was it led? What was done with Casas? What was the object of the Gachupin war? What was the neutral ground? By what class of people was it inhabited? What was necessary for the safety of travellers? Who was occasionally of this guard? Who was he? What class of men had occasionally taken refuge in Louisiana? Who was among them? For what was this period auspicious? Why did Magee resign? Who was associated with him? What (lid they proceed to do? For what purpose? What did they promise? Of what did their army consist? Who were their officers? Where did they camp? When did they leave this camp? Where did they go? Did they meet with opposition at Goliad? What did they do? What had they been informed? How were they surprised? By whom were the Royalists commanded? What occurred on the night of the 7th? Why did the Royalists wait? What was the Royalists' plan of attack ? When did the battle occur? What did the Royalists resolve to do? Were they successful? What was the " battle of the White Cow "? What was the number of Royalists killed? Of Americans? How many wounded? Describe the next battle of this siege. What occurred about this time? Who took command?

CHAPTER XI.

BATTLE OP THE SALADO—SURRENDER OF SAN ANTONIO TO KEMPER—MURDER OF SALCEDO, HERRERA, AN]) OTHERS BY DELGADO, CAPTAIN ROSS IN COMMAND—GENERAL ELISONDO APPEARS—BATTLE—ELISONDO DEFEATED.

Major Reuben Ross, who had been sent East for reenforcements, nowarrived with twenty-five Americans and thirty Cooshattie Indians from the Trinity. These last were under command of their chief, Charles Rollins. With their forces thus increased, they started to San Antonio in pursuit of the Royalists, who, hearing of their approach, went out to meet them. The two armies missed each other, the Americans taking the left-hand road by the mission of Espada. The Royalists were a short distance above, and, firing upon their left flank, gave the Americans the first indication of their presence. The Americans quickly formed in order of battle. The tap of the drum was to be the signal for a charge. The Cooshatties on the right flank, misunderstanding the signal, rushed into the midst of the enemy, where a fierce hand-tohand fight took place, in which they lost several of their best men. They killed a large number of the Royalists. In the meantime the Patriots of the centre and left made a gallant charge, and in less than twenty minutes the enemy were flying from the field in every direction, in spite of the desperate efforts of their officers to rally them. These behaved with the greatest courage, meeting their sure fate like men who preferred death to defeat. Consequently a large proportion of Spanish officers was killed. The Royalists, with an army of 2,500, lost, in killed, 330 ; in prisoners, 60; six pieces of artillery, and all their baggage. The Americans had six killed and 20 wounded. The Royalists retreated to San Antonio.

The Americans took possession of the Mission Concepcion, and began to besiege San Antonio on the 3d of March. On the 4th, Salcedo, the Royalist general, sent out a flag of truce, proposing a parley. Colonel Kemper demanded their surrender as prisoners of war, and the delivery of San Antonio into his possession. This was agreed upon on the 6th, and the Americans, their Mexican allies, and the Cooshattie Indians marched in and took possession as the Spaniards marched out, leaving their arms stacked, the officers being retained as prisoners. On the 7th, Bernardo Gutierez, in command of the Mexican Patriots, ordered the guard of the Royalist officers-prisoners of war-to deliver up Salcedo, Herrera, and ten other officers, upon a false pretext, to a company of Mexicans under command of Juan Delgado, producing an order to that effect from Colonel Kemper. The order was obeyed, and Delgado marched them out to the Salado battle-ground, had their throats cut, and their bodies thrown into the stream. One poor victim begged that he might be shot, and he was gratified. Delgado was courtmartialled, and in his trial urged in excuse that Salcedo had murdered his father while a prisoner of war, fighting under the patriot Hidalgo. The Americans condemned the act as infamous, and most of the officers left the country in disgust, among them Kemper, who had been deceived.

There still remained an organized number, determined

on establishing an independent republic in Texas. Captain Ross was their commander. On the 17th of June, 1813, General Elisondo appeared on the heights of Alazan Creek, a mile west of San Antonio, with about three thousand troops. Ross, who relied on his Mexican allies, was warned by his Mexican wife that these were planning to desert, when he urged a retreat. This the other American officers stoutly opposed, when he left for Louisiana, taking a few men with him. Perry was then elected to the command.

Elisondo sent in a demand for the surrender of Sau Antonio, with the pledge that the Americans should be permitted to return to their country, but that Delgado and the Mexicans should be surrendered and held answerable for the murder of the Spanish officers. This demand determined the Mexican allies to maintain their allegiance to the Americans, and they united with Perry in sending Elisondo a blunt rejection of his proposal.

