USA > Texas > A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879. Embracing the periods of missions, colonization, the revolution the republic, and the state; also, a topographical description of the country together with its Indian tribes and their wars, and biographical sketches of hundreds of its leading historical characters. Also, a list of the countries, with historical and topical notes, and descriptions of the public institutions of the state > Part 12
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At the election held in pursuance of the award of Santa Anna, Augustin Viesga was elected governor, and Ramon Musquiz vice-governor of the State. One of the first acts of the newly-convened Legislature was the fraudulent and unwarranted sale of 411 leagues of Texas land. But this act, passed March 14, by the Legislature, was abrogated by the National Congress on the 25th of April following. The act was fraudulent, and its abrogation unconstitutional. *
* This note on the successive occupants of the executive chair, is from a sketch of this period, written by Judge Burnet, and found in the Texas Almanac of 1849 :- " The last decree bearing the signature of Governor Villasenor is dated July 3, 1834. The next, without date, is signed by J. A. Tijerina, Pres- ident of the Administrative Council. Next in order, No. 292, March 12, 1835, is subscribed by Jose M. Gantu, who appears as governor ad interim, but soon retires behind the curtain ; and decree No. 295 introduces one Bor- ego, whose signature indicates his being governor pro tem. He figures onward to decree No. 299, of April 14, when Augustin Viesga appears in his official robes."
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REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS.
Scarcely had Viesca assumed the gubernatorial reins at Monclova, when the deputies from Saltillo withdrew, and after Mexican fashion, pronounced against the new government. In this they were encouraged by the com- manding general, Cos, the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, who was at once invested with civil, as well as military authority. Cos hastily dispersed the Legislature in session at Monclova. Viesca, at first, determined to remove the executive archives to San Antonio, and had travelled one day in this direction, when he changed his mind and resolved to submit to Santa Anna. Arriving at Monclova, he again changed his mind, and started for Texas in compa- ny with B. R. Milam and John Cameron. The party was overtaken and captured by the soldiers of Cos, and all started for safe-keeping to the castle of San Juan de Ulloa; but fortunately all, at different times and places, made their escape and reached Texas in safety.
In April, Santa Anna, at the head of an army of nearly five thousand men, started toward Zacatecas to reduce that Republican State to submission. Governor Francisco Garcia was a pure Republican and a civilian of considerable experience, but with no military reputation. With troops in number about equal to those under Santa Anna, he marched out of the city and occupied the Guadalupe plains. Here, on the morning of May 11th, was fought a most bloody and, to the Republicans, a most disastrous battle. Two thousand of their number were killed or wounded, and the remainder taken prisoners.
The situation was briefly this : The governor was a prisoner; and the Legislature had been dispersed by the miltary under General Cos, who assumed dictatorial powers, subordinate only to his master, Santa Anna. At the Federal capital, the Congress had been dissolved; the constitution overthrown; the civil power annihilated; and it only needed the Plan of Toluca, formally proclaimed August 8th, clothing the President with unlimited power;
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
and the decree of the despot, October 3d, suspending the functions of all State Legislatures, to complete the revolu- tion in Mexico.
While the people of Texas were thus left with scarcely a semblance of civil government, they held no allegiance to the military despotism which had superseded the constitutional authorities in Mexico. The political chiefs and Alcaldes still exercised their functions ; but the laws and precedents by which they were guided were of Spanish origin, and illy accorded with the principles of civil liberty prevalent among the Anglo-American colonists. Mostly farmers, they were naturally averse to any warlike measures that could be honorably averted. A few were for submission to Santa Anna. Others were for quietly awaiting the return of Austin, who, as late as March 10th, wrote : "The territorial question is now dead. The advocates of that measure are now strongly in favor of a State government, and the subject is before Congress. A call has been made upon the Pres- ident for information on the subject, and I am assured the President, will make his communication in a few days, and that it will be decidedly in favor of Texas and the State." Still another small but active party favored an immediate declaration of Texan independence. R. M. Williamson, one of the leaders of the war party, in a famous address, on the 4th of July, declared that, "Our country, our liberty, our lives are all involved in the present contest between the State and the military."
While Santa Anna was deluding Austin and the Texans with promises of giving favorable attention to their demands, he was making active preparations for the military occu- pancy of the province. In July Gen. Ugartechea, with about 500 men, landed on Lavaca Bay, and proceeded at once to San Antonia. His purpose was still ostensibly to collect the revenue. He sent Captain Tenorio with twenty men to Anahuac, to take charge of the custom-house. The Texans justly complained of the enormous dues demanded,
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THOMPSON UNFIT FOR HIS POSITION.
and a company, under W. B. Travis, who was still smart- ing under his former treatment, surrounded Tenorio, and disarmed him and his soldiers. This high-handed act was severely condemned by the Ayuntamiento of Liberty, and that of San Felipe, after investigating the affair, released Tenorio and his men, and restored their arms and papers.
