USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume I > Part 13
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DAN LEWIS. The nance of Dan Lewis is inscribed on the pages of San Antonio's history in connection with the records of her jurispru- dence, and he is now serving as the assistant county attorney. He was born at the old Lewis homestead near this city, his parents being Na- thaniel and Marian Francis (Liffreng) Lewis. The father, a native of Falmouth, Massachusetts, when but a youth went to sea and sailed to
Nathaniel Lewis.
various remote places of the earth, but in 1830, having come to Texas in a trading schooner, decided to make his home in this state. Accord- ingly he engaged in a mercantile and trading business at Indianola, on
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the coast, in company with a Mr. Owens, but a short time afterward came to San Antonio, and this city thereafter remained his home and headquarters. For a long number of years he was intimately associated with its business affairs and in the cattle industry. He was a member of the old time mercantile firm of Lewis & Groesbeck, established in the '30s and continuing until about the time of the Civil war. Being lo- cated on the Main Plaza, this was the leading establishment in South- western Texas in those early days, but the first store of Mr. Lewis was on Alamo Plaza, about where the I. & G. N. ticket office now stands, having been in business there at the time of the fall of the Alamo. In
During the Alamo Siege.
fact he managed to get into the Alamo, back and forth, several times, carrying supplies to the Texas soldiers, and it is quite probable that he was the last American to leave the Alamo alive before the fatal March 6th. Mr. Lewis was also the pioneer miller in San Antonio, establish- ing the first grist mill on the San Antonio river, at the well known Garden Street crossing, the same being operated by water power, and its old stone mill wheel is still an interesting relic in this city. Mr. Lewis also enjoyed the distinction of being the first cattleman operat- ing on a large scale in Southwestern Texas, he having had thousands of head of cattle on the great open range in the early days. He was a typical New England business man of push and energy, always inter- ested in some large enterprise, and was a valuable citizen in the early struggles of the young Republic of Texas and the town of San Antonio. During the days of the fighting of 1836 he left his business and joined General Houston in scouting duty for the Texas soldiers. On several occasions he was elected city alderman, also served as mayor pro tem., and there is probably no other name more closely or honorably connected with the history of San Antonio than that of Nathaniel Lewis. He was also extensively engaged in the freighting business, and at one time in the '50s he had one thousand carretas and a large herd of oxen in the freighting business between San Antonio and El Paso. His death oc- curred at his home in this city in 1873.
Dan Lewis, a son of this worthy old Texan pioneer, was born and reared at the old Lewis homestead in this city, a beautiful place com- prising about twenty acres on the San Antonio river, at a point where Fourth and Fifth streets now extend to the river. There was formerly a fine orchard on this place, and it possessed rural charms and attrac- tions that made it one of the most comfortable and attractive homes that could be imagined. Mr. Lewis received his early literary education in the private schools, while his professional studies were pursued at the Columbia Law School of New York City, in which he was graduated in 1878. Since that time he has engaged not only in the practice of his profession but has occupied various public positions in San Antonio and Bexar county. He served as deputy sheriff under his brother, Nat Lewis, and also as deputy district clerk during the incumbency of his brother in that office. During one of the early Callaghan administra- tions he served as the city recorder, and was also a member of the city council at the time extensive public improvements were made, in-
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cluding the building of the city hall. In the practice of law he was first in partnership with Judge Camp and J. O. Terrell, and the name became Terrell. Camp & Lewis, and subsequently he formed a partner- ship with Solon Stewart. In November, 1906, he was appointed assist- ant county attorney, the position he now so ably fills. His brother, Nat Lewis, has also for a long number of years been a prominent character in the public and political life of San Antonio and Bexar county.
Dan Lewis married Miss Edna Pearl Carter, a daughter of William Carter, formerly district attorney of Pearsall, Frio county, Texas, and they have a little daughter, Marian Frances Lewis.
Sam Houston
CHAPTER XV.
THE WINNING OF INDEPENDENCE-SAN JACINTO.
The actual winning of Texas independence was consummated dur- ing one short campaign lasting hardly six weeks, and within three months after the fall of the Alamo and the massacre at Goliad the Mex- ican forces were across the Rio Grande, and domination from the south was never again to seriously threaten the state.
