USA > Texas > A School History of Texas: From Its Discovery in 1685 to 1893. For the Use of Schools, Academies, Convents, Seminaries, and all Institutions of Learning > Part 12
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CHAPTER XLI. BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO (concluded).
THE Texans formed in one line. Colonel Sidney Sherman with his regiment formed the extreme left ; Colonel Edward Burleson, the centre ; on Colonel Burleson's right was the artillery under command of Colonel George W. Hockley ; four companies of infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Millard, were on the right of the artillery ; and the cavalry, sixty-one in number, commanded by Colonel Mirabeau B. Lamar, completed the line.
Colonel Sherman led the advance and shouted the war-cry : " Remember the Alamo !" This was caught up along the whole line, and the order of battle became a furious charge upon the enemy's front. Yelling the war-cry, " Alamo and Goliad !" they rushed on, receiving the irregular fire of the enemy, but reserving their own until they were within point- blank shot of the Mexicans. Without a halt they continued the furious charge. In eighteen minutes they had possession of the whole Mexican line, woodland, breastworks, and can- non. Hand to hand they fought, some using their guns for clubs, and continued their pursuit of the " panic-stricken herd," who, terrified by the ominous war-cry, fled in every
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direction, and sought hiding places in the tall grass and behind trees. Some ran to the bayou, and finding the bridge de- stroyed, they crowded together in utter helplessness ; others plunged into the bayou and sank in the mud. Here was the greatest carnage. There were brave officers among them who made vain efforts to rally their men. Some of these were killed early in the action. Among those who were first killed was General Castrillon, the brilliant Spanish officer who led the fatal charge upon the Ala- mo. Here was Travis' predic- tion verified. The victory at the Alamo was costing them more than a defeat. Santa Anna shared in the terror of his men as the sound of those ominous words rang in his ears, says Delgado. The pur- suit was continued until night, when they returned to camp with their prisoners, and a guard was stationed at the Mexican camp.
The search for fugitives commenced early on the morn- ing of the 22d, and continued through that and three or THE BRIGHAM SAN JACINTO MONUMENT. four succeeding days. A greater proportion of prisoners was brought in than on the preceding evening.
In the battle the Texan loss was six killed and twenty-three wounded, six of whom died of their wounds. General Houston received a severe wound in the ankle during the attack, shatter- ing the bone.
The Mexicans lost six hundred and thirty killed, among them one general, four colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, five
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captains, twelve lieutenants, two hundred and eight wounded, and seven hundred and thirty prisoners. Among the latter were Santa Anna, taken on the 22d, hidden in the grass, and in the disguise of a common soldier ; Almonte, who surrendered on the 21st ; and Cos, captured near the Brazos ; besides a large number of muskets, sabres, pistols, mules, horses, and about twelve thousand dollars in specie.
While the Texans were as much surprised as exhilarated by the suddenness and completeness of their victory, the Mexicans were bewildered and terrified at the suddenness and completeness of their defeat, and expected full retribution for their butcheries at the Alamo and Goliad. When a fire of logs was kindled near the camp for the benevolent purpose of drying their clothes, wet and cold from floundering in the mud, they remembered with terror the holocaust of Texan bodies they had left smoulder- ing at San Antonio, to be renewed at San Jacinto or wherever they should chance to encounter the Texan army, and when a guard was set they expected to be shot. Some begged for their lives, pleading, " Me no Alamo," "Me no Goliad.".
What disposition to make of their distinguished prisoner, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the self-styled " Napoleon of the West," became the all-absorbing consideration. He wished to make negotiations with General Houston and the Secretary . of War, General Thomas J. Rusk, for his own immediate release and return to Mexico, " in order to perfect with the home government the terms of a proposed treaty of peace." On the other hand was the unwelcome assurance from General Houston that he must treat with the civil government of the country ; and the demand for his immediate execution by a large portion of the army, among them many who discovered in his plea of urging a treaty of peace a stratagem for regain- ing his liberty, to place himself at the head of a new invading army. Besides, it was urged, it was setting light value upon the sufferings and privations of families driven from their homes-many of them now in ashes-their own hardships on
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the retreat and exposure in camp without tents, poorly clad and scantily fed, and the blood of their murdered countrymen still red upon the earth where they fell. To such it would rob their victory of its glory.
