USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume I > Part 17
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The Navy.
During this administration the Republic of Texas was embarrassed somewhat by her navy. This adjunct of the national government was . not delivered until 1839, before which time the republic had managed to survive without sea-hounds tied before her doorway, and after the Lone Star did float over the squadron of some half dozen vessels, the government had much ado to find employment for them. The Mexican fleet had already been put out of commission by the French, the Texan ships were monarchs of the gulf coast and, in view of the still-existing hostilities between Mexico and Texas, a blockade was declared against the ports of the former, which not sufficing to employ the navy, some of the ships were loaned to Yucatan to assist in a revolution. A little later insubordination on the part of one of the ship commanders to Presi- dent Houston gave occasion to altercations of no little heat, and the exasperation increasing, congress finally passed a secret resolution to sell the navy. The popular outburst against this act was so strong that the sale was not attempted, and the navy continued as a source of na- tional glory and expense until its final amalgamation with the ships of Uncle Sam.
Regulators and Moderators.
In this period Texas had her war of the Regulators and Moderators, which began in 1842. The scene of this was in the old Neutral Ground, which figured so prominently in the first two decades of Texas history and still continued the seat of some ill-assorted characters. The war was really a contest between rival land claimants, and was due to land frauds. Forged head-right certificates had been issued by the author- ities, and the desperate character of the men on both sides rendered adjudication of their troubles a matter of guns more often than by due process of law. Finally a defeated candidate for the Texas congress gave vent to his disappointment by exposing the land frauds, and gath- ered a large party around him under the name of Regulators. Their regulation of the land troubles naturally was in many instances irregu- lar, and an opposition society soon sprang up with the name of the Moderators. This brought on a kind of vendetta warfare, which lasted for several years, until a serious civil war was threatened and the two
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parties drew up in battle array. Before that juncture, however, Presi- dent Houston had interfered and sent General Smith with five hundred men to put an end to the affair, and by his mediation the factions com- posed their immediate differences far enough to disperse, and the thunder of actual war at length died away in echoes of feudism and scattered murders.
Besides the annexation movement to be treated in the following chapter, the most serious foreign complications of this period were with Mexico. That country was employing every device known to Mexican diplomacy and political craft in order to legalize and retain her hold on Texas, hoping vainly that the time would come when she could send in an armed force sufficient to overpower and permanently fetter her erstwhile child. Although nearly six years passed after the battle of San Jacinto without armed aggression on the part of Mexico, that govern- ment continually refused any sign of recognition of Texan independence. and this policy hindered and delayed formal recognition on the part of other foreign countries.
Mexican Invasion.
The first formal renewal of hostilities on the part of Mexico was in 1842. In March General Vasquez suddenly appeared at San Antonio with five hundred men, and, with no opposition from the small Texan force stationed there, took possession of the city, declared the authority of Mexico, and two days later departed. Goliad and Refugio were served in the same manner by other Mexican troops, but the entire in- vasion was only a farcical demonstration on the part of Mexico, result- ing merely in rousing the Texans to appreciation of danger and causing Houston to issue a proclamation to the people to hold themselves ready to repel invasion. Congress passed a bill for carrying on an offensive war in Mexico, but Houston vetoed this in the face of much public clamor. But in July there was a severe engagement on the Nueces in which a large force of Mexicans were repulsed by two hundred volun- teers, and on September 11th General Woll led a second expedition to San Antonio.
MAJOR A. S. MILLER was one of the intrepid pioneers and gallant sol- diers connected with the strenuous early days of Texas and a brief rec- ord of his life reads more like a romance than a plain biography. He was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, August 28, 1820, and he grew to young boyhood in South Carolina, but at the age of twelve he came to Kentucky with his parents, locating in Callaway county. In the fall of 1836 he came alone, a mere boy thrown upon his own resources, into the then new Republic of Texas, locating first on the Brazos river, in Washington county. He was almost without means, and possessed of only his own hands and indomitable courage, but these sufficed to bring him renown and wealth in the end. In that early day he had be- came associated in close ties of friendship with HENRY E. MCCULLOCH, who afterward became Gen. McCulloch, and this warm friendship lasted all through their lives. Henry E. McCulloch had come to Texas at the same time as young Miller, and he and his brother, Ben. McCulloch.