Throughout the session of the convention there were alarms of in- vasion, the hostile army was known to be on Texas soil, the letters of Travis from the Alamo told the condition of siege at that place, although the news of the fall did not reach the convention until the 15th of the month. Immediately on his reappointment as commander in chief, Houston set to the work of preparation for war, sending out orders to Fannin to join him that he might march to the relief of Travis. But the impossibility of getting an adequate army together prevented any aggressive movements on the part of the commander in chief, and he was still at the headquarters in Gonzales when the calamity of the Alamo was reported. He had arrived at Gonzales on March II and taken command of "three hundred and seventy-four effective men, without two days' provisions, many without arms, and others without any ammu- nition"-according to his own report.
Rumors of the fall of the Alamo having reached Gonzales, on the 13th Houston sent out Deaf Smith, Henry Karnes and R. E. Handy to discover the exact fate of Travis and his command. About twenty miles from Gonzales thev met Mrs. Dickinson, who, besides confirming the worst fears concerning the Alamo, reported that a division of the Mexican forces under General Sesma was already marching eastward. The return of the scouts, with Mrs. Dickinson, created consternation at
Gonzales Abandoned.
Gonzales. The families of the thirty-two patriots, who a short time before had joined the Alamo garrison, were frantic with grief over their loss, while the approach of Sesma's forces threatened all the survivors with a similar fate. Aware that his force was too small to resist, Houston at once prepared to retreat. The baggage was thrown away, the only cannon were cast into the river, Gonzales was burned to the ground, and by midnight inhabitants and soldiers were hastening to the Colorado on the first stage of the famous "Runaway Scrape."
The campaign which followed was so counterwise to the aggressive and reckless spirits of the Texans, was so marked by retreats and seem- ing yielding to the enemy, and was so apparently aimless and fruitless that. had it not eventuated so happily and gloriously for Texas, it is probable that Sam Houston's name would today be a reproach and hu-
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miliation to the country which he indeed served so nobly and well. He was of cautious and conservative temper and kept his plans so completely to himself that charges of cowardice and inability naturally became more and more frequent among the restless citizens who saw their homes and country at the mercy of the ruthless invader and with nothing being done to check him. But Houston, amidst all clamor, persevered in his Fabian policy, and never once risked an engagement until he struck the final and decisive blow. Criticisms amounting to vituperation and vilification of every degree were hurled against him, but the fact that in after years his mistakes, such as he made, were forgotten, and that after the war he, like Washington, held the first place of regard among his countrymen, is evidence of the strength and nobleness of his own character and is ample justification of the course he pursued in winning independence for Texas.
The Runaway Scrape.
Gonzales was abandoned and burned on the 13th. Thence his course was to the Colorado, where he arrived on the 17th. By this time his force had increased to six hundred men. Two days were spent on the west side of the river, and then he crossed over and descended the river to Beason's Ford, near the present Columbus. On the 21st General Sesma, with 725 men, arrived on the opposite side of the river, but did not attempt to force a crossing in the face of Houston's army, which was rapidly increased to about twelve or fourteen hundred men.
This seemed a most opportune time to deal the invaders a crushing blow, and the reasons just why Houston did not take advantage of the occasion do not seem to have ever been made entirely clear, unless he had mapped out a general plan to withdraw his forces clear to the east- ern border and there engage the enemy when at a distance from their base of supplies and when overconfident with their previous success. Anyhow, there was an outburst of indignation on the part of the patriots when, on the 26th, continued retreat to the Brazos was ordered, and from that time on the ranks of the Texans were thinned by desertions. While at San Felipe two entire companies, under Mosely Baker and Wily Martin, refused to go farther, and were left behind, the former to guard San Felipe, and the latter to guard the Fort Bend crossing. One of these companies later rejoined the main army. Houston on the 29th moved up the Brazos to Groce's landing, and there encamped for nearly two weeks. From this point the movement began on the 14th of April which led to the San Jacinto river and to the scene of the final struggle. Mean- time this retreat and the removal of the seat of government from Wash- ington to Harrisburg threw the country into a panic. A large part of the male inhabitants were in the army, and as it retired eastward the settle- ments were left defenseless against a foe whose unsparing cruelty was only too well known. Every family therefore, taking only such property as their limited means of transportation could convey, hurried across the country or in long lines they thronged the passages over the swollen rivers, which every few miles opposed their course. It is no wonder that in such a period of anxiety and distress the soldiers under Houston be- came exasperated as his continued retrograde movement took them fur- ther from their homes and separated them from their families, whom they
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pictured involved in all the hardships of flight if not already a prey to the invaders. They grumbled, became openly insubordinate, and many deserted in order to protect their families, so that the original force of volunteers decreased until at the battle of San Jacinto less than eight hundred were actually engaged. Under such trying circumstances as these Houston's ability for leadership and control of those under him seem all the more remarkable, although a little more tact and frankness on his part might have lessened the friction.
