TO SAN ANTONIO. 
29 
battle. The prisoners were marched out of the fort in 
three divisions, full of high expectations that the time 
of their release had arrived, and were shot down 
almost simultaneously by the Mexican soldiery. The 
gentleman above referred to was in the second divi- 
sion, and owes his escape to the most wonderful pre- 
sence of mind. As his division was marching out, he 
heard the report of the muskets, which were fired upon 
the preceding division. Instantly the truth flashed 
upon his mind, and his course of action was decided. 
As he saw the lips of the Mexican officer move to 
give the order for the soldiers to fire, he fell upon 
his face as if dead. The soldiers stood within six feet 
of the prisoners, and fired with fixed bayonets. As 
soon as they had fired, they rushed upon the victims 
with their bayonets to complete the slaughter. Judge 
H. was pierced through the shoulder, bearing the 
wound without showing signs of life. After the exe- 
cution, the scavengers and camp followers came to rob 
the dead. A Mexican, in cutting away his hunting 
shirt to get at his coat which was beneath, wounded him 
in the neck, at which he let escape some expression of 
pain ; whereupon the Mexican, finding him still alive, 
beat him upon the head with the butt of his escopetto 
until he supposed life extinct, and then went on with his 
robbery. All this time the Judge retained a conscious- 
ness of his situation ; and when all had left the bloody 
scene, he crawled, as well as his remaining strength 
would allow, to some concealment near the river, and 
at dark made his escape. After wandering three days 
without food, he obtained assistance from some kind- 
hearted Mexicans, and finally reached the coast in safety. 