The immediate execution of Santa Anna, so deadly an enemy, was prevented by the influence of men in the army, who, statesmen as well as soldiers, looked forward to the rank which they hoped to see Texas occupy, and the consideration that Santa Anna, their living prisoner, would be of more value · in their negotiations for peace with Mexico than Santa Anna a dead Mexican ; while above all was the chivalry and generosity of truly brave conquerors.
News of the battle reached President Burnet at Galveston on the 26th of April, soon after he had written General Houston, urging that if he should think a retreat from his present position inevitable, he should make Galveston the destination. Colonel Rusk, Secretary of War, who had been with the army some time previous to the battle, whose services General Houston acknowledged with enthusiasm, urged the President to repair immediately to the camp. He arrived with the only member of his cabinet who had remained with him, Bailey Hardeman, Secretary of the Treasury, on the 28th of April.
Santa Anna had been required by Houston and Rusk to agree to an armistice and to issue an order, dated April 22d, to Filisola to march his troops out of Texas, and to instruct Gaona and Urea to do the same. His order only required them to retire to San Antonio, where a portion of the army had been fortifying with great energy, and Urea to withdraw to Victoria. He added : "I have agreed with General Houston for an arm- istice until matters can be so regulated that the war shall cease forever."
The prisoners were sent with the President and his cabinet to Galveston. General Houston, on his way to New Orleans for medical aid, accompanied them on the Yellowstone, and,
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for more ample accommodations, the government removed to Velasco, where the pending negotiations were perfected.
QUESTIONS .- How did the Texans form their line of battle ? How did the battle begin ? Describe the battle. What prophecy was fulfilled ? How was Santa Anna affected ? How long was the pursuit continued ? What were the events of the 22d of April ? What was the Texan loss ? Where was Houston wounded ? What was the Mexican loss ? Who were the distinguished prisoners ? What spoils were taken ? In what spirits were the two armies ? What did the Mexicans think of the fire which was built ? What now became the all-absorbing consideration ? What did Santa Anna style himself ? What was his wish ? What was the demand of many of the Texans ? How was the immediate execu- tion of Santa Anna prevented ? When did news of the battle reach President Burnet ? What had Burnet urged ? What did Colonel Rusk urge ? When did Burnet arrive ? What had General Houston and Colonel Rusk required of Santa Anna ? To what place were the prisoners removed ?
CHAPTER XLII.
RESULTS OF THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO.
THE news of the battle and its results, made known by a fugitive officer, and confirmed by a captain of the Tampico regiment, saying : "The rout is complete, and the lives of all prisoners, officers, and men doubtful. They may all be shot as a reprisal for the Alamo and Goliad," spread consternation through Filisola's camp. The terrified soldiers prepared for immediate flight, although it was night. Those on the east side of the Brazos crossed by the light of a cotton-gin to which they set fire, and by morning all had crossed the river. On the 25th of April " Deaf " Smith overtook Filisola on the Bern- ard, twelve miles on his way west, and communicated to him Santa Anna's orders. Smith found on their track abundant evidence of their panic in abandoned wagons, mules, horses, and sick soldiers.
Filisola had already recalled Gaona, and ordered him, with Urea, to meet him and General Woll at a place fifteen miles on their way to Victoria. In desperation, floundering through mud and water, they met at the rendezvous and held a hurried council. The commandant at Matagorda had retreated by sea
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to Matamoras with his battalion, and without orders, and General Sesma was already fleeing west without orders.
Filisola, not fully comprehending the " armistice," de- spatched General Woll with a flag of truce to Houston's camp for further instructions. Under the peculiar circumstances General Woll was detained by General Houston, as his inter- view with Santa Anna had been unrestrained, and it was feared that the numbers and condition of the Texian army, reported to Filisola, might induce him to hazard another battle.
Filisola then ordered Urea to Matamoras, to "quell any disturbances that might arise in that quarter," and ordered Andrade to evacuate San Antonio at once, after destroying the fortifications, which they had been strengthening, taking with him all the supplies, guns, and ordnance that he could trans- port to the Rio Grande.
Not far from Goliad, Filisola was overtaken by Captains Ben Fort Smith and Henry Teal, commissioners from Presi- dent Burnet and his cabinet, bearing their final treaty of May 14th, with Santa Anna, for ratification by himself and his aids, Amat and Tolsa, together with a private letter from Santa Anna, urging its fulfilment without delay.