After the fall of the Alamo and the successful operations of the Mex- ican forces in the vicinity of Goliad, Santa Anna believed the overthrow of the rebellion to be accomplished, and thus deceived gave his attention to occupying the country at the key positions, for this purpose dividing his army into several detachments. The division sent toward San Felipe and which came upon Houston's army at the Colorado was about seven hundred strong. Information then reached Santa Anna at San Antonio of the large revolutionary force concentrating under Houston, and he gave up his intention of returning to Mexico, and, sending word to two of his generals to advance their forces and co-operate with him at San Felipe, he himself set out with his staff and General Filisola and on the 5th of April joined Sesma's troops at the Colorado and took command in person. He then pushed on and reached San Felipe on the 7th. San Felipe was in ruins, having been set on fire by Baker on March 29th. The crossing was still guarded by Baker's company, and being impatient to end the campaign, Santa Anna, with 550 men, hastened down the river to Fort Bend, where he gained possession of the ferry, and where he was joined by Sesma on the 13th. Here he learned that Harrisburg, the seat of the rebel government, was only 35 miles away and unprotected, and being confident that the capture of the rebel government would mean the end of the revolution, he abandoned the pursuit of Houston and with- out waiting for General Gaona, who was to come from Bastrop on the Colorado, he hastened on to Harrisburg, leaving a large part of his troops under Filisola. On his arrival at Harrisburg he found the town almost deserted, the officials of Texas having embarked and escaped to Galveston Island, which was the seat of government until the destruction of Santa Anna's army. Santa Anna was informed of Houston's intention to re- treat to the Trinity by way of Lynch's Ferry (Lynchburg), and planned to intercept the rebels there and bring the campaign to an end. Instead of moving to that position at once, however, he proceeded down the San Ja- cinto river, after setting fire to Harrisburg, to New Washington in pur- suit of President Burnet and his cabinet. Failing in the latter object, he countermarched toward Lynch's Ferry and on the 20th came upon Hous- ton's army, and after a month of almost uninterrupted destroying progress he was brought to bay and overwhelmed at the famous battle of the San Jacinto.
While Houston was encamped at Groce's landing General Rusk, the secretary of war, was sent by the provisional government to urge upon the commander in chief the necessity of taking the offensive and giving battle to the invading host, and at the same time President Bur- net sent a letter in which he said: "The enemy are laughing you to scorn. You must fight them. You must retreat no farther. The coun-
Vol. I. 7
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try expects you to fight. The salvation of the country depends on your doing so."
Houston still kept his plans to himself. Perhaps no campaign policy has been subjected to more thorough scrutiny than his, and yet it is involved in uncertainty. There is some reason to believe that he planned to retreat as far as Nacogdoches, where he would make a final stand against Santa Anna, and in case of defeat be able to withdraw in safety beyond the Sabine under the protection of the American forces. It is known that General Gaines, the American commander, was eager to as- sist the independence cause, and held his forces on the east bank of the Sabine in readiness to attack should there occur an open violation of neutrality. But no plausible pretext for American intervention arose. Chafing under the delay and uncertainty, the Texas army was prepared to depose their commander in case he should continue the retreat to East Texas.
