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 4
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of brass cannon. At first the Royalists planted their cannon at too great a distance. They then moved nearer and nearer, forc- ing their way within the town and under the walls of the fort. On the morning of the 20th, at eight o'clock, a fierce battle began, which continued until two P.M. The Royalists lost heavily, but removed their dead, although their retreat across the river was hastily effected. The Patriots had seven wounded but none killed. The Royalists now resolved to starve out the Patriots ; but Magee had found a good supply of corn and salt in the fort, and with the cattle grazing on the lands in the vicinity, which they drove in at night, they were furnished an abundance of beef.
THE "BATTLE OF THE WHITE COW."
On the 24th of January, 1813, the Royalists were driving up a white cow to kill for meat. She ran across the river towards the fort. A party of Americans-Patriots -started in pursuit, crossing the river. Here they were met by Royalists, and a fierce encounter took place, which lasted two hours, in which the Royalists lost two hundred men. The Americans had one man killed and six wounded. On the 10th of February, just before daylight, some Amer- icans fired upon the Royalist pickets. This was followed up until the whole force on both sides was engaged. It was a terrible fight, and the issue was doubtful, the Royalists charg- ing upon them with advantage three times ; but after the third assault they were driven in confusion across the river to their intrenchments, where they remained until the 16th, when they began their retreat to San Antonio.
About this time occurred the death of Colonel Magee, from consumption. The command devolved upon Kemper, who, on account of Magee's failing health, had been in actual command during their active operations with the Royalists.
QUESTIONS .- Who headed the revolution against Spain in Mexico ? In what year ? What occurred in San Antonio ? When was there a counter pronunciamento ? By whom
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was it led ? What was done with Casas ? What was the object of the Gachupin war ? What was the neutral ground ? By what class of people was it inhabited ? What was necessary for the safety of travellers ? Who was occasionally of this guard ? Who was he ? What class of men had occasionally taken refuge in Louisiana ? Who was among them ? For what was this period auspicious ? Why did Magee resign ? Who was associated with him ? What did they proceed to do ? For what purpose ? What did they promise ? Of what did their army consist ? Who were their officers ? Where did they camp ? When did they leave this camp ? Where did they go ? Did they meet with opposition at Goliad ? What did they do ? What had they been informed ? How were they surprised ? By whom were the Royalists commanded ? What occurred on the night of the 7th ? Why did the Royalists wait ? What was the Royalists' plan of attack ? When did the battle occur ? What did the Royalists resolve to do ? Were they successful ? What was the " battle of the White Cow " ? What was the number of Royalists killed ? Of Americans ? How many wounded ? Describe the next battle of this siege. What occurred about this time ? Who took command ?
CHAPTER XI.
BATTLE OF THE SALADO-SURRENDER OF SAN ANTONIO TO KEMPER-MURDER OF SALCEDO, HIERRERA, AND OTHERS BY DELGADO, CAPTAIN ROSS IN COMMAND-GENERAL ELISONDO APPEARS-BATTLE-ELISONDO DEFEATED.
MAJOR REUBEN Ross, who had been sent East for reën- forcements, now arrived with twenty-five Americans and thirty Cooshattie Indians from the Trinity. These last were under command of their chief, Charles Rollins. With their forces thus increased, they started to San Antonio in pursuit of the Royalists, who, hearing of their approach, went out to meet them. The two armies missed each other, the Americans taking the left-hand road by the mission of Espada. The Royalists were a short distance above, and, firing upon their left flank, gave the Americans the first indication of their presence. The Americans quickly formed in order of battle. The tap of the drum was to be the signal for a charge. The Cooshatties on the right flank, misunderstanding the signal, rushed into the midst of the enemy, where a fierce hand-to- hand fight took place, in which they lost several of their best men. They killed a large number of the Royalists. In the meantime the Patriots of the centre and left made a gallant
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charge, and in less than twenty minutes the enemy were fly- ing from the field in every direction, in spite of the desperate efforts of their officers to rally them. These behaved with the greatest courage, meeting their sure fate like men who preferred death to defeat. Consequently a large proportion of Spanish officers was killed. The Royalists, with an army of 2,500, lost, in killed, 330 ; in prisoners, 60 ; six pieces of artillery, and all their baggage. The Americans had six killed and 20 wounded. The Royalists retreated to San Antonio.