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District court was in session, all the activities of this frontier town on such a day were in progress, and no thought of an enemy's approach was entertained by anyone. It was a complete surprise. Nevertheless. the citizens did not surrender without a valiant resistance. Some of them took refuge on the roof of a building bordering Main plaza and defended themselves for a number of hours. Finally realizing the pres- enee of overpowering numbers, they surrendered. The number of prisoners was fifty-two, including the district judge, several lawyers, physicians, surgeons and other prominent citizens.
Under the title "Thirty-six Years Ago," a writer in the San An- tonio Herald in 1879 thus describes the invasion of 1842 :
The month of March, 1842, was memorable for the capture of San Antonio by a Mexican force under General Vasquez. The few Americans who were here were enabled to escape in good time. The writer was in Austin when the news was brought by Mr. Coleman, who rode the ninety miles it was then in ten hours, and told that the Mexicans entered San Antonio when he left it that morning. This unlooked-for invasion caused the government to concentrate all its avail- able force of citizen soldiery, for there were no others for the defense of Austin. the seat of government, which it was thought would be the next point of attack of the invading force. The capital was fortified, martial law was declared and no one allowed to leave, and so passed two weeks. There was then no settlements whatever between the vicinity of Austin and San Antonio, and the beautiful, populous, cultivated country you now pass through then was uninhabited. After
subsequently became two of the most prominent characters in Texas, dis- tinguishing themselves as soldiers, not only in the early fighting of the Texans against the Indians and the Mexicans, but also later as officers in the Confederate army. At the time of Major Miller's death, which occurred near his old home in Gonzales county, July 22, 1885, Gen. Henry F. McCulloch wrote for publication a very sympathetic and eulogistic appreciation of Major Miller, from which we are allowed to take the most of the facts herein related.
After living in Washington county for a short time, Alsey S. Miller moved to LaGrange and later to Gonzales county, where he made his permanent home. Notwithstanding the fact that a great deal of his life was patriotically given up as a citizen and a soldier for the state of Texas, he was a successful man in his business affairs, dealing largely in horses, mules and cattle and building up a fine plantation and ranch at his home place in Gonzales county, the extent of his holdings being indicated somewhat by the fact that at the close of the Civil war he had fifty slaves that received their freedom. In the early days he was an active member of all the expeditions organized by the resi- dents of Gonzales county and surrounding country in defending their homes, families and property against the depredations of the Mexicans and Indians. These were stirring days in the new state and they called not in vain for strong hearts and valorous deeds. One of the most formidable raids by Indians in the early history of Texas was in 1840, when some 500 or 600 Comanches entered the then sparsely settled country lying along the northern boundary of Gonzales county. Re- sponding to the call of Capt. Matthew Caldwell, there was a general or- ganization of the settlers to resist this invasion, and young Alsey S.
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a while a small party of us slipped through the grand guards and the outer pickets and finally reached San Antonio, to find that Vasquez had not staid more than a week, but, after robbing the town, had returned to the Rio Grande.
