The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 575

Notes and Documents

When the men were formed next morning he came forward and
delivered a lecture on the necessity and importance of discipline on
subordination and a due respect for the opinion and order of their
officer, &c.
That from his intercourse and conversation with Governor Salcedo,
he had full confidence in his word of honor, that they should not be
molested on their return home. He urged them to consider well, for
the next two days, their exposed and critical situation-their supply
of beef was nearly exhausted-themselves exposed by night alarms
from without tormented by vermin within their quarters surrounded
by a well armed force of more than six times their number.
On the third morning he demanded their final answer and pro-
posed, that all who were in favour of accepting the conditions of
surrender should shoulder arms. There was not one gun raised from
the ground, Magee retired to his quarters much dejected.
A few mornings subsequently he came out on parade and proposed
to the men that they should make provision for their journey and
abandon the fort in the night and return home. This proposition was
entertained by all. They would have their arms to defend themselves
if needed or kill game for their support if not molested. And prepara-
tion were accordingly made by preparing parched corn meal and
jerked beef, which served them for rations in the fort for a week after-
wards (see foregoing sketch) If my recollection is not greatly at fault,
Mr. Hall came out from Nacogdoches with Major Ross and did not
arrive at La Bahia until a few days before the Americans marched for
San Antonio and had been misinformed of the occurances there pre-
viously to his arrival.16' If so, he should correct these numerous and
gross errors and remove the cloud that has too long obscured this
important chapter of Texas history."6
The Americans had neither cannon nor carronades in the fort, ex-
cept one little 3 pound piece which was not fired but once to my
recollection, nor, did the enemy ever display more than three during
the seige. The Americans found but six cannon on the battle field
at the Salado or at San Antonio.
They captured two small pieces from Elisondo but never used
them.'6" Nor did I ever see any such battles as Hall and Yoakum
l67According to a statement of service signed by Henry Perry, Hall enrolled in
the republican army on August 2o, 1812. Gulick and others, Lamar Papers, I, 4.
68eA new installment of the "Review of Erroneous History" begins at this point,
appearing in the San Antonio Tri-Weekly Alamo Express, March 1, 1861.
'6SIn the matter of cannon, McLane seems to be at fault. Villars states that
the expedition had three small cannon when they left Trinidad, two four-pounders
and one smaller. He also says that when the Spaniards arrived, the Americans set
about repairing the fort and mounted their cannon on new bastions which they
built, and that the first shot from an American cannon took off the head of a
Mexican, spreading consternation in the Spanish ranks. After leaving La Bahia,

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