Filisola and his staff made no delay in accepting the treaty. They continued their march under great difficulties, and crossed the Rio Grande in June, leaving some of their sick and wounded to die on the road.
The treaty was satisfactory, except the tenth article, which provided for the immediate transportation of Santa Anna to Vera Cruz, on a vessel of the Texas navy, with two of the cabinet, Lorenzo de Zavala and Bailey Hardeman, as commis- sioners to Mexico.
In the cabinet Mirabeau B. Lamar, then Secretary of War- General Rusk having been placed in command of the army in General Houston's place-opposed making any treaty, having no faith in Santa Anna as a party to it. IIe regarded him as a murderer, and said : " He should share the fate of murderers."
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Lamar, a Georgian, knew personally many of the young Georgians shot at Goliad ; Robert Potter, Secretary of the Navy, thought the question demanded reconsideration, as he had learned that a Mr. Loving had been captured and killed, and that prisoners taken at San Patricio were to have been shot at Matamoras on the 21st. Their fate was yet unknown. In the cabinet council, in a heated debate of the question, Secre- tary Potter said : "Santa Anna and all his officers ought to be hung, and the private soldiers condemned to servitude for life." There was violent opposition from all quarters to Santa Anna's release.
In a written address to President David G. Burnet on the 21st of May, signed by several of the officers then on the Guada- lupe, in which they charged him with indifference as to their still destitute condition, they said : " We have only neglect ; while Santa'Anna is not only treated with all possible consider- ation, but, at the expense of this government, is to be returned in triumph to his own country." They felt keenly the fact that, as had been done after previous victories, the government had expressed no recognition of their services, no gratitude or admiration for their valor in gaining a victory which was to bring peace to the country and establish the independence of Texas.
On the other hand, it was believed that the execution of Santa Anna or any other Mexican officer, would compromise the recognition of the independence of Texas which they hoped now to obtain from the United States and other nations.
On the 1st of June, Santa Anna with his suite embarked on board the Invincible, with the two Texian commissioners, Hon. Bailey Hardeman and Santa Anna's former confidential friend, Lorenzo de Zavala, bound for Vera Cruz, where he ex- pected to be recognized as still head of the army and of the nation, by the government ad interim of Mexico.
When it was known that the Invincible, with Santa Anna on board, was on the eve of sailing, opposition broke out into
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fury. Groups of angry citizens hurried to Velasco, and de- manded of the President that the prisoners should disembark, and be kept in custody until the coming Congress should decide his fate.
President Burnet replied to the address from the army in a dignified defence of himself and of his cabinet, who were all in the battle of San Jacinto but one member ; but seeing that the government was powerless to carry out this article of the treaty with Santa Anna, he sent commissioners on board the Invincible to inform him of the condition of affairs and to request his disembarkation. Santa Anna at first obstinately refused, but yielded at last, and was landed, under military es- cort, at Quintana, at the mouth of the Brazos, opposite Velasco. This was chiefly, indeed almost exclusively, the work of vol- unteers, strangers in the country, just arrived from New Orleans.
The cabinet threatened to resign, Vice-President Zavala tendered his resignation, but President Burnet's remon- strances saved the country at this critical moment from anarchy, although he had not escaped threats of personal violence.
In August, 1836, a plot to rescue the prisoner, by the Mexican Consul at New Orleans, was discovered, when he was placed in irons, more closely guarded, and finally removed to the plantation of Dr. J. A. E. Phelps, on the Brazos, above Columbia. When the first Congress of the Republic met in October, President Burnet had his fetters removed, but the Congress refused to pass a bill for his release, although his retention was of no value to Texas, his enemies being in the ascendancy in Mexico. After Congress adjourned in Decem- ber, President Houston sent him and Almonte, at his own request, to President Andrew Jackson in the United States, who received him with the honors due to his former rank, and returned him to Vera Cruz on a government vessel. At Vera Cruz he met with no demonstrations of allegiance, and was
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allowed to retire quietly to his hacienda, " Mango de Clavo," at the foot of the mountains, below Jalapa.
The other prisoners, among whom were General Cos and other officers, were removed from Galveston to Anahuac, August 16th, thence to Liberty, and, by petition of the inhabi- tants whose substance they were consuming, they were all released on the 25th of April, 1837 .*
COMMISSIONERS TO THE UNITED STATES.
