The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 256
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
similar to those previously encountered as to vegetation and fer-
tility; there are no cacti, but the evergreen oaks are more abundant
in some parts. Near this stop there is a hill known as the hill of
San Cristobal that contains much iron ore, which, if worked,
would yield if not a great profit to the state at least some.
Rio de Medina, uninhabited, February 29.-The ground over
which we had to travel the following day is almost all loose sand
for seven or eight leagues. It is tiresome and hinders rapid
travel, but, though without verdure, lacking grass entirely, it is
very picturesque, consisting throughout the whole extent of woods,
not very thick, walnuts and evergreen oaks with acorns that serve
as food for the bears and wild turkeys that live here in great
numbers. Large herds of wild horses and deer are seen from time
to time grazing near the road where a little grass is found. At a
short distance from Rancherias is the place where on August 18,
1813, the troops that had proclaimed independence under the
leadership of Bernardo Gutierrez and Toledo fought and were de-
feated. The battle was hotly contested, according to the unani-
mous opinion of those who took part in it, and the Spanish gen-
eral, Joaquin Arredondo, would have been defeated if the in-
experience of the rebels had permitted it. But the latter, who
came by forced marches from Medina River, a distance of six
leagues, over tiresome sand, threw themselves upon a fresh enemy
composed of well disciplined troops, and, not able to withstand the
cavalry charge on account of their fatigue, were overcome in an
instant. The pursuit of fugitives continued as far as the Trinity
River, as I shall, perhaps, relate somewhere else in the narrative;
and as far as Medina River the fields were strewn with the dead,
many bones of which we still found. We crossed the said river
and on its northern bank we camped at about four o'clock in the
afternoon. Colonel Don Antonio Elizondo, military commander
of Bejar, awaited us here. The crystal waters and the large trees
along the banks make the river extremely beautiful. Its peaceful
stream joins that of the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers, and
empties into the gulf of Mexico.
Bejar, March 1st.-The sky, at dawn, seemed to threaten rain,
and in fact, we had hardly finished picking up camp when at eight
o'clock intermittent showers began to fall. The intervals between
showers were as long as a quarter of an hour at times, and though256
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926, periodical, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117141/m1/282/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.