USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume I > Part 16
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One took possession of a store house, and refused all proffers of capitulation. With his bow and quiver, he guarded the narrow passage; it being after night and
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quite dark, no one could enter the door without the certainty of death. They at- tempted to smoke him out, but he withstood red pepper, tobacco and assafoetida. A Mexican then made a ball of turpentine, and set it on fire, in hopes of illuminating the room, so that the Indian could be seen. It happened to light on the top of his head and stick ; he came bounding out of the room, the turpentine blazing four feet high. It made him too good a mark to be missed, and at the same instant he was pierced by several rifle balls.
Republic of the Rio Grande.
During Lamar's term the Mexican federalists were active in endeav .- oring to secure the co-operation of the Texans in a revolution against the central government, proposing to set up a separate federation among some of the northern states. These proposals met with no favor among the Texan authorities, but they attracted a number of restless spirits, seek- ing adventure and military glory. The"Republic of the Rio Grande" was short-lived mainly because of the fickleness and treachery of the Mexicans who tried to set it up. The Americans who took part in the movement displayed their characteristic bravery and defiance of Mexican force, and when deserted by their federalist allies they on several occasions scattered the overwhelming forces opposed to them and succeeded in reaching Texas in safety.1
Santa Fe Expedition.
One other military expedition of this period is worthy of note, al- though ending in a complete fiasco. The Texas congress of 1836 claimed as its southwestern boundary line the Rio Grande to its source. Within this territory lies Santa Fe and a large part of New Mexico, and it was proposed to open up commercial relations with this rich city and if pos- sible establish Texan authority over that country. This movement failed to obtain the sanction of the congress, and was therefore mainly a private enterprise, although President Lamar gave his support to it and gave of- ficial instructions as to its course. The expedition, consisting of about
1The following quotation from a contemporary source indicates the general facts about the "Republic."
The intelligence from Mexico, relative to the formation of a new republic in the northern part of that country, is important. The design is to establish a confeder- acy of federal states. The provinces embraced within the new organization are New Leon, Zacatecas, Durango, Chihuahua and New Mexico. Instead of persever- ing in the attempt to revolutionize the whole of Mexico, the federalists have adopted what appears to be the wiser course of concentrating themselves in those parts where their numbers are greatest and their resources most abundant. It is alto- gether probable that such of their adherents as are scattered through the more southern portions of the' country will now resort to the north, and unite themselves with the new republicans of Rio Grande.
The victory of Guzman over the centralists will give the federal leaders a res- pite, for a time at least, and freedom from the dread of an immediate attack. This will be favorable to the regular establishment of the new government, and to the systematic arrangement of future proceedings. Guzman's triumph is reported to have been complete ; all the artillery and baggage of the enemy were taken, besides many prisoners. The great object of the federalists is now to capture Matamoras. It is garriscned by general Canalizo with about six hundred men of the central forces-other accounts say one thousand.
It appears that a part of the territory embraced by the newly organized govern- ment is included within the limits of Texas. This fact places the latter in a position somewhat embarrassing-since while wishing well to the cause of the federalists, she must yet be doubtful whether to regard them as, personally, friends or enemies. La-
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three hundred soldiers, set out from Austin in June, 1841, the distance from there to Santa Fe being about a thousand miles and the way beset with difficulties and dangers and privations. There was an insufficient supply of provisions, the desert regions offered little water or grass, and if a straggler got away from the main force he at once fell prey to the watchful Indians.