The Americans took possession of the Mission Concepcion, and began to besiege San Antonio on the 3d of March. On the 4th, Salcedo, the Royalist general, sent out a flag of truce, proposing a parley. Colonel Kemper demanded their surrender as prisoners of war, and the delivery of San An- tonio into his possession. This was agreed upon on the 6th, and the Americans, their Mexican allies, and the Cooshattie Indians marched in and took possession as the Spaniards marched out, leaving their arms stacked, the officers being retained as prisoners. On the 7th, Bernardo Gutierez, in command of the Mexican Patriots, ordered the guard of the Royalist officers-prisoners of war-to deliver up Salcedo, Herrera, and ten other officers, upon a false pretext, to a company of Mexicans under command of Juan Delgado, producing an order to that effect from Colonel Kemper. The order was obeyed, and Delgado marched them out to the Salado battle-ground, had their throats cut, and their bodies thrown into the stream. One poor victim begged that he might be shot, and he was gratified. Delgado was court- martialled, and in his trial urged in excuse that Salcedo had murdered his father while a prisoner of war, fighting under the patriot Hidalgo. The Americans condemned the act as infamous, and most of the officers left the country in disgust, among them Kemper, who had been deceived.
There still remained an organized number, determined
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on establishing an independent republic in Texas. Captain Ross was their commander. On the 17th of June, 1813, General Elisondo appeared on the heights of Alazan Creek, a mile west of San Antonio, with about three thousand troops. Ross, who relied on his Mexican allies, was warned by his Mexican wife that these were planning to desert, when he urged a retreat. This the other American officers stoutly opposed, when he left for Louisiana, taking a few men with him. Perry was then elected to the command.
Elisondo sent in a demand for the surrender of San Antonio, with the pledge that the Americans should be per- mitted to return to their country, but that Delgado and the Mexicans should be surrendered and held answerable for the murder of the Spanish officers. This demand determined the Mexican allies to maintain their allegiance to the Ameri- cans, and they united with Perry in sending Elisondo a blunt rejection of his proposal.
During the night of the 17th the Americans cautiously moved out of the city and drew so near to the Royalists, that early the next morning they burst furiously upon them, throwing them into the utmost confusion. The Royalists partially rallied, and a battle of four hours raged hotly, when the Spaniards fled in wild disorder, Elisondo himself barely escaping capture. He lost four hundred men in killed and badly wounded, and a large amount of ammunition and stores. The Americans had twenty killed and forty-four wounded.
Elisondo lost no time in crossing the Nueces, leaving the Americans in possession of the country. Gutierez, in dis- favor with all, left Texas and removed with his family to Louisiana.
QUESTIONS .- Of what did the reinforcements brought by Ross consist ? What did they do ? What was done by the Royalists ? Why did they not meet ? How did the Americans discover them ? What was the result of the Cooshatties misunderstanding the signal ? What was done by the Patriots ? With what result ? What was the Royalist loss ? What the American ? What did the Royalists do ? The Americans ? What occurred on the 4th of March ? What did Kemper demand ? With what result ? What did Gutierez
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demand on the 7th ? Was the order obeyed ? What was their fate ? What excuse did Delgado offer for this cruelty ? What effect did this act of Delgado have upon the Ameri- cans ? Was this idea of an independent republic abandoned ? Who was their com- mander ? What Mexican general appeared at this time ? What was his force ? What warning did Ross receive ? What did he do ? Who took command of those who re- mained ? What did Elisondo demand ? What was his pledge ? What of Delgado and the Mexicans ? How did this affect the Mexicans ? Did Perry surrender ? What oc- curred on the night of the 17th ? Which were victorious ? What was Elisondo's loss ? The American ? What did Elisondo do ? Gutierez ?
CHAPTER XII.
ARRIVAL OF TOLEDO-BATTLE OF THE MEDINA-BETRAYAL AND FATAL RESULTS.
A NEW champion for the Patriot cause appeared in San Antonio, General José Alvarez Toledo. He was a Cuban Spaniard, was a member at one time of the Spanish Court in Mexico, but betraying sympathy with the Patriots in that country, he was obliged to seek safety, as others had done, in Louisiana. He was warmly welcomed by the Americans, who elected him commander-in-chief ; but, being a Spaniard- a " Gachupin "-he was regarded with jealousy by the Mexi- cans, especially by Manchaca, who had succeeded Gutierez in the command of the Mexican allies.
Toledo, statesman as well as soldier, proceeded to restore order to the civil department of the government in San Antonio, and to introduce measures of discipline into the army. Knowing that the Royalists would not abandon San Antonio, he kept prepared against surprise.