"An exaggerated account of these proceedings," says Kennedy, " having reached General Cos, he dispatched Cap- tain Thompson, a naturalized citizen of Mexico, in the war schooner Correo, to Galveston, to inquire into the circum- stances of the affair, and report as soon as possible the result of his investigation, at Matamoras. Thompson proved himself altogether unfit for his mission. Instead of institu- ting an inquiry into the facts of the alleged outrage, he assumed the character of a blustering dictator, exceeded his orders, and under the pretext of protecting the revenue, attacked and captured a vessel in the Texas trade. This had the effect of irritating the public mind against both Thompson and the government, and the former having continued to linger on the Texas coast, the San Felipe, a merchant vessel, commanded by Captain Hurd, captured the Correo, and sent it and its commander to New Orleans, under a charge of piracy."
On reporting to Ugartechea, at San Antonio, Tenorio was sent back to the Brazos on a still more ungracious errand. Lorenzo de Zavalla, after having been sent into honorable exile, as Minister to France, had, when he heard of the despotic proceedings of Santa Anna, his former trusted friend, sought refuge in Texas. Santa Anna dreaded the influence of so stern a Republican, and ordered his imme- diate arrest. On the 24th of July, Tenorio presented this order to Wylie Martin, acting political chief of the Brazos. Martin, under some pretext, declined to undertake the arrest. Soon afterwards another order came from headquarters, ordering the arrest of R. M. Williamson, W. B. Travis, Samuel M. Williams, Mosely Baker, F. W. Johnson, and
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
John H. Moore; and a subsequent order included the names of J. M. Carravahal and Juan Zembrano. The two last named being Mexican citizens of San Antonio, were seized, and sent into Mexico. No officer could be found to attempt to take the others The last order was dated September 3d.
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MEXICANS.
CHAPTER II.
COMMITTEES OF SAFETY-AUSTIN'S RETURN-CANDELLE AT GOLIAD-CONFLICT AT GONZALES-GOLIAD CAPTURED BY THE TEXANS-AUSTIN IN COMMAND ON THE GUADALUPE-THE CONSULTATION-PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT-AUSTIN MARCHES TOWARDS SAN ANTONIO-BATTLE OF CONCEPCION-THE GRASS FIGHT-THE EXECU- TIVE COUNCIL.
SELF-RELIANT people, whose interests and liberties are imperilled, will not long lack the means necessary for concert in action. Texas was threatened with invasion by a government to which it had a right to look for protection. Again, the Indians were more or less troublesome. A party of merchants, transporting goods westward a few miles from Gonzales, was surrounded by a band of hostile Lipans, and the merchants and teamsters killed, and the goods taken. Ostensibly to provide for protection against these savages, committees of safety were organized in different municipalities. It was the business of these committees to collect and disseminate information-to secure arms and ammunition, and in case of necessity, to call out and drill the militia. *
It was thought advisable to have a Central Committee, to give direction to public affairs, and on the 17th of July, delegates from some of the adjacent municipalities met at
* We have not the names composing all these committees. The first organ- ized was at Bastrop. The members were J. W. Bunton, S. Wolfinbarger, D. C. Barrett John McGehee, B. Manlove and Ed Burleson. At San Felipe, R. M. Williamson. was chairman. There was a large committee at Brazoria-John A. Wharton, W. D. C. Hall, Henry Smith, Silas Dinsmore. James F. Perry, John G. McNeill, Robert II. Williams, William II. Jack, F. A Bingham, John Hodge, Wade H. Bynum, Branch T. Archer, William T. Austin. P. Bertrand and Isaac Tinsley. At Nacogdoches, Sam Houston, Thomas J. Rusk, Frost Thorn and others composed the committee.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
San Felipe, and organized what was called an Administra- tive Council .*
Among other acts, this Council sent Messrs. Barrett and Gritton on a mission of peace to Ugartechea at San Antonio. The mission was abortive. The idea of a general Consul- tation, to be composed of delegates from all the municipal- ities was still discussed. Zavalla had warmly advocated such a meeting ; and while the subject was as yet undecided, Stephen F. Austin returned to his colony. His return was hailed with delight, and he was at once installed chairman of the San Felipe Council. Austin, however, was chagrined to find Texas in so disorganized a condition. "I had fully hoped," said he, "to have found Texas at peace and in tranquility ; but regret to find it in commotion-all disor- ganized, all in anarchy, and threatened with immediate hostilities." In a speech on the 8th of September, at Bra- zoria, he declared in favor of ·their " constitutional rights, and the peace and security of Texas; also for a general Consultation of the people." The term Consultation was used, because Ugartechea had especially objected to the word Convention, as savoring too much of revolution. The election was held on the 3d of October
Notwithstanding Santa Anna's active preparations for war, he still professed to have very pacific views in refer- ence to Texas. He had verbally and expressly authorized Col. Austin to "say to the people that he was their friend, that he wished for their prosperity, and would do all he could to promote it ; and that in the new Constitution he would use his influence to give to the people of Texas a special organization suited to their education, habits and situation."
