court, where the arms and cartridge boxes were [156] guarded by one hundred and fifty infantry [see plate facing page 33]. These men were quickly driven out or made to surrender; and while our men were arming themselves and securing ammunition, the cavalry had formed in front of the outer gate, which was also guarded by the company of "Red Caps." In charging through this gate to drive this company and the cavalry, poor Doctor Brennem and Patrick Lyons fell, and several others were wounded. That portion of the cavalry which was mounted quickly fell back beyond the reach of our fire, while the "Red Caps" retreated round the main wall of the buildings to the south, through the gate into the courtyard which our party had just before left. A portion of our men pressed around to force this gate, believing still that we were in our quarters. Here Captain Fitzgerald received his death-wound, and John Stansbury, quite a boy, had his left eye shot out. The company of "Red Caps" soon capitulated, and gave up their arms; the only condition which our men required of Colonel Barragan, in releasing them, was, that our wounded should be treated kindly.

We had three killed, Dr. Brennem,11 Lyon, and Rice; Captain Fitzgerald12 and John Higgerson mortally wounded, and died soon after; Captain J. R. Baker, privates Stansbury, Hancock, Trehern, and Harvey, wounded. The enemy's loss was nine or ten killed, and many more badly wounded.13 From the difficulty of getting arms in the commencement of the action, it was not possible that more than one [157] half of our two hundred and fourteen men, with the exception of those who fought with brickbats, could have been engaged.

When the main body of our men were marched from Matamoras, a negro fellow by the name of Sawney, who some years before had absconded from