Despite the general dissatisfaction, the army was increased to al- most its size on the Colorado, and after a consultation between Rusk and Houston the movement from Groce's was begun on the 14th. Houston evidently intended to advance directly to Harrisburg, although his soldiers were not fully convinced of this until the road leading to Nacogdoches was passed. .
Harrisburg was reached April 18th. On the following day Houston and Rusk addressed the troops and gave them assurance that the de- cisive battle was to be fought and that the Alamo and Goliad were at last to be avenged. Leaving the baggage train and a guard for the sick and inefficient, the army, consisting of 783 men, marched down the left bank of Buffalo bayou, across Vince's bridge, and with only a few hours' rest, between midnight and daybreak, arrived at Lynch's Ferry early in the forenoon of the 20th.
The Battle.
1"Almost immediately upon their arrival at the ferry, the enemy's advance guard was seen approaching, and the Texans fell back about half a mile, to establish themselves in a live-oak grove on the bank of the bayou. In front of them and extending to the right towards Vince's bayou, was a prairie perhaps two miles in width, bounded on the south by a marsh; to the left was the San Jacinto river ; and at their back, Buf- falo bayou. Into this prairie the Mexicans soon filed from the direction of New Washington and formed their camp near the southern edge.
"Early in the afternoon Santa Anna advanced his artillery-one six-pounder-under cover of the cavalry, and fired a shot at the Texans, but this being immediately returned from the 'Twin Sisters' [two six- pound cannon presented to Texas by the people of Cincinnati], the cannon was hastily withdrawn to the protection of a cluster of timber, from which it continued to be fired at intervals throughout the afternoon. A few hours later Colonel Sherman, according to his own account, asked
1This account of the battle of San Jacinto was published in Vol. IV of the Tex. Hist. Assn. Quarterly by Eugene C. Barker, and is marked by a fair con- sideration of the best sources, both Texan and Mexican.
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and obtained permission to advance with mounted volunteers and at- tempt to capture it. But he got into a rather lively skirmish with the Mexican cavalry, creating a good deal of excitement in the Texan camp thereby, and returned with two men seriously wounded, one of whom afterwards died. Nothing else of interest occurred during the rest of the afternoon.
"On the morning of the 21st General Cos arrived with some four hundred man and increased Santa Anna's strength to 1,150 or 1,200. This gave the latter considerable advantage over Houston, and the Texans became apprehensive that in consequence their general would again try to avoid a battle and continue the retreat across the San Jacinto. As time passed and no preparation was made to attack, their fears, they thought, were verified, and the old question of deposing the commander- in-chief was revived.
"Some time during the forenoon Deaf Smith left camp to destroy Vince's bridge-not, as is quite popularly believed, for the purpose of making the approaching conflict a death struggle, but to obstruct the march of additional Mexican reinforcements. And about midday Hous- ton consented to a council of war in which it was decided to attack the enemy at daybreak the following morning ; but this decision being rather sullenly received by the majority of the army, the question was sub- mitted directly to them through their respective captains, and settled in favor of immediate attack.
"About three o'clock in the afternoon of April 21st, therefore, Hous- ton gave the order to prepare for action. The line having been formed, an advance was made upon the enemy which took them almost com- pletely by surprise, most of the officers, Santa Anna included, being asleep. The Mexicans mnade one confused effort to sustain the charge, then broke and fled in utter panic. The Texans pursuing, the rout be- came a slaughter which only stopped at nightfall-though the battle proper lasted perhaps not more than thirty minutes. Practically the entire Mexican force was either killed or captured, and of the Texans two were killed and twenty-three wounded-six mortally. The following day Santa Anna was captured and brought into camp, when an armistice was arranged between him and Houston providing for a cessation of hos- tilities until a permanent peace could be negotiated. And in the mean- time Filisola was to fall back from Fort Bend to San Antonio, and cause Urrea to do the same from Victoria."
Houston's Report.