While Stephen F. Austin, William HI. Wharton, and Dr. Branch T. Archer, commissioners appointed by the consul- tation to the United States, had successfully fulfilled their mission among the people of that country, in May, 1836, President Burnet had sent Peter W. Grayson and James Col- linsworth commissioners, to ask of that Congress a recognition of the independence of Texas, and to represent the wish of the people to be annexed as a State of the Union.
Congress having adjourned, the commissioners could only present their petition to President Jackson. He sent Mr. Moffat to Texas, to make observations of the state of the country in all respects, and to make report of the same, which was done, and the report was favorable to annexation.
The commissioners, Austin, Wharton, and Archer, returned in June and made their report to the government. As the result of their labors many volunteers were now in Texas, and timely aid in other ways had been received ; in addition, a deep interest in Texas generally had been awakened.
QUESTIONS .- What was the effect of the battle of San Jacinto on Filisola's camp ? For what did they immediately prepare ? What communication did " Deaf " Smith make to Filisola ? What did Smith find on their line of retreat ? What had Filisola already
* Thomas II. Benton, in the United States Senate, said : "Houston is the pupil of Jackson, and he is the first self-made general since the time of Mark Antony and the king Antigonus, who has taken the head of the army and the head of the government prisoner in battle. Different from Mark Antony, he has spared the life of his captive, though forfeited by every law, human and divine."
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done ? What had the commandant at Matagorda done without orders ? Why was Woll despatched to Houston's camp ? Why was he detained in the Texan camp ? What were Filisola's orders to Urea ? To Andrade ? By whom was Filisola overtaken near Goliad ? What was their mission ? Did Filisola hesitate ? Was the treaty satisfactory to the Texians generally ? From what sources did opposition appear ? What gave acuteness to the opposition in the army ? What other view was taken of the question ? What occurred on the 1st of June ? What was the effect when it became known that Santa Anna had been allowed to leave ? What was done by the President ? How were the government officials affected ? What plot was discovered ? Did the first Congress favor his release ? What request did Santa Anna make of Houston ? Was he released ? How was he received by President Jackson ? How was he received at Vera Cruz ? Where did he go ? What became of the other Mexican prisoners ? What had President Burnet done in the preceding May ? What was the success of the commissioners ? When did the commissioners, Austin, Archer, and Wharton, return ?
CHAPTER XLIII.
THE ARMY.
GENERAL RUSK was in command of the army, which was much reduced in numbers after the battle. Men left whose term of service had expired, and volunteers, to look after their scattered families and to plant crops. There had been great exultation over the victory, but the destruction of property and homes, and the loss of many valuable lives, with the destitution that followed, brought a gloomy reaction. The army was, however, soon increased to upwards of two thousand by new recruits, chiefly from the United States. They were encamped in the region around and near Victoria.
While General Rusk and Colonel Burleson watched the retreat of the Mexicans on land, Major Isaac W. Burton, with twenty mounted men, was ordered to scour the coast and watch for Mexican craft that might make a landing for the purpose of communicating with the enemy. On the 2d of June a vessel appeared off Copano in the bay. Major Burton placed his men, "horse marines," in ambush, and at eight o'clock of the 3d signalled the vessel to send a boat ashore; this was done, and the five Mexicans on board were made prisoners. The boat was then manned by sixteen of Burton's
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men, who proceeded to take the vessel. She proved to be the Watchman, loaded with provisions for the Mexican army. They took their prize to Velasco, the then seat of government.
By the 17th of June, Burton had captured the Comanche and the Fannie Butler, both loaded with Mexican goods. The three prizes were valued at twenty-five thousand dollars. Early in April the Invincible, of eight guns, Captain Jeremiah Brown, after a two hours' fight, took the Mon- tezuma, Captain Thompson of Anahuac fame, off Brazos, San- tiago ; afterward the brig Pocket, from New Or- leans, bound for Matamoras. The Brutus, eight guns, Captain Hurd, and the Independence, eight guns, Cap- tain Hawkins, also belonged to the Texas navy. FORT ON THE BORDER.
To consider questions arising from these captures, Presi- dent Burnet commissioned Benjamin C. Franklin judge of the District of Brazos, including Galveston, and clothed him with admiralty jurisdiction.
On the 1st of June, General Rusk, then with a portion of the army at Goliad, ordered that the bones of the men mur- dered at that place be collected and buried with the honors of war.