On the 24th of July, 1813, General Joaquin Arredondo, commanding general of the eastern internal provinces of Mexico, left Laredo with four thousand troops, to recapture . Goliad and San Antonio, and to recover possession of Texas. He was joined on the west of the Nueces by Elisondo and his scattering troops.
Arredondo made a reconnoissance by scouts, halting six miles south of the Medina, where he threw up breastworks
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in the form of a horizontal >, with the open space towards San Antonio. About six hundred of his men were thrown forward of the breastworks as a decoy. On the 17th of Au- gust, Toledo, with his Patriot forces, moved out of San Antonio to meet the enemy, crossing the Medina without opposition.
On the 18th the Patriot forces advanced with impetuos- ity, the enemy yielding ground, until, such was the fierceness of the pursuit, they turned and fled, rushing through the apex of their > intrenchments. Toledo, discovering the de- coy and that the Americans were rushing into it, sounded a recall. Confusion followed. The left wing obeyed, but the centre and right, enraged at what they thought Toledo's treachery, continued to rush forward until they were sur- prised by a destructive fire from Arredondo's entire reserved force. The Mexicans fled, but the Americans and Indians fought with such desperation that the enemy's cavalry were on the point of retreating, when treachery gave them the day. Musquiz deserted from Toledo's ranks with his whole com- pany of Mexicans, and reported the few Americans fainting from excessive heat, parched with thirst, their ammunition exhausted, and their defeat certain. Arredondo, with some of his reserved companies, now made a furious attack, and the Americans were obliged to yield.
The work of slaughter began. Most of those who were not slain in battle were overtaken in their retreat and killed .* Elisondo, glad to avenge his former defeat, pursued the fugi- tives, and, at Spanish Bluff on the Trinity, overtook, cap- tured, and shot about seventy-five, their bodies falling into the river. Manchaca and Delgado were among the victims.
* The bones of the dead were to be seen for several years scattered over the battle-ground of the Medina. In 1822 Colonel Felix Trespalacios, Gov- ernor of Texas under Iturbide's rule in Mexico, had the skulls collected and interred with military honors. On a large oak tree he placed a tablet with this inscription : " Here lie the braves, who, imitating the immortal example of Leonidas, sacrificed their lives and fortunes contending against tyrants."
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Perry made his escape, and General Toledo escaped to the United States. In 1815 he was tried in the United States District Court of Louisiana for violating the neutrality law. He asserted that, with two thousand such troops as those Americans, he could plant the Patriot standard on the walls of Mexico. Arredondo imprisoned seven hundred Mexican citizens, and, on the night of August 20th, con- fined three hundred in one room, several of whom died from heat. He made captives of five hundred females of the fami- lies of the Patriots, whom he compelled to do menial labor for his army. All who could escape left their homes and crossed into Louisiana. Most of the towns and settlements were desolated.
QUESTIONS .- What new champion of the Patriot cause now appeared ? What can you say of him ? How was he received by the Americans ? How was he regarded by the Mexicans ? What measures of reform did Toledo inaugurate ? What did General Arre- dondo do in July, 1813 ? What was his force ? What was his object ? By whom was he joined ? What precautions did Arredondo take ? What occurred on the 17th ? What occurred on the 18th ? What did Toledo discover ? What did he do ? What followed ? How did the troops fight ? What gave the Royalists the day ? What was Musquez's conduct ? What did he report to the Royalists ? What was the result of Arredondo's next attack ? What was the fate of those not slain in battle ? Who were among the victims ? What became of Perry ? Of Toledo ? For what was Toledo tried in 1815 ? What did he assert ? How did Arredondo treat the prisoners ? What was the condition of the country ?
CHAPTER XIII.
GALVESTON-HERRERA TAKES POSSESSION-MINA'S EXPEDI- TION-DEATH OF PERRY'S COMMAND-PERRY'S DEATH BY HIS OWN HAND-LA FITTE.
GALVESTON was named for the Count de Galvez, once a viceroy of Mexico under Spain, "the most magnanimous that ever occupied the vice-regal palace," afterwards Spanish Governor of Louisiana and Texas.
Little of historic interest is known of Galveston prior to 1816. It was a favorite hunting and fishing resort for the .
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Carancahua Indians. It was possibly visited by La Salle in 1685, and by shipwrecked mariners, and probably was a hid- ing place for illicit commerce in slaves for the Louisiana market or other smuggling expeditions.
In September, 1816, Herrera, Mexican commissioner of the Patriot party of Morelos in the United States, from his temporary headquarters in New Orleans, seeing the great advantages of Galveston as a port of entry for privateering purposes, came with Commodore Louis d'Aury and his fleet of twelve vessels and took possession of the island.
