The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941 Page: 20
546 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
that there were about a hundred men in the party, and the
Texans, dismounting, engaged them. The entire force of Mex-
icans was captured with the exception of two. On the ground
lay thirty-six dead and wounded, evidence of the wonderful
marksmanship of Snively's men.
"Grandfather," said I, "did you kill any of those Mexicans?"
"I do not know, my boy, that I ever killed anybody, but I do
remember that I saw one man stick his head from behind a
tree. I fired. Shortly afterwards the Mexicans ran and I found
a dead Mexican with a hole in his forehead, but I'm not sure it
was I who killed him."
The Texans waited some days. Learning from the captives
that General Armijo, with a force of over seven hundred Mex-
icans, was following them, Colonel Snively pushed on to attack
them, but found they had turned tail and run. With all fear of
a Mexican attack removed, Colonel Snively returned along the
Santa Fe Trail, liberated the captives, even furnishing mounts
for the wounded. They passed the scene of their engagement a
few days before, where the bodies of some twenty-five dead
Mexicans lay.
Snively then encamped in the forest along the southwest shore
of the Arkansas River, and waited for the approach of the
Mexican train. In the meantime, seventy-five homesick men had
left. Game was scarce, and to keep from starving it was nec-
essary to send hunters across the river into the territory of the
United States, where buffalo were plentiful. Game was free to
everyone-white men, Indians, bandits, Mexicans-according
to the law of self-preservation on the prairies.
One day two of the huntsmen returned in great haste, crossed
the river, and informed Colonel Snively that United States Dra-
goons, accompanying the caravan, had come upon them and
would soon be there. Looking upon them as friends, the Texans
did not attempt to leave. The Dragoons soon arrived on the
opposite bank. There were two hundred cavalry accompanied
by two pieces of artillery. A United States officer came to the
river's edge and informed Colonel Snively that he was invited
by Captain Philip St. George Cooke, who commanded the Dra-
goons, to cross the river and visit him. The officer said he was
authorized to guarantee safe passage back. Colonel Snively
went over with one of his men. According to Grandfather,
Colonel Snively was informed by Captain Cooke that the Texans20
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941, periodical, 1941; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146052/m1/24/?rotate=270: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.