USA > Texas > A history of central and western Texas > Part 11
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The summer of 1835 was marked by numerous meetings throughout Texas. In May, committees "of safety and correspondence" were ap- pointed by each of the three municipalities of Mina (Bastrop), Gonzales and Viesca, and by July these committees were in existence in practically all the settlements.
In July, Ugartechea arrived at San Antonio with five hundred troops, these being the first considerable force introduced for the purpose of military occupation. July 4th, General Cos issued a circular to the inhabitants of Texas (supplemented by a letter from Ugartechea on the 15th), giving assurance that the military forces would be used only to uphold the laws of the republic, but warning the people of the conse- quences of improper zeal for the enemies of the government. "If the Mexican government has cheerfully lavished upon the new settlers all its worthiness of regard, it will likewise know how to repress with strong arm all those who, forgetting their duties to the nation which has adopted them as her children, are pushing forward with a desire to live at their own option, without any subjection to the laws."
July 14th, at a meeting of the Austin colonists in San Felipe, it was resolved that "an early consultation of the people of all Texas by their chosen delegates is necessary to the attainment of union, concert of act and determination of conduct in the protection and defense of our rights and liberties."
Meanwhile General Cos had issued orders for the arrest of numer- ous individuals in Texas, among them Lorenzo de Zavala, former adviser and friend of Santa Anna, but now one of the latter's most active enemies. The Texans showed no willingness to surrender any of these political refugees, and for several reasons the commandant at Bexar deferred sending troops to execute the orders.
The declarations published by the various committees and councils indicated, in part, a firm determination to stand for constitutional rights and resist invasion, and, in part, a desire to conciliate the federal govern- ment and a purpose to abide by all reasonable measures for the enforce-
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ment of law and order and the collection of revenues. As Yoakum says, there were three divisions in public sentiment, the first demanding imme- diate war, the second being for orderly procedure until resistance was compelled by the actions of the enemy, and the third opinion being held by those who were willing to submit without protest to the central gov- ernment. The presence among the first faction of some of the land speculators and state officials who had contrived the unpopular land laws prevented many citizens from lending their support to any plan of organ- ized resistance.
However, the idea of a general convention to consider and provide for the welfare of Texas had been growing in favor for a long time. The subject was given definite form at the meeting at Columbia, August 15th, when it was resolved that "a consultation of all Texas" was indis- pensable, and a committee was appointed to address and co-operate with the other civic districts of Texas in calling such a consultation. The last resolution of this meeting was in defiant tone-"we will not give up any individuals to the military authorities." It was arranged among the various committees that the election of delegates for the consultation should take place on October 5th.
On the first of September, Stephen Austin arrived from Mexico. As the most influential citizen of Texas, much depended on the part he would choose to play in this critical stage of affairs. His first public expression was a speech delivered at a dinner in Brazoria, in honor of his return. He had returned, hoping, he said, to find Texas at peace, but instead found "all disorganized, all in anarchy, and threatened with immediate hostilities." As to affairs in Mexico, he said: "The revolu- tion in Mexico is drawing to a close. The object is to change the form of government, destroy the federal constitution of 1824, and establish a central or consolidated government. The states are to be converted into provinces. Whether the people of Texas ought or ought not to agree to this change, and relinquish all or a part of their constitutional and vested rights under the constitution of 1824, is a question of the most vital importance, one that calls for the deliberate consideration of the people, and can only be decided by them, fairly convened for the pur- pose." He repeated Santa Anna's assurances of friendship for Texas and a desire to promote her prosperity ; but he had warned the Mexican officials against trying to coerce Texas by arms. "I gave it as my decided opinion, that the inevitable consequence of sending an armed force to this country would be war. I stated that there was a sound and correct
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moral principle in the people of Texas that was abundantly sufficient to restrain or put down all turbulent or seditious movements, but that this moral principle could not and would not unite with any armed force sent against this country; on the contrary, it would resist and repel it, and ought to do so."
During the month of September it became apparent that Mexico would insist on the surrender of her political enemies and compel the disarmament of the militia. The question of obeying or resisting these two demands had to be answered either with war or submission. This was the immediate problem confronting the Texas people. The solution of this involved the greater but more remote subject of accepting or rejecting the plan of a central government. It is important to remember that in the first stage of hostilities, Texas was answering the immediate question, and, because of a lack of unity in public opinion on the matters of controversy, the campaigns had the character of a volunteer and extempore effort.
The decision of the problem, and principles involved, were stated in the circular of September 19th, sent out by the committee of safety at San Felipe and signed by Austin as chairman. It recommended: That the people should insist on their rights under the constitution, that every district should participate in the general consultation, that the militia should be organized and drilled ready for emergency. "This committee deem it to be their duty to say that, in their opinion, all kind of concilia- tory measures with General Cos and the military at Bexar are hopeless, and that nothing but the ruin of Texas can be expected from any such measures. They have already, and very properly, been resorted to with- out effect. War is our only resource. There is no other remedy. We must defend our rights, ourselves, and our country, by force of arms."
