“We sure are,” supported Ernest.
It was found that only one Texan—poor Dick Andrews—had been killed, and that no one else had even been wounded; but sixty of the Mexicans were counted, lying on the field, and others, mainly officers, had been carried into Bejar. Some forty Mexicans had been wounded and borne away.
About noon, while the army were eating dinner, a priest in a black robe approached from Bejar, with some helpers and carts, and was granted permission to remove the slain. First he laid the bodies in a long row on the ground, and prayed over them; then he had them loaded into the carts, tied fast with rawhide ropes, and hauled into town by the oxen.
Three hundred reinforcements from East Texas were reported as being on the way to join the army; and while waiting for them at Concepcion General Austin issued some stringent orders, to “hold the men down,” as Dick Carroll expressed it. There must be no more chances taken such as that at the Horseshoe.
The army is now in presence of the enemy [read the orders]; prompt obedience to orders and strict discipline will soon effect the great object of the campaign, but without them nothing but disgrace and ruin will be the result.
It is therefore expressly ordered that any officer who disobeys orders shall be immediately arrested and suspended from his command until a court-martial decides his case.
Strong out-posts were stationed—one squad being placed in the upper story of the mission, to keep watch over the country about, and detachments of cavalry were detailed to ride in a wide circle around the town and prevent provisions and information from entering.
Another Texas flag appeared at this encampment. It had been in the knapsack of James McGahey of the Lynchburg company of volunteers, and now for the first time Ernest saw it being shown by him. It was of blue silk, with a big white star painted in the centre, over the word: “Independence”; but because of this word it was not being used, although it had been in the McGahey knapsack for a number of weeks. Texas was fighting for her rights as a state and not for independence, and the Texas leaders wanted this plainly understood.
“I suppose if the Mexican people once think we’re trying to leave ’em they’ll all turn against us,” reasoned Jim, as he and Sion and Ernest discussed the flag. “That’s a mighty pretty flag, anyhow; about as pretty as the Harrisburg flag that Mrs. Dodson made. I’d as lief carry it, and tell Mexico to go to grass.”
“If we don’t get state rights maybe we’ll declare for independence, and be a republic with Sam Houston for president,” offered Ernest, recalling what Sam Houston had prophesied when he accepted Major Rector’s razor. “I’d like to be at the consultation and hear him speak.”