impetuosity the Rangers and Cavalry dashed in among them,
cutting them down right and left, and soon sent them flying in all
directions! It was at this moment, says Capt. Lewis, that one of the
most heroic acts of bravery was performed, unsurpassed, perhaps, by any
act of personal daring during the whole war! A tremendous negro, a fine,
manly fellow, named Dave, belonging to Capt. Walker, with whom he was
brought up--boys together--being mounted, and armed with a heavy sabre,
dashed forward down a narrow street, (up which, a detached body of
lancers were striving to escape,) and throwing himself between three
poised lances and the person of Dr. Lamar, one of the surgeons, who
would have been most inevitably torn to atoms, Dave raised himself in
his saddle, and with a yell, and one fell swoop, the heroic fellow
"chopped down" a lancer, clean and clear to his saddle! Two lancers
pierced Dave's body, and he fell from his horse, dead!

Charging up to the Plaza--the Mexicans flying--Capt. Walker dismounted,
with some thirty of his men, and advanced up a flight of steps to force
an entrance into a church or convent, where he supposed Santa Anna was
hid away. The flying lancers were pursued by the Rangers, who, very
injudiciously, of course, scattered themselves over the town.

Capt. Lewis, in the mean time, had found a large yard attached to a
temporary garrison, in which were some sixty horses, equipped ready for
immediate use, and which the Mexicans had, in their hurry to escape,
left behind them! The irregular firing of the Rangers, in pursuit of the
Mexicans, being deemed useless and unnecessary, Capt. Lewis left several
of his men, among whom was "Country McCluskey," the noted pugilist, a
volunteer in Capt. Lewis's company, to guard the horses, while he rode
forward to the convent.

"Capt. Walker," said Lewis, "I deem it, sir, not only useless, but bad
policy, to allow that firing by the men, around the town."

Capt. Walker immediately ordered the firing to cease, and being apprized
of Capt. Lewis's discovery of the horses, &c., ordered him to bring up
his command. Capt. Lewis wheeled his horse; some one fired close by, and
Capt. Walker cried out--

"Who was that? I'll shoot down the next man who fires against my
orders!"

At that moment three guns were fired from the convent--and
simultaneously a cannon was fired down the street, from a party of
Mexicans in the distance. Capt. Lewis faced about just in time to see