CHAPTER XVII
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1835
In Gonzales was a cannon which had been loaned the citizens for protection against the Indians. The return of this was now demanded by Colonel Ugartechea. This was a step in carrying out the decree of the republic to disarm the people. The alcalde of Gonzales refused to comply with the order. Word was sent to Bastrop for volunteers to assist in repelling the attack which was certain to follow. The alarm spread rapidly and volunteers hastened from all quarters to the scene of the expected hostilities. As chairman of the committee at San Felipe, Austin advised (September 29th) that the volunteer force should act entirely on the defensive, retaining the cannon and protecting themselves on the ground of constitutional rights. A troop of cavalry had been sent from San Antonio to seize the cannon, but was prevented from crossing the river by a small number of Gonzales citizens. Every possible means was taken to delay the Mexicans until an adequate force could be assembled. Then, on October Ist, deeming it best to act on the offensive before the enemy could be reinforced, the Texans crossed the river and early in the morning of the next day attacked the Mexicans. Occupying a conspicuous place in the foreground of the battle was the very cannon in dispute, and before' its fire, and the fusillade from the Texas riflemen, the enemy were in flight before the morning mists had lifted from the prairie.
Thus the die was cast, and there could be no more thought or possibility of peace. A "defensive war" it was declared to be, but the war spirit, once aroused by easy success, was not content while the enemy held a single post in Texas. No doubt, the majority of discerning men at that time foresaw that this movement would not cease until the fragile bonds of federation and loyalty to the republic had been destroyed.
In the meantime, the diversion of the colonists at Gonzales had enabled General Cos to land five hundred troops at Matagorda and with- out hindrance reach San Antonio in October. On October 4th a circular issued and signed by Austin illustrated the sudden concentration of pur-
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poses under the influence of the victory at Gonzales. "War is declared against military despotism. Public opinion has proclaimed it with one united voice. The campaign has opened. The military at Bexar has advanced upon Gonzales. General Cos has arrived and threatens to overrun the country. But one spirit, one common purpose, animates everyone in this department, which is to take Bexar, and drive all the military out of Texas before the campaign closes."
It should not be forgotten that the appeals sent out for volunteers to this campaign came from only semi-official committees. There was as yet no organized government in Texas, no authority to command the people to take up arms. The army that was now assembling at Gonzales was, therefore, composed of "volunteers," it was altogether a volun- tary organization acting in accord with the various committees of safety but in no wise subject to their orders, and responsible only to its own organic conscience and the spirit of patriotism in which it originated. In the light of this consideration, the subsequent campaign becomes the more admirable for its success, and the points of weakness in the army are the more excusable.
The volunteers assembled at Gonzales to the number of several hundred, and on October IIth, they elected Austin as their commander in chief. Two days later the march was begun for San Antonio. In the meantime, cheering news came from Goliad, where, on October 9th, Captain Collingsworth had surprised the Mexican garrison and, after a brief struggle, forced it to capitulate. Thus a large store of arms and supplies fell into the hands of the patriots, and this event had the further effect of bringing to the support of the campaign many hesitating Texans. Enthusiasm was also being aroused across the Louisiana border, and two American companies soon came to the assistance of their former fellow citizens. Without the resources of arms, supplies and volunteers that came from the United States, it is doubtful if this campaign could have succeeded. Early in November the Mexican post at Lipantitlan, near San Patricio, was captured by a company of Texans, and thus San Antonio alone remained to the enemy.
From his camp on Salado creek, on October 27th, Austin sent Colonel James Bowie and Captain James W. Fannin with ninety-two men to reconnoiter in the vicinity of San Antonio. Bowie encamped for the night near the old Mission Concepcion, and when day broke his position was nearly surrounded by four hundred Mexicans. The Texans were well sheltered by the river bluff, and the enemy's volley firing did no
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harm, but the wonderful skill of the Texas riflemen wrought havoc among the close ranks advancing against them. The Mexicans brought forward a field-piece, but the Americans dropped the gunners as fast as they stepped to their places, and the gun was fired only five times during the engagement, being finally left in the hands of the victors. In this battle of Concepcion only one Texan was killed, while the Mexican forces were defeated and lost heavily in killed and wounded.
