see it clearly

Lesson 62: The Prisoners of Perote

The struggle for Texan independence began at Gonzales, October 1st, 1835, and terminated at San Jacinto, April 21st, 1836, in the complete rout of the Mexican forces under Santa Anna.

This contest, though short, left neither side in a condition for the speedy renewal of hostilities. Texas had enjoyed her independence for six years in comparative security, during which time she suffered very little on her Western frontier from the enemy. But now, bands of Mexican rabble began to make incursions into the State; and depredations began to be committed by them, when a proclamation was issued by President Sam Houston, asking for volunteers to go immediately on an expedition to chastise the audacity of the enemy. A band of eight hundred was quickly raised, and started from San Antonio, October 10th, 1842, commanded by Brigadier General Sommerville. On reaching the Rio Grande, they took several little Mexican towns without resistance, but the capture of these small places resulted in but little or no benefit to the Texans; and the men, not liking the movements of their leader, openly expressed their dissatisfaction. He, seeing the discontent that was brewing, permitted all who wished to return home to do so, and soon after he considered their decision the part of wisdom, and himself retraced his steps, thus deserting the cause in which he had embarked. A brave little band of only three hundred remained, commanded by Colonel Fisher, an officer who had distinguished himself in the battle of San Jacinto. These Texans, as brave as any who had ever wielded sword in defence of of country, having determined that the expedition should not prove altogether fruitless, proceeded down the river in search of adventure. When within four miles of Mier, which is situated upon a small stream, about three miles from its confluence with the Rio Grande, a captured Mexican reported the town to be defended by only two hundred men, under General Ampudia. This falsehood was devised by Ampudia himself, and sent to the Texans by this Mexican, who suffered himself to be captured in order to lure the Texans to destruction. The unsuspecting party attacked the town, and took possession of a building in the center. There they rested during the remainder of the night; and with returning light, the struggle was renewed. Only a few Texans fell, while hundreds of Mexicans were made to bite the dust. At 12 M., Ampudia sent a flag of truce, demanding immediate surrender. Fisher, knowing that with his handful of men, destitute of provisions, he could hold out but a short time against a siege, determined to comply, though many of his men would have preferred death rather than surrender to an enemy so faithless. They were all then marched out and crowded into three separate houses, with little regard to comfort. After remaining here six days, they were ordered to take up the line of march towards Matamoras, under a guard of six hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry, the whole commanded by Ampudia. As they passed through the towns and villages on the route, the prisoners were subjected to treatment such as only ignoble captors are capable of inflicting.

The lower classes hissed at them as they passed, and on entering the towns they were marched around several times for the inspection of the citizens, while on every side flags were hung out, with mottoes inscribed upon them complimentary to the invicible Ampudia. The 3rd of January brought them to Matamoras. There they received the kindest treatment from many of the citizens, principally foreign merchants. One German merchant especially showed great benevolence and goodness of heart in furnishing them with shoes and various other articles of clothing, of which they stood greatly in need. After being detained a week in Matamoras, they were ordered to march towards the city of Mexico, contrary to the pledge given in writing by Ampudia himself, to use all his influence against sending them into the interior. He, like a true Mexican, disregarded his pledge, and the poor disheartened captives were marched out and commenced their wearisome journey, on foot, towards the city of Mexico, with many a gloomy foreboding of future suffering.

Taking a north-westerly direction, the distance of two hundred miles brought them to Taceta, on the San Juan river. Even this distance was not accomplished without much suffering on the part of the prisoners. Being scantily furnished with the most indifferent kind of provisions, they were expected to travel as far as well-fed men, and at night, weary and foot-sore, they were driven into a corral, or pen for cattle, with naught for a couch save the hard ground, or for a covering save the star-gemmed canopy above. At Taceta, they formed a design to make their escape, but by some means it proved ineffectual.

Thence they continued their march to Catereta, the beauty of which sank into every soul. As they approached, streams of the softest music were poured forth to greet them, and the inhabitants received them kindly, and treated them with great humanity. After being detained here a few days, they proceeded on their way to Monterey. As they marched along the valley through which the San Juan winds its course, they were enchanted with the beautiful and picturesque character of the scenery. A few days march brought them to Monterey, where they were received and treated most kindly. Here Canales, to whom Ampudia had given his command over the prisoners when they left Matamoras, gave up also his command to Colonel Barazan, an arrangement that delighted the captives. They proceeded from Monterey to Saltillo, and from thence on towards San Luis Potosi. On the fourth day's march from Saltillo, having arrived at Salado, they again determined here to make their escape at all hazards. Having chosen as leader, Capt. Cameron, a brave Scotchman, they, at a given signal, disarmed the guard at early dawn, put the the cowardly Mexicans to flight, and most of them, having secured horses, they all set their faces towards home, each heart overflowing in glad songs of home and freedom. The majority, after one or two day's travel, fearing lest they should be pursued and retaken, compelled those who differed from them to seek refuge with them in the neighboring mountains. This proved to be their great and fatal mistake; for the want of water threatened them with a horrible death. After making every effort to procure it, they divided into little squads, scattering in all directions, hoping that by this means they might the sooner come upon some little spring or brook at which they could slake their distressing thirst. Thus they wandered without food and without water for six days, when, mistaking the camp-fires of the enemy to be a signal from their own men, they entered his camp, and were immediately retaken. Several of the Texans perished in the mountains, and the remainder were all soon recaptured, and as soon as sufficiently recovered, were made to set out on their march towards the city of Mexico. On arriving again at Salado, a terrible storm, which seemed to portend some evil, bursted upon them in all its fury. Soon after it had passed over, an officer entered the shelter under which they had sought protection from the tempest, and read an order from the supreme authority to the effect that every tenth man should die. They were then made to draw for their lives, and it fell the lot of seventeen innocent men, who, scarcely having time to breathe on high a single petition, were marched out and shot, kneeling upon their coffins like felons. From Salado they pursued their way southward, and on the 26th of April, just four months after they had surrendered at Mier, they arrived at Santiago, a little village on the northern environs of the city of Mexico. Though worn down and despondent, they were almost spell-bound at the majestic beauty of the scenery that rose up before them, nor did they cease to drink in its beauties until the walls of an old convent shut it out from their vision. They were well fed in this old convent, and were soon very much recruited. But a few weeks had elapsed, when, heavily fettered, they were marched out about six miles from Santiago to Tacubaya, a village in which was Santa Anna's favorite country residence.

Here the prisoners were set to work upon a paved road, which, after some weeks, they finished, and being fettered as before, they set off again, and soon learned their destination to be Perote, the Mexican Bastile. After marching through towns and villages and winding around the rugged mountain sides, and traversing fertile valleys and plains, they arrived at length, on the 8th of September at the noted tower of Perote. Now, enclosed within its gloomy walls, all hopes of being speedily released forsook them. At first, their treatment was not so cruel, but afterwards, as the months rolled on, they were tasked with the hardest kind of work, and were scantily provided with the coarsest food. Thus they languished, their treatment becoming more and more rigorous, until they sent a petition, dated July 28th, 1844, to the British Minister, beseeching him to use his influence in their behalf. Soon after, they were all liberated, by what means it has not appeared. During the war between the United States and Mexico, a company of Texans brought with them the bones of the unfortunate seventeen, and buried them in Texas soil.

They now repose on a high bluff opposite La Grange, in Fayette county. By the liberality of the people of Fayette, a suitable monument has been erected over their remains, upon which their names are inscribed, as also the circumstances of their death, being at once a monument of their innocence and of the bloody and perfidious deeds of Santa Anna.

L. A. N.