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succeeded in escaping. He was pursued and overtaken by a Mexican who had known him at San Antonio and was his friend. He was secreted by his friend. Arista ordered a careful search of Morelos for him, but "the women took him and hid him under some canes."[34] Zapata and his son-in-law-to-be, P. H. ("Budd") Edmondson,[35] a Texan, were among the captured. The Centralist casualties consisted of two minor officers of the Río Grande Cavalry who were slightly wounded. At the time of the attack on Zapata, Canales was at San Fernando, about five miles distant, and learning of the former's capture about 3 p.m., he immediately dispatched Colonel López to his aid with forty infantrymen, fifty dragoons, and one field piece. Canales himself prepared to advance his whole force in an effort to liberate Zapata by attacking Reyes during the night. In the meantime, at Morelos, Reyes, who had delayed his advance against Canales at San Fernando in order to feed his horses, received information late in the afternoon of the approach of Canales' vanguard with cannon. Reyes hurriedly prepared for the expected attack. At 4:30 p.m. López advanced to the outskirts of the town and Reyes opened fire. The initial assault of the that participated in the San Antonio campaign of 1835. He was promoted on December 24, 1835, to First Lieutenant, and a year later, December 11, to the rank of Captain of an infantry company. While commanding a company of regulars at Velasco in March 1837, Snell killed a Lt. J. T. Sprowl, apparently in self-defense, following an argument concerning the latter's absence from the post. On March 24 Snell, with two or three soldiers, went to arrest Sprowl, "who being a powerful man resisted violently, striking Capt. Snell to the ground and wresting his sword from him." Snell quickly drew his pistol and shot Lt. Sprowl through the head. Snell was exonerated, but years later, after several unfortunate difficulties, he was killed at Hempstead. Francis R. Lubbock, Six Decades in Texas: or Memoirs of Francis Richard Lubbock, p. 35; Comptroller's Military Service Records (Texas), ms.; Telegraph and Texas Register, April 4, 1837. Snell recruited, between Sept. 19-Oct. 5, 1838, a small company composed of the following men: John Noble, James B. Reavis, James White, William Clements, John Hare, Harrison Simpson, and William Felton. Capt. Martin K. Snell's Muster Roll (Sept. 19-Oct. 5, 1838), Militia Rolls (Texas), ms. 34. "Information derived from Anson G. Neal, May 30, 1847," in Lamar Papers, VI, 105. 35. Among those executed was P. H. ("Budd") Edmondson, who was reported to be engaged to Zapata's daughter. Lamar Papers, VI, 111; R. B. T. to the Editor of the Colorado Gazette, Victoria, April 8, 1840, in Colorado Gazette and Advertiser, April 18, 1840. |