After this encouraging victory the volunteer army moved up to the east side of San Antonio across the river, and laid siege to the town. Their camp was north of the Alamo, in the vicinity of the river ford. The majority of the men were eager to storm the place, but the forti- fications were strong and there were no siege guns to reduce them, so the officers hesitated to risk so many lives in an assault. The siege opera- tions were continued for a month with no important result. Discontent was brewing among the men, who wished for quick action that they might return to their homes which needed them. The ranks were rapidly thinning, though new recruits also kept arriving. Austin, having been appointed commissioner to negotiate aid in the United States, resigned the command in the latter part of November, and was succeeded by Col. Edward Burleson.
Occasional skirmishes varied the monotony, among them the "grass fight," in which the Texans again proved their superiority over greater numbers. Cos and his army were quite effectually cooped up, and supplies were often interrupted by the vigilant besiegers. Reports of a large body of troops marching from the south to raise the siege increased the necessity of decisive action. Finally a general assault was ordered, and then was countermanded, because the enemy were supposed to have been informed, by a deserter, of the proposed attack. This augmented the chafing of the patriots. Just then, however, information came that the Mexican garrison was weaker than was supposed, and, taking advantage of this opportune juncture, Col. Ben Milam dramatically appeared before the soldiers and, waving his hat, called out, "Who will go with me into San Antonio?" This appeal fired the enthusiasm of every volunteer, and three hundred at once placed themselves at his command in readiness to storm the town.
Early on December 5th the intrepid band forced its way into town, in two divisions. To cover the movement, the attention of the enemy was diverted by artillery fire directed at the Alamo, while the two attacking columns advanced on the west side of the river among the brush and
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Mexican jacals toward the center of town. The first division of the storming party, under the immediate command of Colonel Milam, took possession of the house of Don Antonio de la Garza. The second division, under Col. F. W. Johnson, took possession of the house of Veremendi .* These positions were a block north of the Main Plaza, the Veremendi house being on the east side of Soledad street, and the Garza house one block west. "The last division was exposed for a short time to a very heavy fire of grape and musketry from the whole of the enemy's line of fortification, until the guns of the first division opened their fire, when the enemy's attention was directed to both divisions. At 7 o'clock a heavy cannonading from the town was seconded by a well directed fire from the Alamo, which for a time prevented the possibility of covering our lines, or effecting a safe communication between the two divisions. In consequence of the 12-pounder having been dismounted, and the want of proper cover for the other gun, little execution was done by our artillery during the day." The night was spent in strengthening the position and extending trenches. At dawn on the morning of the 6th, "the enemy were observed to have occupied the tops of the houses in our front, where, under cover of breastworks, they opened through loop- holes a very brisk fire of small-arms on our whole line, followed by a steady cannonading from the town in front, and the Alamo on the left flank." The first division advanced and occupied a house to the right of the Garza house, and extended their trenches, but otherwise little progress was made during the day.
"At daylight of the 7th, it was discovered that the enemy had opened a trench on the Alamo side of the river, and on the left flank, as well as strengthening their battery on the cross street leading to the Alamo." Their fire from these positions was silenced about II o'clock. "About 12 o'clock, Henry Carnes of Captain York's company, exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, gallantly advanced to a house in front of the first division, and with a crowbar forced an entrance, into which the whole of the company immediately followed him, and made a secure lodgment." "At half past three o'clock, as our gallant commander, Colonel Milam, was passing into the yard of my position [Johnson's, in the Veramendi house], he received a rifle shot in the head which caused his instant death." Late in the evening the Texans forced their way into and "took possession of the house of Don Antonio Navarro, an advanced and im- portant position close to the square." At 9 o'clock on the following
* Report of F. W. Johnson. colonel in command after the death of Milam.
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morning another advance was made, into the "Zambrano row," at the northeast corner of Military Plaza and a block west of the Main Plaza. The party at this point was reinforced during the evening, and, news of the arrival of Mexican reinforcements having been received, at half- past ten in the evening "Captains Cook and Patton, with the company of New Orleans Grays, and a company of Brazoria volunteers, forced their way into the priest's house [on the north side of Main Plaza] although exposed to the fire of a battery of three guns and a large body of musketeers. .
. Immediately after we got possession of the priest's house, the enemy opened a furious cannonade from all their batteries, accompanied by an incessant volley of small-arms against every house in our possession and every part of our lines, which continued unceasingly until half-past six o'clock, a. m., of the 9th, when they sent a flag of truce, with an intimation that they desired to capitulate."
The negotiations were conducted until early the following morning, when the terms were signed. Cos was given a guard of soldiers and ordered to take his convict troops beyond the Rio Grande, while the other Mexican soldiers were allowed to keep their arms and remain in Texas or return home, as they should choose.
In the storming of San Antonio fell two Texans, while twenty-six were wounded. The Mexican loss was much larger. By the middle of December Texas was again free from the Mexican military, the citizen volunteers had dispersed to their homes, and only small garrisons remained at the important outposts.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE GENERAL CONSULTATION AND PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.
