[GOPcapitalist]

If the Union troops can transport them by wagon, it seems to me the confederate troops could have also transported them by wagon

But that begs the question of WHY? Why prematurely transport wounded persons who will obviously have trouble making the journey and certainly could not do it on their own feet? Why not simply let them heal at the only civilized location in hundreds of miles, especially when that location is indisputably within your own borders? That the yankees sent them to san antonio by cart also proves that the yankees forced several of them to cross the desert prematurely, and given the options were either go to san antonio or be shipped off to prison in Illinois, they chose the former.

[capitan_refugio]

"Why not simply let them heal at the only civilized location in hundreds of miles, especially when that location is indisputably within your own borders?"

With the knowledge that an opposing force was approaching your position, the commander of the confederate forces had two choices:

(1) Transport the sick and wounded, as well as possible, or
(2) Abandon them to be captured.

Sibley, on his flight back to San Antonio, chose the latter. You can make the case that it was the "humanitarian" choice, or I can make the case it was the "expedient" choice. Either way, they were left behind.