Yet this
grand victory was not purchased without a severe loss, for the dogs
defended the property intrusted to their care; they scorned to run away,
and before they could all be killed they had torn to pieces half a dozen
of the Texans, and dreadfully lacerated as many more. The evening was,
of course, spent in revelry; the dangers and fatigues, the delays and
vexations of the march were now considered over, and high were their
anticipations of the rich plunder in perspective. But this was the only
feat accomplished by this Texan expedition: the Mexicans had not been
deceived; they had had intelligence of the real nature of the
expedition, and advanced parties had been sent out to announce its
approach. Twenty-four hours after they had regaled themselves with
mutton, one of these parties, amounting to about one hundred men, made
its appearance. All the excitement of the previous evening had
evaporated, the Texans sent out a flag of truce, and three hundred of
them surrendered themselves unconditionally to this small Mexican force.
On one point the European nations had been much deceived, which is as to
the character of the Mexican soldier, who appears to be looked upon with
a degree of contempt. This is a great mistake, but it has arisen from
the false reports and unfounded aspersions of the Texans, as to the
result of many of their engagements.
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