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44
EFFECT OF THE BATTLE.
[1813.
cans engaged in the battle, only ninety-three succeeded in
escaping, among whom were Perry, Taylor, and Bullard. *
Effect of the Battle.--The effect of this defeat upon
the Republican cause in Texas was most disastrous.
The Spanish soldiers swept the whole country, venting
their wrath not alone upon men but also upon the help-
less women and children. San Antonio, Nacogdoches,
and Trinidad suffered especially. Scores of the best citi-
zens of Texas fled to Louisiana, for they now had nothing
to expect in Texas but death, and that in its most cruel
form.t Ruin and desolation were to be seen on all sides.
* Toledo, though badly wounded, escaped to the United States,where he continued
to assist the cause of Texas independence. But at last, disappointed in all his
plans, he submitted to the Spanish King and was made ambassador to the court of
Naples. He always cherished the greatest admiration for American bravery, de-
claring on more than one occasion, " With 2000 such heroes as the Americans who
fought the battle of the Medina I could conquer all 1Mexico."
Colonel Navarro says: " As late as 1822, Trespalacios, Governor of Texas, in
crossing the Medina on his way to Bexar, passed over the battle-field of Aug. 18,
1813. It was strewn with human bones. He had them collected and buried with
military honors. On a large oak he placed a tablet with this inscription: 'Here
lie the braves who, imitating the immortal example of Leonidas, sacrificed their
fortunes and lives, contending against tyrants.'"
t Yoakum says:" Arredondo imprisoned 500 of the wives, daughters, and other
female relatives of the patriots in San Antonio; they were compelled daily to con-
vert 24 bushels of Indian corn into Mexican cakes, called tortillas, for Arredondo's
army. Elisondo, who had gone as far as the Trinity in pursuit of fugitives, returned
driving before him on foot the widows and orphans of those he had slain there.
The property of the patriots was confiscated." The cruelty of Elisondo brought its
own punishment. One of his lieutenants, becoming crazed from the horror of the
bloody deeds daily committed, became convinced that he too was to be killed by the
General; in a moment of wild insanity he mortally wounded Elisondo, who was
buried on the banks of the beautiful San Marcos.
t Nearly as horrible as the tragedy of the Black Hole of Calcutta is this story of
Arredondo's cruelty: On a stifling August night 300 citizens of San ATltonio were
imprisoned within one apartment; so foul did the atmosphere become that 18 of
the men died from suffocation before morning. The survivors were shot without
the semblance of a trial.
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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/m1/58/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.