2 miles from Bexar Oct 28th
We arrived here about the middle of the day. A party of 90 men under
Bowie and Capt Fannin who were sent here yesterday to pick out a position
for the army were attacked by 300 cavalry and 100 infantry with two pieces
of artillery the attack was made about day brake, 16 mexicans were left
dead on the ground and several wounded and dead were taken off by the
cavalry. Capt. Richard Andrews from the Colorado was shot in the
stomach It is supposed he will die one or two more were slightly wounded is
all the injury we sustained. The main army did not arrive from the
mission de Espada where it was stationed untill about one hour after the battle.
The contest lasted 4 hours, We took an excellent brass piece, a long 6
pounder which will be of service to us, they succeeded in getting away with
the other pieces, We have upwards of 400 men and provision tolerable
plenty 4 waggons have arrived with Supplies, We are now near the Mission
Concepcion on the San Antonio River. We occupy the banks of the river,
plenty of bushes and trees which saved the lives of many of our soldiers
100 men will be here to morrow from Nacogdoches and 3 or 4 peices of
artillery shortly Bexar I think will fall shortly. An express was arrested
yesterday with letters from Matamoros and other places by which we
received letters directed to Cos etc stating that money and troops were scearce
articles. The Montazuma now Bravo is ordered to the Arransas to cruiz but
without troops, There are 6 cannon mounted in Bexar to recieve us, and
about 650 men. I think after hearing all the stories about the dead and
wounded the enemy lost 50 men as to the dead I saw 15 or 16 myself on
the ground and two prisoners badly wounded now in our camp, We have
four prisoners.
Joel is well so are the two McNeels and Hassell neither of them had a
chance to distinguish themselves. Uncle is much better in fact he is well
I hope the campaign will soon be over. I have written 2 or 3 times since
I left San felipe
The express is about starting Joel's and my love to all
M. Austin Bryan [Rubric]
N B I write on my lap and in a hurry M A B
Somervell is Major he sends his respects
[Addressed:] Mr James F Perry Peach Point Mr Gay will forward this
by the first opportunity