On the 25th of April General Houston was able to write to President Burnet a report in answer to the latter's sharp words. This letter, writ- ten at the headquarters of the army on the San Jacinto, is in part as fol- lows :
"I have the honor to inform you that on the evening of the 18th instant, after a forced march of fifty-five miles, which was effected in two days and a half, the army arrived opposite Harrisburg. That even- ing a courier of the enemy was taken, from whom I learned that General Santa Anna, with one division of choice troops, had marched in the direction of Lynch's ferry, on the San Jacinto, burning Harrisburg as
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he passed down. The army was ordered to be in readiness to march early on the next morning. The main body effected a crossing over Buffalo Bavou, below Harrisburg, on the morning of the 19th, having left the baggage, the sick and a sufficient camp guard in the rear. We continued the march through the night, making but one halt on the prairie for a short time, and without refreshment. At daylight we re- sumed the line of march, and in a short distance our scouts encountered those of the enemy, and we received information that General Santa Anna was at New Washington, and would that day take up the line of march for Anahuac, crossing at Lynch's ferry. The Texan army halted within half a mile of the ferry, and were engaged in slaughtering beeves, when the army of Santa Anna was discovered to be in battle array."
Then follows the details of a skirmish between the two armies, after which the report continues: "All then fell back in good order to our encampment about sunset, and remained without any ostensible action until the 21st, at half past three o'clock, taking the first refreshment which they had enjoyed for two days. The enemy in the meantime extended the right flank of their infantry so as to occupy the extreme point of a skirt of timber on the bank of the San Jacinto, and secured their left by a fortification about five feet high, constructed of packs and baggage, leaving an opening in the center of their breastwork in which their ar- tillery was placed, their cavalry on their left wing. About nine o'clock on the morning of the 21st, the enemy were reinforced by 500 choice troops, under the command of General Cos, increasing their effective force to upward of 1500 men, whilst our aggregate force for the field numbered 783. At half past three o'clock I ordered the officers of the Texan army to parade their respective commands, having in the mean- time ordered the bridge on the only road communicating with Brazos [Vince's bridge], distant eight miles from our encampment, to be de- stroyed, thus cutting off any possibility of escape. Our troops paraded with alacrity and spirit, and were anxious for the contest. Their con- scious disparity in number seemed only to increase their enthusiasm and confidence, and heighten their anxiety for the conflict. Our situation afforded me an opportunity of making the arrangements for the attack without exposing our designs to the enemy."
The first regiment, commanded by Colonel Burleson, was assigned the center. The second regiment, under the command of Colonel Sher- man, formed the left wing of the army. The artillery was placed on the right of the first regiment, and the cavalry, under Mirabeau B. Lamar, on the extreme right completed the line. "Our cavalry was dispatched to the front of the enemy's left for the purpose of attracting their notice, whilst an extensive island of timber afforded us an opportunity of con- centrating our forces and deploying from that point. Every evolution was performed with alacrity, the whole advancing rapidly in line, and through an open prairie, without any protection whatever for our men. The artillery advanced and took station within two hundred yards of the enemy's breastwork, and commenced an effective fire with grape and canister.
"Colonel Sherman, with his regiment, having commenced the action upon our left wing, the whole line, at the center and on the right, ad-
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
vancing in double-quick time, rung the war cry 'Remember the Alamo,' received the enemy's fire, and advanced within point-blank shot before a piece was discharged from our lines. Our lines advanced without a halt until they were in possession of the woodland and the enemy's breast- work, the right wing of Burleson's and the left of Millard's taking pos- session of the breastwork. The conflict lasted about eighteen minutes from the time of close action until we were in possession of the enemy's
encampment. * Our cavalry had charged and routed that of the enemy upon the right, and given pursuit to the fugitives, which did not cease until they arrived at the bridge which I mentioned before, Captain Karnes, always among the foremost in danger, commanding the pursuers. The conflict in the breastwork lasted but a few minutes ; many of the troops encountered hand to hand, and, not having the advantage of bayonets on our side, our riflemen used their pieces as war clubs, breaking many of them off at the breech. The rout commenced at half past four, and the pursuit by the main army continued until twilight. A guard was then left in charge of the enemy's encampment, and our army returned with their killed and wounded. In the battle our loss was two killed and twenty-three wounded, six of whom mortally." The enemy's loss was 630 killed, 208 wounded, and 730 prisoners.
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