General Hugh McLeod was the leader, and others in the company were Colonel William G. Cooke, Major George T. Howard, Captain Cald- well, Captain Sutton, Captain W. P. Lewis, Lieutenants Lubbock, Mun- son, Brown and Seavy, Dr. Brashear, the surgeon, Dr. Richard F. Bren- ham, José Antonio Navarro, George Wilkins Kendall, editor of the New Orleans Picayune, Frank Combs, Mr. Hunt, George P. Van Ness, Mr. Fitzgerald and others well known in Teaxs. The commissioners were Cooke, Navarro and Brenham. After proceeding in a general northwest- erly direction until reaching a spot on the Llano Estacado (Staked Plains) west of Palo Duro, the expedition divided, one division proceeding in a northerly direction and the other bearing off to the northwest. The latter party, arriving at what is now the southern part of Union county, N. M., headed for the town of San Miguel. On the way several members of the party died and hardships innumerable were encountered, including fights with marauding bands of Plains Indians. When near San Miguel on Sep- tember 14, a detachment was sent forward with letters to the alcalde, noti- fying the latter of the approach of a party in every way pacific, which de- sired to purchase provisions. Proclamations were also distributed among the citizens, notifying them that the expedition was sent out for purpose of trade, and that if the inhabitants of New Mexico were not disposed to join, peacefully, the Texas standard, the visitors were to retire immedi- ately. Soon afterward, while near Anton Chico, they came upon a native who informed them that their approach was known to the inhabitants and that great excitement existed in the town in consequence of General Arm- ijo's informing the populace that the intention of the visitors was to burn and kill as they proceeded. He also stated that four of the reconnoitering party had been taken prisoners at Santa Fe. Not long afterward the little detachment of five or six which had been left was surrounded by a hun- dred or more Mexicans armed with lances, swords, bows and arrows, and
redo, the place at which the convention of Rio Grande met, is on Texan ground, ac- cording to the boundaries established by the congress at Houston.
The invasion of Texas had been fully determined on and in fact begun by the Mexicans. It remains to be seen whether the new position assumed by the federal- ists will have any effect towards delaying the movement. It is stated in the New Orleans Bulletin of 14th inst. that suggestions had been thrown out that the Mexi- can government was endeavoring to make terms with the federalists and proposing a compromise. One foe at a time is usually enough. Mexico especially, of all na- tions, ought to think so. Her weakness, resulting from intestine divisions and im- becility of government, affords a presumption that the efforts of the federalists, if they are resolute and united, will be successful. The population of the insurgent provinces is said to comprise the hardiest and most manly portion of the Mexican people. Their pursuits have been agricultural; they have dwelt remote from the capital, thus escaping in a great measure the influences which have corrupted the middle and southern districts; and their leaders are brave men, who have been long fixed in their hostility to the tyrannical tendencies of the central government. (Niles National Register, Apr. 4, 1840. )
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old-fashioned carbines, under the leadership of Dimasio Salazar, who ad- dressed them as amigos, or friends. After surrounding them on all sides, Salazar informed the party that it was contrary to law for foreigners to enter the province with arms, and requesting that all weapons be given into his safekeeping. The request was acceded to, and the little band soon found itself helpless and surrounded. Suddenly the friendly attitude of the captors changed and they found themselves facing the carbines of a dozen of the Mexicans; and had it not been for the friendly interference of one of the Mexicans, who maintained that the party had a right to see the governor before their cases were acted upon, all undoubtedly would have been shot down. As it was, they were taken to San Miguel and placed in prison, and the next day marched out ten leagues to meet Gov- ernor Armijo, who greeted them as had Salazar-as friends, and informed them that he was an honorable man and not an assassin, and, moreover, a great warrior.
The day following found the Plaza of San Miguel filled with armed men, a few regular troops being stationed immediately about the person of Armijo, while more than nine-tenths of the so-called soldiers were mis- erably deficient in every military appointment. One of the Texans, Sam- uel Howland, attempting to escape, was captured and shot in the back by a squad of soldiers. Howland was well known in New Mexico, having lived in Santa Fe several years before. The governor offered him his life and liberty if he would betray his companions who had not yet been cap- tured, but he rejected the offer with scorn.