The general consultation of Texas was delayed because of the hostilities on the western frontier. The battle at Gonzales had occurred before the election of delegates, and before the date fixed for their assembling Goliad had been captured and the citizen army, including many of the delegates, was on the marchi to San Antonio. October 16th thirty-two delegates met in San Felipe, but on the next day, a quorum being incomplete, adjournment was taken to November I. In the meantime, a "general council," a sort of improvised, unofficial body, made up of representatives from the various committees of safety, man- aged affairs, and its acts were afterward sanctioned by the general con- sultation. Besides assisting in procuring and forwarding supplies to the army, the council assumed the responsibility of suspending the land offices, of authorizing a loan of $100,000 in New Orleans, and commissioned privateers to cruise for Mexican armed vessels.
The consultation did not get assembled for business until November 3. Branch T. Archer was chosen president. On the 6th a test was made of the sentiment regarding independence. On the question of a pro- visional government on the principles of the constitution of 1824, the vote was 33 to 14, but a succeeding motion to prepare a declaration of complete independence was lost, 15 to 33. By this time a majority of the leaders were in favor of independence. The Mexican residents were almost unanimously opposed to separation from Mexico, and a con- siderable portion of the American inhabitants were indifferent on the question of political allegiance. But it was not so much for the purpose of conciliating these elements that the consultation voted against in- dependence. Texas alone was unable to defy Santa Anna and protect her borders. The colonists were poor, they were not organized on a war footing, they lacked the munitions and resources for continued war, and war is exf nsive. Two sources of aid were possible in this dilemma.
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One was the enlistment of the anti-centralists of Mexico in a general war for the constitution. This failed, and the failure nearly involved Texas in destruction. The other resource was the sympathy and material as- sistance of the people of the United States. To recommend the cause of Texas in the United States it was deemed best to adopt a policy of defensive resistance to threatened despotism. For a handful of Texans to have revolted and sought to set up an independent state of their own would have appeared a desperate undertaking and not entirely justified by circumstances. Americans are quick to lend aid in the resistance to tyranny and oppression, and the Texan leaders recognized the importance of emphasizing this feature of their struggle.
Hence, the "declaration of the people of Texas in general convention assembled," adopted November 7th, declared that Santa Anna had by force of arms overthrown the federal institutions of Mexico, and in consequence the people of Texas had taken up arms in defense of their rights and liberties and in defense of the republican principles of the constitution of 1824. Though Texas was no longer bound by the compact of union, yet her people offered their support to other Mexican states against military despotism; they refused to acknowledge the government by the present authorities, and proposed to carry on war as long as the troops were in the limits of Texas; and, while establishing an independent government during the reign of despotism, they were willing to con- tinue faithful to the Mexican government as long as that nation was governed by the constitution.
November 12th the consultation chose the officers of the provisional government which was to act during the adjournment of the consulta- tion or until another convention was assembled and another government established. Two candidates were proposed for the office of governor, Henry Smith receiving thirty-one votes and Stephen F. Austin, twenty- two. J. W. Robinson was unanimously elected lieutenant governor. The legislative branch was to consist of a "general council," each Texas muni- cipality having one representative. The membership of this body was constantly changing during its existence. The plan of provisional govern- ment provided for the creation of a regular army, and Sam Houston was appointed major general and the commander-in-chief of all the forces. Three commissioners were also appointed to negotiate in the United States for means to carry on the war, B. T. Archer, W. H. Wharton and Stephen F. Austin being chosen for this important duty. The plan of government was adopted and signed on November 13th, and the
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following day the consultation adjourned until March Ist. It was pro- vided that the governor and council in the meantime might order another election of delegates to supersede the old body.
Before adjourning, the consultation, having declared Texas the champion of republican government, for all the states of Mexico, gave approval to the schemes of the anti-centralists and especially of certain exiled citizens of Coahuila, who desired, after the invaders had been expelled from Texas, to lead the volunteer army across the Rio Grande and co-operate with the Mexican republicans. This contemplated ex- tension of the war was also for the not disinterested purpose of restoring some large estates that had been confiscated by the Santa Anna party.
Even before the storming of Bexar, the volunteer army was almost broken up by the leaders in this enterprise. After the success of the Bexar campaign, a large force of soldiers was left without other occupa- tion than guarding the frontier posts. In December it was reported that about 750 men were in the army, the larger portion being at San Antonio. Most of the citizen volunteers and actual Texas residents had returned to their homes, and the regular force left in the field consisted chiefly of those who had come to Texas from the United States, several states besides Louisiana then being represented by companies in the Texan service. These were restless and adventuresome spirits, willing to follow leaders on any enterprise and disposed to chafe at the monotony of post duty.
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