The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945 Page: 341

Perote Fort -- Where Texans Were Imprisoned

organized into a complete military setup, with five companies
of mounted infantry and one company of artillery carrying a
six-pound cannon. Besides the military component there were
many traders, teamsters, and soldiers of fortune. After repeated
experiences of ill fortune the advance guard of the expedition
arrived at Anton Chico, New Mexico, on September 17, and here
they were tricked into surrendering by Captain Damaso Salazar
of the Mexican force, which had long been on guard against
the Texans and for weeks had been lying in wait for their
arrival.
The remaining members of the expedition were captured at
Laguna Colorado, southwest of the present Montoya, New
Mexico, some days later. The men were taken to San Miguel;
and upon arrival there, Governor Manuel Armijo placed them
under the charge of Captain Salazar, their captor. He started
them on the long march to Mexico City, afoot, with scant clothing
and meager supplies for the long overland trek across the
desert sands and mountain ranges to the Mexican capital, almost
1,500 miles away. The story of the hardships of the Texans
en route, the attempted escape of some of the number, and the
details of the harrowing journey have been retold time and
time again, and it is necessary only to say that a part of the
unfortunate men reached Mexico City, whence some were sent
to prison at Puebla and others to old Fort Perote.
The Capture of San Antonio
In 1842, although six years had passed since Texas declared
itself free of Mexico, there was not a settlement of importance
further westward than San Antonio, and this metropolis of today
then had an American population of only about two hundred, of
which number only sixty-five or seventy were able-bodied men.
On the morning of September 10, 1842, the inhabitants of the
frontier town were thrown into consternation by the report
that a body of armed men in considerable numbers was ap-
proaching. The greater part of the Americans gathered at the
courthouse, assembled by the ringing of the town fire-alarm bell,
and spies were sent out to ascertain the character of the on-
coming force, many believing them to be robbers from below
the border bent on frightening the citizens into deserting the
town so that they might, with immunity, loot and pillage the place.
With the coming of daybreak on the following day, however,

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