It was on the afternoon of September 17 that Colonel Cooke and his men surrendered at Anton Chico, having been betrayed by Captain Will- iam P. Lewis, a member of the expedition. Three days later they started on their long march toward the City of Mexico, the place of their captiv- ity. Lewis, who had made their capture easy by his treachery, was re- warded by Armijo by "safe conduct" through the province. The detach- ment of San Miguel were still retained in prison there. About three weeks later tremendous excitement was created in San Miguel by a re- port that the dreaded Texans were advancing in countless numbers. Oc- tober 12 the remainder of the Texan prisoners, who had been captured near Laguna, Colorado, on the gth, more than one hundred and fifty in number, were marched into the plaza of San Miguel, and it soon became generally understood that all the captives were to be sent to the City of Mexico. Armijo soon afterward released four of the prisoners, but the rest were soon compelled to begin their tiresome march to the capital. They started October 17, and arrived at the capital in several divisions in the spring of 1842. In April part of the prisoners were released, at the intercession of foreign ministers, on the plea that they were not Tex- ans and had joined the expedition without being aware of any ulterior motive on the part of its promoters. The remainder, after being confined a few weeks in various Mexican prisons, some of them being compelled to work upon the public highways in chains, were released by order of General Santa Anna, June 13, 1842. The only exception was Navarro, Mexican by birth and a member of a distinguished family, who was con- demned to death. He escaped from prison, however, and ultimately re- turned to Texas.
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Historians are now agreed that the first Texan Santa Fe expedition was not, as Kendall appears to have believed, simply for the purpose of developing closer trade relations between Texas and Santa Fe by the di- vision of some of the trade between the New Mexican capital and Missouri river points, but that the military character of the expedition and the well- known desires of the Texans were sufficient warrant for the belief that they could make good their claim to the territory lying east of the Rio Grande. Not daunted by the disasters which overtook the original party, a second expedition was planned a year later, though the actual descent upon the coveted country did not take place until i843.
Foreign Recognition.
During this administration Texas became recognized by various na- tions as an independent and sovereign state. Recognition had been ac- corded by the United States in 1837. Texas' inclination to a free-trade policy gained her favor with England, and a commercial treaty was ne- gotiated between them in 1838, and recognition as an independent gov- ernment was extended in 1842, although not without much opposition from the anti-slavery element in England. In 1839 a treaty was signed between France and Texas, although diplomatic relations were later
J. CUMMINGS EVANS, of San Antonio, was born in New Hampshire and acquired his business education in New York City, where as a youth he was employed as a clerk in a bank, but the close confinement conse- quent upon that business connection impaired his health and he came to Texas in 1858 to recuperate through outdoor life. Here through the in- fluence of his uncle, R. W. Montgomery, who at that time was a business man of New Orleans and had close personal connection with George Wil- kins Kendall, the noted newspaper man and traveler, Mr. Evans made his way to New Braunfels, Comal county, where he arrived on the 15th of June, 1858, having not yet attained his majority. He secured an advan-
George Wilkins Kendall.
tageous business opening through his introduction to Mr. Kendall, one of the distinguished men of the south. He was born in Vermont, in 1807, acquired a thorough education and when a youth was employed in a news- paper office in that state, learning the printer's trade and there making his start as a writer. Some time in 1830 he made his way to New Orleans, where he founded the New Orleans Picayune, the oldest and most noted early newspaper of the south. He remained as editor and proprietor of the paper until about 1840, when he had it so well established that he de- cided to relinquish active management of the property and further grat- ify his wish to travel. Accordingly he came to the Republic of Texas, which at that time was under the presidency of his friend, Mirabeau La- mar. At that time the famous ill-fated Santa Fe expedition was being or- ganized in Texas. This expedition was got up by the people of the Re- public of Texas under semi-official authority and sanction to make a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and there meet the people and officials of that territory in a friendly way, seeking their acquaintance and cultivating trade and other relations that would be of advantage to both countries.
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severed for a time, as above mentioned. And in 1840 Holland and Belgium held out the hand of fellowship to the infant republic across the seas.
