26th. — Monday, so soon as we could well see the x sights of our rifles the firing became general on both sides, on our part was perfect “Target Shooting” Nothing but the heads of our enemys was exposed to our view from the tops of the houses. the roofs [of] the houses are perfcectly level, the walls running up two or three feet above roof, which kept the enemys from being exposed to us, except when they in the act of firing at us, at which time their heads only were exposed. It would make saint laugh the way the boys ript them.* xxduring the whole day Co’l. Fisher was very inactive, he appeared to be perfectly stupid. When he was asked what was to do would give an evasive answer, he was asked frequently to let the men charge out and repulse the several charges of the enemy altho’ the order was given by Capt. Cameron, During the morning the men showed no sy[m]ptoms of alarm, all were confident we would gain the day, altho’ we had to contend against such odds.– Our loss in killed was 12, Viz: Hannan, Bassett, Jones, Jackson, Dickson, Hobson, Owens, White, Tower, Austin, Berry & Cronichen, Wounded, 22, of which two or three was considered dangerous. While the loss of the enemy was killed, 6,50, wounded, 250,* At about 4 o’clock P.M. Dr. Sinickson (who was taken prisoner in the morning) was seen advancing towards us with a “white flag” demanding Co’l. F. in the name of Gen’l. Ampudia immediate surrender of the force under his command, at the same time stated that he (Gen’l. Ampudia) had received a reinforcement of 800 infantry, which proved to be false as was generally conjectured to this command Co’l. F. acceded after deliberating one hour, during which time some of our men became panic struck whilst others shed tears to think that so disgraceful a surreder was about be made.–Had Dr. S. informed us of the situation he knew the enemy to be in at the time he left with the “white flag,” or had Co’l. F. exhibited the least bravery or decision the victory would have been ours in short time,* It has been said by some of the Mexican Officers that if Co’l. F. had not showed a disposition to accede to the terms of capitulations when the “white flag” was sent in to us, the town would have been left to our disposal as their loss, was too great to have continued the action they having seen the determination of our little band to hold out till the last. (Mier is one of the strongest [towns] in Mexico, the houses are principally stone, it contains about 6 to 3,000 inhabitants.)* At about 4 o’clock P.M. our little army of 200, [237, 250] including 4 boys, surrendered in in [sic] small parties, aft er hearing Co’l. F. state that he was well acquainted with Co’l. Carasco and had conversed with Gen’l. Ampudia and he had no doubt but they were “Honorable Gentlmen” if we surrendered we should be treated according to the stipulations agreed upon, Viz: “Th at we should be retained on the frontier and treated as prisoners of war.” After much delay the whole number (except two, Sinclair & Chalk, who made their escape) surrendered, most of them at the time being in tears, we were then immediately conducted to the different prisons.