Louis d'Aury was an accomplished French naval officer. He had distinguished himself in the revolutionary struggles in Venezuela and New Granada. In the siege of the latter he bore away to places of safety in the West Indies hundreds of men, women, and children, breaking through a Royalist squadron of thirty-five sail with his little fleet of twelve or fifteen vessels. Herrera raised the republican standard of Mexico on Galveston Island, administered the oath of alle- giance to Aury and his men, organized a civil government, as well as military, giving to Aury a commission as commodore of privateering and as civil and military governor of Texas.
About this time the families of several French officers, refugees from France on the downfall of Napoleon, had been given lands in Alabama for the cultivation of vineyards. Failing in this, they became scattered. A few stopped on the Trinity ; the larger number went to Galveston Island. An occasional officer took service under Aury ; others, not wish- ing to swear allegiance to Mexico, left the island.
In November, Francis Xavier Mina visited Galveston. He was a Spanish officer of distinction who had fought against Napoleon in the Peninsular war, and fled first to Eng- land, then across the ocean to Baltimore. Being strongly tinctured with republican principles, he resolved to aid Mex- ico in her struggles to establish that form of government. With this in view he joined Herrera on Galveston Island with
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a few small vessels and about two hundred men, encamping west of the earthen fort built by Aury. Here also was Captain Perry, who had escaped from Elisondo with Toledo at the time of the massacre at Spanish Bluff, and was occupying Bolivar Point with about one hundred men. The United States did not recognize the Republican Government of Mexico, consequently they did not regard Herrera's com- mission to Aury as valid, and so condemned his privateering expeditions, by which he had swept all Spanish vessels from the Gulf, as piracy. Perry and Mina combined in organiz- ing skeletons of regiments with officers, the ranks to be filled with patriot Mexicans whom they expected to join their standard as soon as they entered that country. Aury had in view the revolution of Texas, of which he had already been appointed governor ; and as he had relied on the aid of Perry's men, he became jealous and succeeded in infusing a spirit of jealousy among the officers, which operated against their success.
Perry decided to join the expedition into Mexico with his men. They set sail from Galveston on the 27th of March, 1817, with a fleet of seven vessels and a force of three hundred men. After a stormy voyage they landed at Sota la Marina. Here Aury abandoned the enterprise soon after landing. Perry became dissatisfied, and, with Major Gordon and fifty- one of his men, set out on foot on a march of three hundred leagues across the wilderness for Goliad, the scene of his first exploit in Texas.
When Captain Perry reached Goliad he found it garrisoned with Spanish soldiers. He attacked the fort with such fury, that the commander was considering terms of surrender, when, unexpected reinforcements arriving, he renewed the fight, and every man in Perry's command was killed, Perry alone escaping. It was said that he ran to the shade of a tree, and in his frenzy shot out his own brains. Mina's noble and generous efforts in the cause of liberty for Mexico were
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occasionally successful, but he was captured and shot on the 11th of November, 1817.
QUESTIONS .- For whom was Galveston named ? Who was he ? What is known of Galveston prior to 1816 ? Who probably visited it, and for what purpose ? By whom was it first occupied as a seaport ? Who came with him ? Who was Aury ? What had he done during the Venezuela and Granada struggles ? What was done by Herrera on land- ing at Galveston Island ? What office was given to Aury ? What refugees came to the island about this time ? What became of them ? Who visited the island in 1816 ? Where had he fought ? Why did he join Herrera ? What American was already on the island ? Why was he there ? What was the number of his men ? Why was Aury's privateering condemned by the United States ? What combination was formed ? Whom did they expect to become officers ? Why did not Aury join them ? What did he succeed in doing ? What was Perry's decision ? When did they sail ? What was the number of vessels and men ? Where did they land ? What did Aury do ? What did Perry then do ? What did he find on reaching Goliad ? Was he successful ? What was his fate and that of his men ? What was Mina's fate ?
CHAPTER XIV.
LA FITTE THE PIRATE (continued)-HE IS DRIVEN FROM GALVESTON.
IN 1817, Jean la Fitte, the pirate, arrived at Galveston. He was of a French family, born in Bayonne, who had re- moved to the West Indies. During an insurrection of the slaves in the West Indies, in 1793, the La Fitte family, with many others, took refuge in New Orleans. La Fitte and his brothers were blacksmiths in New Orleans. The two brothers, Jean and Pierre, were men of remarkable physical and mental force, and Jean was particularly commanding in form and manner. In course of time they became agents for smuggling vessels putting into the shallows along the coast of Louisiana.