Location of Capital.
One very important act of the administration was the permanent location of the capital. We have seen that the first congress met at Columbia on the Brazos. The next capital was Houston, which was chosen by the first congress and was laid out in time for the second session, this continuing the seat of government until 1840. In January, 1839, a bill was passed by which five commissioners were to locate a permanent capital, and it is evidence of the foresight of those early leg- islators that they provided the capital town should be between the Trinity and Colorado rivers and above the old San Antonio road. Nearly all the settlements were at this time south of that famous highway-which had been the route between Louisiana and Mexico ever since the days of French and Spanish occupation-but it was seen that in a few years this line would be southeast of the center of population as it was of the geographical center. The commissioners laid out the seat of govern- ment on the north bank of the Colorado river, and most fitly gave it the
President Lamar commissioned Mr. Kendall to go with that expedition as a guest in the capacity of writer and traveler to write and report his ob- servations and opinions. As is told on other pages, this expedition had a treacherous fate soon after crossing the line of Texas into New Mexico. A majority of the members of the expedition were shot dead and the re- mainder were taken prisoners to Santa Fe. All of them were taken by. the Mexico authorities as prisoners in chains to the city of Mexico, making the long toilsome journey on foot and subjected to the most inhuman treatment both while en route and after reaching Mexico City, where they were placed in prison. Later, however, they were released. One of Mr. Kendall's most celebrated literary productions followed his return to Texas from his imprisonment and was entitled the Santa Fe Expedition, published by Messrs. Harper & Brother of New York. This book is the most complete and the only authoritative account of that affair. It is written in masterly English and replete with such a wealth of interesting detail that it is not only a valuable historic narrative, but a most fascinating work of adventure.
Sheep Industry.
It was in the early '50s that Mr. Kendall began his sheep operations in Texas, which, growing to such large proportions, led to his being known as the founder and the king of that business in Texas. He brought his family to this state in 1856 and they lived with him on the frontier in face of the most trying Indian troubles. He had first made his headquarters in the sheep-raising industry near New Braunfels, in Co- mal county, but later at the noted Post Oak ranch near Boerne in what is now Kendall county, but was then a part of Comal county. When the new county was organized it was named Kendall in honor of George Wilkins Kendall, his general prominence and his extensive interests entitling him to that distinction. He died at his home on the Post Oak ranch in 1867.
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name of Austin, where the government buildings were soon erected, the first sessions of congress being held practically on the outskirts of the wilderness.
Archive War.
In 1842, when a Spanish invasion was threatened, President Hous- ton decided that Austin was too unprotected a place for the meeting of the government, and a special session convened in June of that year at Houston, and the regular session of December met at Washington. The citizens of Austin were very much exasperated at this action, and determined that wherever the government might go the archives should remain at the place officially designated at the capital. This gave rise to what was known as the Archive war. In December Houston sent a company of soldiers to bring the most necessary state papers to Wash- ington, and the captain succeeded in loading up three wagons with docu- ments and in getting out of town, but on the following morning he found a loaded cannon barring his progress, and he had to treat with the resolute citizens of Austin and return the archives to their proper home. During the rest of the republic's existence the congress met at Washington-without the archives,-but the convention to consider an-
His success in business life and his accomplishment as a writer had en- abled him to travel and spend many years in Europe, his most interesting literary productions there being in the shape of correspondence to his own paper, the New Orleans Picayune, and treating not only on his travels but governmental and military conditions in those countries. While living in France he was married to Miss Adelina de Valcourt, a member of one of the noble families of that country, and a young lady of the finest distinc- tion in education and culture. With his wife and two of his children, who had been born in Paris, also with his wife's sister, Miss Henriette de Valcourt, he returned to America in 1858 and came direct to his Texas ranch, settling there with his family. They removed to the Post Oak ranch in 1860. This is a beautiful place five miles from Boerne, Kendall county, and is still the home of his widow, who has since become Mrs. B. F. Dane. Mr. Kendall was a man of masterful brain and of most exalted character. He was favorably spoken of in connection with the office of governor of this state, but steadfastly declined to enter politics, preferring to devote his time and energies to his extensive business interests and to his literary labors as well as to travel and other sources of pleasure and culture to him.