* The following delegates constituted this Council : From Columbia-J. A. Wharton, James F. Perry, Sterling M'Neill, James Knight and Josiah H. Bell. From Austin-A. Somervell, John Rice Jones, Wylie Martin, Jesse Bartlett and C. B. Stewart. From Mina-D. C. Barrett. R. M. Williamson, Wylie Martin, S. F. Austin and R. R. Royall were, at different times, chairmen of this body, and A. Huston and C. B. Stewart were secretaries.
207
CANDELLE AT GOLIAD.
The treatment which the Texans received, in that por- tion of the State occupied by Santa Anna's troops, did not exactly correspond with these professions of peace and good-will. We have seen that Ugartechea had arrested two staunch Republican citizens of San Antonio, and had sent them to Monterey; and the efforts he was putting forth to arrest Zavalla and others, at Goliad. Colonel Nicho- las Candelle, the commander, signalized the commencement of his barbarous reign, by imprisoning the Alcalde and extorting from the Administrador a forced loan of five thou- sand dollars, "under the penalty of being sent on foot to Bexar in ten hours. He also stripped the town of arms, pressed the people into the ranks as soldiers, and gave notice that troops would be quartered upon the citizens- five to a family-and should be supported by them.'
In pursuance of the general plan to disarm all citizens, Ugartechea sent Captain Castenado, with about 150 men, to seize a small cannon which had been given to the corpo- ration of Gonzales for protection against the Indians. The citizens, unwilling to part with the gun, organized and prepared to resist, by force, the demand of Castenado. The ferry boats were removed to the east side of the river, and a guard, under Captain Albert Martin, stationed on the river bank to prevent the crossing of the Mexican soldiers. The first demand was made on the 29th of September. Captain Martin then had but eighteen men, but in a day or two the number had increased to 1708. A military organization took place; John H. Moore being elected Colonel, and J. W. E. Wallace, Lieutenant-Colonel. Ca3- tenado was in camp about half a mile from the ferry, and Moore determined to cross the river with the cannon and compel him to retreat. During a fog on the morning of October 2d, the Mexicans took a position on a high mound, prepared for defense. The officers of the two parties met and failed to come to an agreement, though Castenado professed himself a Republican and unwilling to fight the
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Texans. The Texans, however, with the brass piece, advanced for an attack, and discharged their gun. The Mexicans hastily retreated to Bexar.
The news of the conflict at Gonzales roused a warlike spirit throughout the country. Captain George Collins- worth, of Matagorda, raised a company for the capture of the Mexican garrison at Goliad. The night this company reached the neighborhood of the town, they fortunately fell in with the celebrated Benjamin R. Milam, who had escaped from the guard at Monterey, and was making his way back to Texas. Reinforced by so valuable a recruit, an attack was at once determined upon. As there had been no formal declaration of war, the garrison was not antici- pating an attack, and were wholly unprepared for it. The Texans numbered only forty-eight men. They first attacked the quarters of Lieutenant-Colonel Sandoval, the command- ant. The sentinel on duty fired his piece, and was imme- diately shot down. The door of Sandoval's room was broken open with axes and he was taken prisoner. As the result of the capture, the Texans took about twenty-five prisoners, three hundred stand of arms, and military stores to the value of $10,000. The place was left in command of Captain Phillip Dimmit. Goliad was captured October 8th. Three weeks later, Captain Westover captured, after some fighting, the Mexican fort at Lipantitlan, on the Nueces river.
The men who, at the first call to arms, had rushed to Gonzales, had effected no permanent organization, and were unprepared for a regular campaign. They recognized no civil authority, and had no leader who commanded general confidence. Under these circumstances, messen- gers went from Gonzales to San Felipe, with a request that. Colonel Austin should be sent to the command. His services were not especially required in the Council, and that body gave its consent to his departure. He arrived at Gonzales on the 11th of October, and was selected as. the commander by the soldiers in camp.
209
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
October 16th was the day fixed for the meeting of the Consultation ; but on that day there were but thirty-one delegates present, and an adjournment was moved to No- vember 1st. It was the 3d of the month before a quorum appeared, when the body was organized by electing Branch T. Archer, President, and P. B. Dexter, Secretary. The next day R. R. Royall, chairman of the Administrative Council, turned over all the papers and documents in his possession, and that council ceased its functions. A few of the members were for an immediate declaration of inde- pendence; but a majority thought it advisable to remain under the Constitution of 1824.