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On the morning of the 3d of June the army was paraded within the fort, a procession was formed, with Colonel Sidney Sherman in command ; minute guns were fired, and they marched to the solemn strains of martial music to the grave, where the remains were deposited. General Rusk, personal friend and former neighbor of many of the dead in Georgia, in a brief address, recalled " the heroism of the brave band who had so nobly thrown themselves a barrier between the people of Texas and the legions of Santa Anna." When he dwelt for a moment upon the price of such a holocaust, the clenched teeth and quivering lips told that these men, five of whom had escaped the massacre, and now stood as "mourners," with " Remember Goliad !" for their war-cry, were ready for a repetition of San Jacinto. The next day General Andrade, marching from San Antonio to join Filisola at San Patricio, stopped before reach- ing Goliad, and asked permission for his army to pass along the Goliad road. General Rusk replied that should any portion of the Mexican army come within sight of his men he could not be responsible for the consequences. General Andrade thought it prudent, though laborious, to cut a road seven miles through the chapparal, to intersect the road from Goliad to San Patricio, and make a new crossing of the San Antonio River for their artillery and baggage.
Early in June, Filisola and Andrade crossed the Rio Grande with all the Mexican army, except the prisoners taken at San Jacinto, who, it will be remembered, were still in durance. General Rusk, with his command, returned to Victoria.
On the 9th of June, Captains Henry W. Karnes and Henry Teal, who had been sent commissioners to Matamoras under a flag of truce, but who were imprisoned there, despatched a letter stealthily to parties in Texas, saying that another inva- sion of Texas was in preparation, and the armies would be ready to move both by land and water in fifteen or twenty days.
It was known that Mexican emissaries had been among the Cherokee Indians, exciting them to hostilities in that quarter.
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Domestic troubles of a serious nature demanded all the Mexican forces at home, and the presence of United States soldiers on the northeastern frontier, according to a treaty between that country and Mexico, requiring them to keep the Indians from hostilities, quieted the Indians.
The question as to occupation and subsistence for the still increasing army became serious, and a descent upon Matamoras by sea was recommended, not with the view of trying to hold the place, but to make reprisal in whatever way they could. The absence of necessary vessels caused this plan to be abandoned.
QUESTIONS .- What can you tell of the army at this time ? What new service was ordered in May ? What was the first prize ? With what was she loaded ? To what place was she taken ? What other prizes were taken ? What was their value ? What prizes were taken.in June ? How was the court of admiralty improved ? What occurred at Goliad on the 1st of June ? What was done on the 3d of June ? What did General Andrade ask ? What was General Rusk's reply ? What did Andrade do ? When did Filisola cross the Rio Grande ? What new trouble now threatened the country ? What had become known in Texas ? What prevented the threatened invasion ? What question now became serious ?
CHAPTER XLIV.
ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE REPUBLIC.
THE constitution of the Republic fixed the time for the general election on the first Monday of September, and on the 23d of July President Burnet issued an order for the election of president, vice-president, and members of Congress. In addition, they were to vote on the ratification of the constitu- tion, clothing Congress with the power of revising and amend- ing the same, together with the annexation of Texas to the United States. Only the first and last received an affirmative vote.
Sam Houston was elected President and Mirabeau B. Lamar Vice-President. They were inaugurated on the 22d of October, 1836. General Stephen F. Austin was made Secretary of State ;
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Governor Henry Smith, Secretary of the Treasury ; Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War ; S. Rhoads Fisher, Secretary of the Navy; and James Pinkney Henderson, Attorney-General. Wil- liam H. Wharton first, and afterwards Memucan Hunt, were sent to Washington to urge upon that government an acknowl- edgment of the independence of Texas. Congress met at Columbia, on the Brazos, on the 3d of October, 1836, and organ- ized by electing® Richard Ellis of Red River Presi- dent pro tem. of the Senate, and Ira Ingram Speak- er of the House of Representatives. In resigning the government HOUSE IN WHICH THE FIRST CONGRESS MET AT COLUMBIA, OCTOBER 3, 1836. ad interim of the new Republic, on . the 22d of October, President Burnet delivered an able and exhaustive message, reviewing the acts of his administration, and making such suggestions as the extraordinary condition of affairs justified. With Vice-President Zavala, and much of the time with but one member of the cabinet-others being in the army, as was also the vice-president-Burnet held the govern- ment together for seven most trying and eventful months, with little to encourage him but his faith in the final triumph of their cause.
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