It was to Mr. Kendall that Mr. Evans made his way on coming to Texas and through his friendship and encouragement Mr. Evans was soon installed successfully in a large sheep raising business of his own. It was in this way also that he met Miss Henriette de Valcourt, to whom he was married in 1861, and, who although reared and educated in a French convent and accustomed to an entirely different mode of life in the land of her nativity, adapted herself readily to the change of environments of a pioneer country surrounded by hostile Indians and subjected to all the hardships of those early days. She had an especially trying time dur- ing the period of the war, her husband being away on military service, so
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nexation to the United States was held in Austin, which thenceforth remained the permanent capital.
In September, 1841, the second general election of the republic was held, and once more General Houston was the favorite of the people, he receiving twice as many votes as his opponent, David G. burnet. Edward Burleson was elected vice president.
Houston's Second Term.
Upon his entrance to the presidential office Houston at once showed a disposition to administer the affairs of the Republic radically different from his predecessor. His policy throughout in dealing with the In- dians was to make treaties with them which should be strictly observed by the whites, and to establish trading posts all along the frontier, each with a small garrison, to prevent encroachment on the territory of the settlers and to maintain strict neutrality.
But the most important result of ins term was the severe economy introduced in the management of the republic's affairs. As Houston remarked in his first message, the nation was "not only without money, but without credit, and, for want of punctuality, without character. One of the first acts of his administration was an issue of exchequer bills, which, as fiat money, had in the course of a year depreciated to twenty-five cents on the dollar, just as had been the case with the pre- vious deluges of treasury notes. Borrowing was hardly any longer pos- sible, credit paper was not acceptable, therefore the only resource lett
that the Indians had free rein for their depredations, thefts and murders. The fortitude and sacrifice of such lives as that of Mrs. Evans deserves mention in history.
For twenty-one years Mr. and Mrs. Evans lived on their ranch, the noted Twin Sisters ranch in Kendall county, a beautiful place twenty-five miles from the home of George Wilkins Kendall. There Mr. Evans car- ried on business with the usual fate of the stock-raiser who meets suc- cesses and reverses, but he managed his affairs capably and in the face of some discouragements secured a comfortable fortune in a comparatively short time, in the sheep business. The Indian depredations during and subsequent to the war and the hostile tariff legislation of the first Cleve- land administration made business conditions so bad that he finally retired from the sheep-raising industry entirely and for the past fifteen years has made his home in San Antonio, although it is only necessary to mention "Sheep Man Evans" to the old timers to recall to their minds his former prominence in that industry, in which he was one of the largest operators.
During the entire period of the war between the states he was con- nected with the quartermaster general's department of the Confederate government, having a position of responsibility as financial purchasing agent throughout Texas, his duties taking him over the wide expanse of country from Shreveport to the Rio Grande and into Mexico, and having charge of large sums of money and supplies. His administration of these duties was notably clean, honest and was made the subject of a special report to that effect.
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was to cut the government garment according to the size of the cloth. Retrenchment was, accordingly, not only the policy but also the necessity of Houston's administration. The first blow was at government offi- cialdom itself. With a white population in the republic of something like one hundred thousand, the salaries paid, in' 1840, to the officers at the seat of government amounted to $174,000, nearly two dollars per capita in a country whose resources were just beginning to be developed, already taxed to the utmost by revolution and Indian wars! What a scaling down of salaries and elimination of figure-head offices were effected during Houston's term may be imagined when the amount paid to government officers in 1842 shows less than $33,000. While Lamar's administration cost five million dollars, Houston's three years showed a total of barely half a million. .
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