Finally he was informed secretly by a friendly Mexican, that the enemy’s cavalry had reached the Leon, eight miles from the city, on the previous night, and had sent a messenger to the inhabitants, informing them of the fact, and warning them to evacuate the city at early dawn, as it would be attacked the next day. He stated further that a messenger had arrived a day or two before and that it had been the purpose of the enemy to take the Texians by surprise, but in consequence of a heavy rain having fallen on the road, their march was impeded and they were unable to reach the place in time. This statement seemed altogether plausible, and substantiated the statement in the report given by Herrera three days before, yet it wore the countenance of so many of their false rumors that it was a matter of doubt that there was any truth in it.

Colonel Travis came to me forthwith, however, and informed me of what he had learned, and wished to borrow a horse of me to send out to the Salado for his Caballado ³ that he might start a scout through the country. As I had two, of course he obtained one, when a runner was started forthwith. In company with Colonel Travis and at his request, I proceeded to post a reliable man on the roof of the old church as a sentinel. We all three went up but were unable to make any discoveries. The Colonel and myself returned. The sentinel remained at his post with orders to ring the bell if he should discover any sign which he might deem ominous.

Colonel Travis went to his room, and I to the store of Captain Nat Lewis, who requested me to assist in taking an inventory of his goods, saying that he had some suspicion that they would soon be taken from him. We proceeded to the task but had not been long engaged when the sentinel rang the bell and cried out, "The enemy are in view." Immediately I went out and ran across the plaza toward the church, when a considerable crowd soon gathered around. Colonel Travis was also there. Several persons ran up to the sentinel’s post and, not being able to see anything justifying the cry, halloed that it was a "false alarm," and "our fears useless." The sentinel exclaimed with an oath the "he had seen them," and "that they had hid behind a row of brushwood." The crowd disbanded, the greater part of them discrediting the report altogether.

I then proposed to Colonel Travis that if any one who knew the country would accompany me, I would go out and ascertain to a certainty the truth or falsity of the whole. John W. Smith was soon at hand. When we started, taking the Laredo road, I remarked to Travis just as I mounted my horse, that "if he saw us returning in any other gait than a slow pace, he might be sure that we had seen the enemy." This arrangement proved of some benefit. A moderate gait soon brought us to the top of town, when we were not surprised to find ourselves within one hundred and fifty yards of fifteen hundred men, well mounted and equipped; their polished armor glistening in the rays of the sun as they were formed in a line between the chaparral and mesquite bushes mentioned by the sentinel; the commander riding along the line, waving his sword, as though he might be giving directions as to the mode of attack. We did not remain long watching their movements, but wheeled around and started full speed back to town. In consequence of a heavy rain through the previous night, the road was quite muddy and my horse, being rather smoothly shod, began to slip and scramble and stopped at the end of fifty yards where, with a tumbling somersault, he pitched my gun out of my hand, throwing me some distance ahead of him, and followed himself, rolling directly across my knees. Smith dismounted and pulled him off of me. Having been slightly stunned, he had made no effort to rise but lay perfectly still holding me fast beneath him. After some moments he managed to get up when, by the assistance of Smith, I did likewise. Picking up the pieces of my gun I found it broken off at the breech. Being again mounted, we resumed our gait and were not long in getting to town.

On reaching the Civil Plaza we met Colonel Crockett who informed us that Colonel Travis had removed his headquarters, together with the entire force, from the city to the Alamo. Smith here left me and went to his house.

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