CHAPTER IX.

On the Trail to Tucson--Excitement In the Town--Meet Mexican Soldiers--Our Numbers Overrated by the Indians--Mexican Commander under Orders to Oppose us--Colonel Cooke Announces his Wish to Pass on Without Hostilities--Arrest of Corporal Cassaduran, son of the Mexican Commander at Tucson, and other Mexicans who are Held as Hostages for the Return of our Interpreter--The Interpreter is Liberated--An Armistice Proposed--Surrender of Tucson Demanded--Mexican Prisoners Released--Surrender is Refused--Colonel Cooke orders the Battalion to Prepare for Battle--Advance toward the Town--Flight of the Mexicans--At the Gates of Tucson--Our Line of Battle--Address by Colonel Cooke--We Enter the Town, and Pass Through to Camp--Purchases of Wheat, Corn, etc.--The battalion nearly Starved--Night Alarm of a Mexican Attack--Difficulties of Getting into Line--No Enemy in Sight--Start Across the Gila Desert--Agony on the Burning Sands and Alkali Flats--Strengthened by the Divine Blessing--Reach the Gila River.