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60 waters of the San Miguel: when this small body of Texans drove them off. 21. Our camp in movement for a start, crossed the San Antonio at the Nogal, below the Mission of San José & when fairly out in the prairie, had a fine view of San Antonio, Concepcion, San José, La Espada & down the river. It is becoming to the European, to behold in the far west, of the New World edifices partaking of the character of the sacred buildings he has left behind him; and we cannot withold our praise from the Spanish enbastes? who designed & reared with the assistance of the Indians the churches, dwellings for the indians &c forming the Missions on the San Antonio river. The style of these churches is light & of a mixed modern italian & Spanish. The Statues of Saints, Angels, ornaments particularly the scroll work was of a superior character. If the destructive hand of the Hun, Vandal or Goth has not been here, that of the Volunteer has made sad havock with the various ornamental parts of the several Missions & generally manufacturing pipes for
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