[torn] Saturday, sent [some] [s]pys out
[torn] the land, of Capt. Baker, on [the] west bank of the river, discovered large trails of the enemy, together with some of their spys, who succeeded in capturing two of our spys, Holderman & Lewis who were carried to town, where Ampudia had arrived with 1,500 infantry and the same number of cavelry.– 25th. — Sunday, two more of our spys taken, Viz.– Walker and Lusk. They were decoyed from the main body of our advance guard, by two of the enemys spies, they were taken and carried before Gen’l Ampudia. We also took an Indian prisoner, who stated that Ampudia’s force to be only 300, whith two pieces of artillary, although our spys had come in and reported the had seen large trails of the enemy and supposed from the sign there was from 7 to 800 of them, to this information Co’l. F. paid no attention, at 4 P.M. Co’l. F. ordered the army 250 in number, to recross the river (leaving a camp guard of 40 men) for the purpose of again entering the town, to enforce the fulfillment of the requisition at all hazards. About 8 o’clock, we reached the outposts of the enemy. It being now dark the Alcalde (who we had carried with us) succeeded in making his escape into the town. Capt. Baker was ordered a few hundred yards below us (on the Alcantro) with the spy company* to employ the enemys force, then on the opposite bank of the stream, whilst Co’l. F. with the main body crossed above, which was accomplished with only the loss of two men, driving the enemy from post to post, and we obtained possession of a range of buildings leading to to [sic] the public square where the main body of the enemy was stationed, this range of houses proved to be a complete shelter for us, their fi ring the whole night, occasonally you would hear the ken crack of a rifle from our side. After making a breach in several rooms through the wall we suspended operations until daylight. there happened to be a vacant lot we came to when we got through the last wall which we took to be the public square in the dark, thereforewarrily we ceased operations, by order of Co’l. Fisher until daylight. they still kept up an incessant fire upon us.
