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34
FATE OF-NOLAN'S MEN.
[1800.
the Americans were seeing too much of Texas, and re-
solved to prevent Nolan's expedition.* He, with twenty
companions, the most of whom were Americans, managed
-in spite of Spanish resistance -to enter Texas, and to
catch three hundred mustangs. Early one morning
(March 21st) the little company awoke to find them-
selves surrounded by one hundred and fifty Spaniards
under the command of Lieut. Musquez. Though their
guards had been seized, and some of their men had de-
serted, the Americans gave battle. Nolan was soon
killed. t IIis place as commanding officer was taken by
Ellis P. Bean. After a desperate struggle, their ammu-
nition being exhausted, Bean and his men surrendered,
with. the understanding that they were to be returned
to the United States.
Fate of Nolan's Men.-Instead of being sent back
to their homes, for many long weary years these poor men
were held as prisoners awaiting the King's decision con-
cerning their fate. This suspense was ended (1807) by
a royal decree ordering that every fifth man should be
hanged and the rest sentenced to ten years' hard labor.
As the hardships inflicted upon them had caused the
death of all but nine, the judge decided that only one
man must die. The Spanish officer in charge wrote:
* For the purpose of frightening away the fortune-seekers from the North, the
Spanish officials ordered that every American whose conduct was in the least
suspicious should be arrested, and that as Nolan was a dangerous character, he
should be "put out of the way" as quickly as possible.
t Lieut. Musquez in his journal says: " Nolan's negroes asked permission to
bury their master's body, which I granted after causing his ears to be cut off in
order to send them to the Governor of Texas."
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Pennybacker, Anna J. Hardwicke. A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination, book, 1895; Palestine, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2388/m1/48/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.