This little preliminary statement is made to account for the conduct of the Texans in San Antonio a few months later in the same year, when another force, under Gen. Adrian Woll, approached the city. Mr. Truehart tells us that the district court was in session, and here were the judge of the court, the attorneys, the jurors and the neighbors. Suddenly the news is received that a large Mex- ican force is approaching on the public plaza ; there was bustle and confusion, some of one opinion, some of another. A public meeting was held at nine o'clock ; two respectable Mexicans stated that one of the enemy's spies had been in town the night before and informed them that a large force would enter on that day, and they advised our immediate retreat. It was, however, determined that the Americans should remain a sufficient time, at least, to ascertain the character of the force. Many believed it to be a band of robbers, who sought to frighten us off that they might rob the town. Spies were sent out to obtain information. Commissioners were selected by Mexican citizens to go to the camp and ascer- tain from the commanding officer the object of his visit. If it was a regular invad- ing force, the commissioners would be allowed to return, but if they were robbers, they probably would be detained. About sunset a Mexican returned and reported that they had come in sight of about one hundred horses, and he was sent back to give the information. The impression then became general that it was a rob- bing party, and all steps were taken to give them a warm reception. The force of Americans was about seventy-five, and they agreed to sleep on their arms at
Miller joined a company that was organized by Ben. McCulloch, doing valiant service in this campaign against the Indians.
In 1842 occurred a second "runaway scrape," in which hundreds of Texans hurriedly left their homes, alarmed by the approach of the Mexican general, Vasquez, who was bent upon revenge on the Texans for wresting Texas from Mexico. This also called for cool-headed ac- tion on the part of the Texans and young Miller, still in Ben. McCul- loch's company, went to San Antonio and reported to Capt. Jack Hayes, who was in defense of that city against the onslaught of the Mexicans. Under Capt. Hayes' instructions the McCulloch company made an ex- pedition through the lower coast country of Texas, as a protective meas- ure. In September, 1842, the Mexican general, Woll, invaded Texas with an army of 1,500 men and for this campaign Alsey S. Miller joined
Dawson Massacre in 1842.
the ill-fated command of Capt. Dawson, composed altogether of fifty- four men. Capt. Dawson's company was doomed to defeat at the hands of a superior force of the enemy near the Salado river, near San An- tonio, and of the fifty-four men forty-two were killed outright, ten were captured and carried into Mexico and only two escaped, viz. : young Miller and Gonzalvo Woods. This Dawson massacre was made the subject of an exhaustive narrative in Sowell's history of the Indian wars in Texas.
Alsey Miller, for his services and bravery, was commissioned a major in 1850 by Gov. Hansboro Beil. In spite of his undoubted fight- ing qualities, Major Miller was a man of most lovable character and his unselfish and patriotic services in behalf of his state were such as to place his name very high in her history. His wife, whom he married in Gonzales county. as Miss Permelia King, died November 28, 1856.
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the house of Sam Maverick, who lived at the corner of the public square. There was a sort of barricade thrown up from the river to a river crossing about where Geo. Horner's store now is, and behind it most of the men slept. At the early dawn the report of a heavy piece of cannon woke us up. "They are coming, boys, sure enough," was the remark. The morning was foggy, and in a few moments the legs only of the soldiers could be seen filing into the plaza, by where Frost's store now is, and when they got towards the middle of the plaza the rifles of the Americans gave them a volley. Some one remarked: "You are shooting too high !" and more careful aim was taken next time, with the effect to scatter the advance that was coming on us. Remember that all this time we supposed that we were fighting a robbing party. After the second volley, a countryman came crawling towards us, saying: "My God, men, what are you doing? You are shooting at an army of thousands of men;" and by this time the fog had cleared enough for us to realize what we had done and the position we were placed in. Soon a white flag approached and Colonel Carasco, of the Mexican army, demanded to know the meaning of such foolishness, stating that we had fired on 1,500 men entering the town with music playing and no intention of being resisted, and demanding the surrender in five minutes. As it was idle to contend against such a force, three of our number, Mr. S. A. Maverick, Vanness, and Jones, were deputed to arrange terms of capitulation. On reaching General Woll he was found to be in a very bad humor; said that twelve of his best men had been killed by our fire. He was informed that it was thought a mere robbing party, against whom they were authorized to defend themselves,
COL. WM. A. H. MILLER, of Cotulla, whose wide legal practice and extensive business interests have brought him a general acquaintance all through Texas, was born in Gonzales county in 1846, his parents being Major Alsey S. and Permelia (King) Miller.
