The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 578

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

Colonel Kemper, he objected to having any intercourse with the
Mexicans, but was finally prevailed on to see Bernardo, to whom he
communicated the offer he had made to the Americans.
Bernardo demanded of him the surrender of all the stock, they had
driven off during the seige of La Bahia, as, a pledge of their fidelity.
The old chief turned up his nose, delivered himself of a grunt of con-
tempt, and retired. Returning to the Americans, he denounced the
whole Mexican race, as, Guatchepins and traitors, stating, that, he
had made several treaties with them and they had violated them the
first opportunity they had to do so. He told the Americans that they
would1" profess great friendship for them, fight their battles, but so
soon, as they found themselves, secure from the invasions and perse-
cution of the royalists, they would surround and drive the Americans
out of the country. [the Americans found more truth than poetry in
that assertion,] said he you must kill all-they are all alike treacherous
and unworthy of your assistance or regard, and, when you do con-
clude to adopt my advice send me word and I will bring a force that,
will enable you to exterminate the whole race.
They remained in town for several days, making frequent excursions
into the country and finally left in the night. A few days afterwards,
Bernardo's herdsmen were found murdered and scalped in their camp
and his cabbelado gone. He had collected, by the aid of his minions
a large drove of horses and mules; the property of the Governor and
his unfortunate associates, as compensation, no doubt, for the part he
[had perf]ormed'"" in their destruct[ion. Th]e American's pack mules
[ ]uing with this cabbelado a[ll wer]e found some days afterward a
[f]ew miles from the camp, having been left by the Indians, so soon,
as they could distinguish the brand having informed themselves of
the public brand. Before they left town, they were very inquisitive
and communicative. They told thh [sic] Americans of all their inter-
courses and quarrels with the Mexicans and in return learned most
of the incidents connected with the expedition-conversing fluently
in the Spanish language, there was a small tribe of Indians residing,
near the coast, that followed the retreat of the Americans on to the
Trinity River; killing near there a Mr. Munholland from Bayou
Sara,"' who started from San Antonio, some time, before, the defeat
of the Americans, with a drove of mules, but had dallied on the way
and got behind the retreating parties. They took up their quarters at
an old Indian village, below the road, near the river and killed
several of the prisoners who made their escape from San Antonio.
"'A new installment of the Appendix begins at this point, appearing in the
San Antonio Tri-Weekly Alamo Express, March 4, 1861.
7 "Parts of several words are covered by an ink blot.
'e"Nothing has been found to identify this man.

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