When the war broke out between Carthagena and Spain the La Fitte brothers obtained " letters of marque " (per- mission by law) to capture Spanish vessels wherever found. They built themselves forts along the coast of Louisiana to protect their own commerce, to which these letters gave the sanction of law. After keeping the trade of New Orleans
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demoralized for about four years, they were broken up by Commodore Patterson of the United States Navy.
The war between Great Britain and the United States was in progress, and La Fitte was offered a commission in the British Navy ; but meeting with Ellis P. Bean, a survivor of Nolan's expedition, he decided to join him in . tendering his services to General Jackson at New Orleans, January 8, 1815, where he fought with such bravery that Presi- dent Madison gave him a full pardon for past offences.
Still sailing under Venezuelan colors, he was preparing to attack a Spanish vessel when it was discovered that the time granted by his let- ters of marque had ex- pired. He then gave his men choice as to remain- ing with him and becom- ing pirates, or taking a LA FITTE. sufficient number of ves- sels and returning home. With those who chose the former he began "his career as a pirate, with headquarters at Galveston. Ile adopted the flag of the Mexican Republic, built a fort and a gorgeous resi- dence, where he entertained distinguished visitors to the island in great pomp and show, and declared himself Gov- ernor of Texas. He claimed for his voyages the sanction of lawful privateering.
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La Fitte required all on the island, and captains and crews of vessels in the harbor, to take the oath of allegiance to the Mexican Republic ; appointed a military and marine com- mandant, judge of admiralty, notary public, secretary of state and treasury, administrator of revenue, and mayor du place. This organization was made on board the Carmelita, a vessel lying in the harbor, and without a seal of office. He pro- vided for the distribution of their gains, and agreed to pay the expenses of Aury's administration, "provided they were residents."
By the close of the second year the population had in- creased to about one thousand. They were of all nations and languages, many of whom, fleeing with their families from justice or oppression, found refuge or employment in the prosperous colony of the pirate.
Both Spain and the United States complained of La Fitte's interference with their commerce, but neither took measures to suppress this until, in 1820, an American vessel in Matagorda Bay was seized by one of La Fitte's cruisers, robbed, and sunk in the bay. The United States Government sent a commissioner to investigate the transaction, with posi- tive instructions to break up the settlement.
La Fitte tried to soften the officer's rigid requirements with the greatest display of hospitality, but he was compelled to make ready his little fleet and bid final adieu to the shores of Texas in 1821.
QUESTIONS .- What noted character arrived in Galveston in 1817 ? Where was he from ? Why had he come to this country ? What was his occupation ? What was the beginning of his career as pirate ? What was the second step ? How and by whom was this business broken up ? Why did he not accept a commission in the British Navy ? Who was Bean ? How did La Fitte conduct himself ? What did President Madison do for him ? What was his next exploit ? Where were his headquarters ? What flag did he adopt ? How did he live on the island ? What did he claim ? How did he organize his community ? Where was this organization made ? For what did he provide ? What did he promise Aury ? Of what classes was the population composed ? What was the imme- diate cause of La Fitte's being driven from Galveston Island ? When did this occur ?
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CHAPTER XV.
LONG'S FIRST EXPEDITION.
THE next expedition into Texas for the purpose of wrest- ing it from Spain and making it an independent republic was led by Dr. James Long, a Tennesseean by birth, but residing in Natchez, Mississippi. He was familiar with the plans and fate of Nolan's expedition, and also of the Magee, Kemper, and Perry ; but flattered himself that, profiting by what he considered their mistakes, he should succeed. Dr. Long, taking with him his wife and one child, left Natchez on the 17th of June, 1819, with seventy-five men. Others joined him on the march, among them Davenport and Gutierez, and several who had been exiled from Texas on the disastrous failure of their enterprise. They reached Nacogdoches with about three hundred men. At Nacog- doches they organized a provisional government with a supreme council, and issued a proclamation declaring Texas a "free and independent republic." They enacted liberal laws for the disposition of the public lands, and established a newspaper ; and, to spread over and occupy the country, David Long, the doctor's brother, established a trading- house among the Indians on the lower Trinity, Captain Johnson another at the Falls of the Brazos. Captain Walker was to build a fort on the Brazos ; Major Cook another at Pecan Point on Red River ; while Captain Smith, who had come by water, bringing forty additional men, was ordered to the Cooshattie Village on the Trinity.
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