William A. H. Miller was reared in Gonzales county, where he at- tended school. Although he was only fourteen years of age when the war broke out, he was determined to enlist, and before he was sixteen he joined Company D, Thirty-second Texas. On account of his ex- treme youth, his father tried to induce him to leave the army, but he remained steadfast to the cause and was in the Trans-Mississippi de- partment until the close of the conflict. He was a participant in sev- eral campaigns, the most notable being the Confederate campaign against the Red River expedition of Gen. Banks. After the close of the war our subject resumed his education, graduating at the University of Waco in 1870, and completing the course in the law department of the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn., in 1871. This same year he began the practice of his profession at Austin, since which time he has been actively and prominently engaged in law practice in the courts of Texas.
After living at Austin for eight years he removed to Llano, where he remained for fifteen years. He then came to San Antonio where he was located from September, 1894, until June, 1902, when he came to his present home in Cotulla, in La Salle county.
Always prominent in political life, he has several times been chosen to positions of honor and importance. While at Llano he was elected district attorney for the thirty-third judicial district, embracing a large scope of territory and extending westward to the Pecos. Col. Miller is a moving spirit in local affairs and since coming to Cotulla has become identified with the present remarkable growth and advancement of this section of the state.
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and they did not know they were attacking a force of soldiers. He refused per- mission to return home, and demanded the surrender of our army. We then sur- rendered on condition granted of humane treatment. Several of our citizens returned to their homes undiscovered and thus escaped capture, and some few others made good their escape by flight.
The loss of the enemy was ten or twelve killed and twenty-five wounded, all of whom afterward died, with the exception of two; besides suffering a con- siderable loss in horses. Although subjected to a quite lively fire from both artillery and infantry the loss of our side was nothing, save a ferocious dog and an indiscreet old hen, who, wandering too near the enemy's lines, was cap- tured. After the surrender, we were marched to the courthouse, where our names, etc., were taken down. We were then confined in the corporation hall under guard. We were fifty-five Americans and one Mexican. I left my blan- ket at the house where I stopped. I was not permitted to go after it, nor to go to my room to get my clothes. Every one of us seemed to be in compar- atively good spirits, regardless of the future. Many of those who were not pris- oners were permitted to see us, always accompanied by an officer. During our stay in San Antonio, we were kindly treated by the citizens, both Americans and Mexicans, but were not permitted to have any communication with our friends unless in presence of some officer. In the evening a list of our names, profes- sions, and birthplaces was made. Twelfth, Monday, General Woll's proclamation and general order translated and permission granted by General Woll to send them on to the settlements on the Guadalupe river. At the same time a letter is sent giving an account of our misfortune. Several of those captured were citizens of other counties of the republic and were attending court on business.
News of the capture of San Antonio soon spread to the surround- ing country. Colonel Matthew Caldwell, with a force of over two hun- dred. collected largely from Gonzales, took up a position in the Salado bottom about six miles east of town. By a ruse he succeeded in draw- ing out the Mexicans to his well protected position, and in the battle that followed the latter lost heavily. But at the same time a reinforce- ment of Texans coming up were surrounded by the enemy and after two-thirds of them were slain the rest were forced to surrender, only two succeeding in making their escape. A day or so later, September 20, Woll, who had lost heavily in this invasion, withdrew across the Rio Grande, sending his prisoners on foot to the city of Mexico.