During the night of the 17th the Americans cautiously moved out of the city and drew so near to the Royalists, that early the next morning they burst furiously upon them, throwing them into the utmost confusion. The Royalists partially rallied, and a battle of four hours raged hotly, when the Spaniards fled in wild disorder, Elisondo himself barely escaping capture. He lost four hundred men in killed and badly wounded, and a large amount of ammunition and stores. The Americans had twenty killed and forty-four wounded.

Elisondo lost no time in crossing the Nueces, leaving the Americans in possession of the country. Gutierez, in disfavor with all, left Texas and removed with his family to Louisiana.

Questions.—Of what did the reinforcements brought by Ross consist? What did they do? What was done by the Royalists? Why did they not meet? How did the Americans discover them? What was the result of the Cooshatties misunderstanding the signal? What was done by the Patriots? With what result? What was the Royalist loss? What the American? What did the Royalists do? The Americans? What occurred on the 4th of March 1 What did Kemper demand 1 With what result 1 What did Gutierez demand on the 7th? Was the order obeyed? What was their fate? What excuse did Delgado offer for this cruelty? What effect did this act of Delgado have upon the Americans? Was this idea of an independent republic abandoned? Who was their commander? What Mexican general appeared at this time? What was his force i What warning did Ross receive? What did he do? Who took command of those who remained? What did Elisondo demand? What was his pledge? What of Delgado and the Mexicans? How did this affect the Mexicans? Did Perry surrender? What occurred on the night of the 17th? Which were victorious? What was Elisondo's loss? The American? What did Elisondo do? Gutierez?

CHAPTER XII.

ARRIVAL OF TOLEDO—BATTLE OF THE MEDINA—BETRAYAL AND FATAL RESULTS.

A New champion for the Patriot cause appeared in San Antonio, General Jose Alvarez Toledo. He was a Cuban Spaniard, was a member at one time of the Spanish Court in Mexico, but betraying sympathy-with the Patriots in that country, he was obliged to seek safety, as others had done, in Louisiana. He was warmly welcomed by the Americans, who elected him commander-in-chief; but, being a Spaniard— a "Gachupin "—he was regarded with jealousy by the Mexicans, especially by Manchaca, who had succeeded Gutierez in the command of the Mexican allies.

Toledo, statesman as well as soldier, proceeded to restore order to the civil department of the government in San Antonio, and to introduce measures of discipline into the army. Knowing that the Royalists would not abandon San Antonio, he kept prepared against surprise.

On the 24th of July, 1813, General Joaquin Arredondo, commanding general of the eastern internal provinces of Mexico, left Laredo with four thousand troops, to recapture Goliad and San Antonio, and to recover possession of Texas. He was joined on the west of the Nueces by Elisondo and his scattering troops.

Arredondo made a reconnoissance by scouts, halting six miles south of the Medina, where he threw up breastworks in the form of a horizontal >, with the open space towards San Antonio. About six hundred of his men were thrown forward of the breastworks as a decoy. On the 17th of August, Toledo, with his Patriot forces, moved out of San Antonio to meet the enemy, crossing the Medina without opposition.

On the 18th the Patriot forces advanced with impetuosity, the enemy yielding ground, until, such was the fierceness of the pursuit, they turned and fled, rushing through the apex of their > intrenchments. Toledo, discovering the decoy and that the Americans were rushing into it, sounded a recall. Confusion followed. The left wing obeyed, but the centre and right, enraged at what they thought Toledo's treachery, continued to rush forward until they were surprised by a destructive fire from Arredondo's entire reserved force. The Mexicans fled, but the Americans and Indians fought with such desperation that the enemy's cavalry were on the point of retreating, when treachery gave them the day. Musquiz deserted from Toledo's ranks with his whole company of Mexicans, and reported the few Americans fainting from excessive heat, parched with thirst, their ammunition exhausted, and their defeat certain. Arredondo, with some of his reserved companies, now made a furious attack, and the Americans were obliged to yield.

The work of slaughter began. Most of those who were not slain in battle were overtaken in their retreat and killed.* Elisondo, glad to avenge his former defeat, pursued the fugitives, and, at Spanish Bluff on the Trinity, overtook, captured, and shot about seventy-five, their bodies falling into the river. Manchaca and Delgado were among the victims.

* The bones of the dead were to be seen for several years scattered over the battle-ground of the Medina. In 1822 Colonel Felix Trespalacios, Ciovernor of Texas under Iturbide's rule in Mexico, had the skulls collected and interred with military honors. On a large oak tree he placed a tablet with this inscription: u Here lie the brave*, who, imitating the immortal example of Leonidas, sacrificed their lives and fortunes contending against tyrants."