This second invasion, following so closely upon the first, threw Texas into a furor of military preparation. Volunteers were ordered to rendezvous at San Antonio for an invasion of Mexico, and General Somervell was to take command. But warfare beyond the borders of the state was not destined to successful culmination, the government it- self failed to espouse the cause with sufficient , warmth, the army was badly equipped and generaled, and the whole affair degenerated into little better than a raid. The volunteers were clamorous to have Gen- eral Burleson take command, and this contention helped in the ruin of the expedition. Somervell, on arriving at Columbus on the Colorado and finding some two or three hundred men collected and awaiting Bur- leson, disbanded them and himself returned to Matagorda. In October he was ordered to take command of the volunteers at San Antonio, and on arriving there he found some twelve hundred men, ill disciplined and poorly provided, but most of them eager to cross the Rio Grande and carry on war in Mexico. Somervell showed absolute indifference to the enterprise, and, perhaps acting under orders from Houston, made little progress toward actual invasion. Consequently many of the vol-
Vol. I. 9
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unteers deserted, and what remained of the force, about seven hundred and fifty men, set out on the march and reached Laredo on the Rio Grande early in December. Here instead of crossing the river, a delay was made and two hundred more abandoned the army and returned home. Somervell then marched down the Texas side of the river, and. crossed over and occupied the town of Guerrero, but on the following day returned to the Texas side and ordered a retreat to Gonzales, where the army was to be disbanded.
The Mier Expedition.
The venturesome spirits of the enterprise were not to be balked in this fashion, however, and when Somervell with two hundred men started back the remaining three hundred flatly refused to follow, and proceeded to elect Colonel William S. Fisher to lead them on their ca- reer of glorious conquest. Henceforth, then, the course of this expedition is without official countenance and the participants are in the role of ad- venturers. The band descended the river to Mier, and after making a requisition on the alcalde for provisions and waiting in the vicinity for several days, a large Mexican force came up and entered the town. On the 25th of December the Americans crossed the river and engaged them, although several times inferior in point of number. The follow- ing morning the Texans forced their way into the town and more than held their own for some hours. But treachery overmatched their prowess. They were deceived into believing an overwhelming force of the enemy to be in the town, and their own dangerous position and limited supply of ammunition induced the majority, after much opposi- tion from the wiser ones, to surrender.
This unfortunate band of two hundred and fifty men were started out on the long march to Mexico, undergoing the usual lot of prisoners taken by Mexicans. When they arrived at the hacienda del Salado, where they were placed in a large corral, by a sudden rush they over- powered the guards, seized the arms stacked in the courtyard, and by a fierce charge scattered the Mexicans in front of them and were soon free and on their way back home. Some days later, fearing capturc, they left the regular roads and took to the mountains, and after wan- dering about for some time and becoming weakened by hunger and hardship they surrendered to a cavalry force of the enemy and were
The Bean Lottery.
brought back to Salado. Here one of the infamous orders of Santa Anna was carried out. The prisoners were one hundred and eighty- two in number, and an equal number of beans, seventeen of which were black and the rest white, were placed in a vessel, and the unfortunates each required to draw one. The black bean was the lot of death, and at sunset of the same day the wretched seventeen were seated upon a log and shot to death. The survivors were sent to Mexico, where they endured untold sufferings in the fortress of Perote. Several of them effected their escape by tunneling out, and those who had not in the meantime died were released in September, 1844. The disastrous
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ending of this invasion was on a par with that of the previous Santa Fe expedition.
The remaining troubles with Mexico were much complicated by the causes leading up to annexation with the United States. In 1843 England used her influence with Santa Anna so successfully that a ces- sation of hostilities was agreed upon and commissioners appointed from each nation were to meet and arrange terms of peace. After much de- lay the commissioners were appointed and met at the Rio Grande, and in February, 1844, an armistice was signed by which hostilities were to cease until negotiations for peace could be made, but Houston would not sign this armistice because it referred to Texas as a department of Mexico. Therefore on June 16 Santa Anna declared hostilities to be resumed on the part of Mexico, which nation, however, during the re- mainder of the history of the republic, made only threats and preparations for war.
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GERMAN COLONIZATION IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS.
No movement having its inception during the life of the Republic had more important bearing on the future welfare and development of Texas, and especially the great area of Southwest Texas, than the or- ganized German emigration, which was well under way by the close of the republican period. To the German people who came to Texas be- ginning with the early forties are due the founding and much of the subsequent growth and development of such splendid towns as New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and for a long time the German population of San Antonio was, outside of the Mexican, the largest na- tional group, and the most effective and substantial in citizenship and in- dustry.
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