On the 5th of November, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted
" WHEREAS, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, and other military chieftains, have by force of arms overthrown the Federal institutions of Mexico and dissolved the social compact which existed between Texas and other members of the Mexican Confederacy; now the good people of Texas, availing themselves of their natural rights,
" Do solemnly declare-1. That they have taken up arms in defence of their rights and liberties which are threatened by encroachments of military des- pots, and in defence of the Republican institutions of the Constitution of Mexico of 1824.
"2. That Texas is no longer morally or civilly bound by the compact of the union. Yet, stimulated by the generosity and sympathy common to a free people, they offer their support and assistance to such members of the Mexican Confederacy as will take up arms against military despotism.
"3. They do not acknowledge that the present authorities of the nominal Mexican Republic have the right to govern within the limits of Texas.
" 4. That they will not cease to carry on war against said authorities while their troops are within the limits of Texas.
" 5. They hold it to be their right, during the disorganization of the Fed- eral system and the reign of despotism, to withdraw from the union and establish an independent government, or adopt such measures as they may deem best calculated to protect their rights and liberties; but they will con- tinue faithful to the Mexican government so long as that nation is governed by the constitution and laws that were formed for the government of the political association.
" 6. That Texas is responsible for the expenses of her armies now in the field.
" 7. That the public faith of Texas is pledged for the payment of all debts contracted by her agents.
" 8. That she will reward by donations in land, all who volunteer their services in her present struggle, and receive them as citizens.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
" 9. These declarations we solemnly avow to the world, and call God to witness their truth and sincerity ; and invoke defeat and disgrace upon our heads, should we prove guilty of duplicity."
On the 12th an ordinance passed creating a provisional government, and an Executive Council, to be composed of one member from each municipality. Henry Smith was elected Governor, James W. Robinson Lieutenant-Governor and Sam Houston commander of the army to be raised. The Consultation adjourned on the 14th of November; after selecting S. F. Austin, Branch T. Archer and William H. Wharton as Commissioners to the United States. *
* The following is a list of members of the Consultation:
Municipality of Austin-William Menifce, Wily Martin, Thomas Barnett, Randall Jones and Je-se Burnham; of Bevil (afterwards Jasper)-John Bevil, Wyatt Hanks, Thomas Holmes, S. H. Everett and John H. Blount; of Sun Augustine-A. Huston, Jacob Garrett, William N. Sigler, A. E. C. Johnson, Henry Augustine, Alexander Horton and A. G. Kellogg; of Har- risburg-Lorenzo de Zavala, Clement C. Dyer, William P. Harris, M. W . Smith, John W. Moore and David B. Macomb; of Matagorda-Ira R. Lew- is, R. R. Royall, Charles Wilson and John D. Newell; of Viesca (after- wards Milam)-J. G. W. Pierson, J. L Hood, Samuel T. Allen, A. G. Perry, J. W. Parker and Alexander Thomson; of Nacogdoches-William Whita- ker, Sam Houston, Daniel Parker, James W. Robinson and N. Robins; of Columbia (afterwards Brazoria)-Jonn A. Wharton, Henry Smith, Edwin Waller and J. S. D. Byrom; of Liberty-Henry Millard, J. B. Wood, A. B. Harden and George M. Patrick; of Mina (afterwards Bastrop)-D. C. Barrett, Robert M. Williamson and James S. Lester; of Washington-Asa Mitchell, Elijah Collard, Jesse Grimes, Philip Coe and Asa Hoxie; of Gon- zales-William S. Fisher, J. D. Clements, George W. Davis, Benjamin Fu- qua, James Hodges and William W. Arrington; of Tenehaw (afterwards Shelby)-Martin Parmer; of Jefferson-Claiborne West.
The following named persons were at different times members of the Gen- eral Council from the several Municipalities :
Austin-Wily Martin, Thomas Barnett, and Randall Jones; Colorado- William Menifee and Jesse Burnham ; San Augustine-A. Huston and A. L. C Johnson; Nacogdoches-Daniel Parker; Washington-Jesse Grimes, Asa Mitchell, Asa Hoxie, Philip Coe and Elijah Collard; Milam-A. G. Perry and Alexander Thomson ; Liberty-Henry Milliard; Shelby-Martin Parmer and James B. Tucker; Gonzales-J. D). Ciements; Bastrop-D. C. Barrett and Barlett Sims; Matagorda-R. R. Royall, Charles Wilson and I. R. Lewis; Harrisburg-William P. Harris; Brazoria-John A. Wharton and Edwin Waller; Jasper-Wyatt Hanks; Jefferson-Claiborne West and G. A. Patillo; Victoria-J. A. Padilla and John J. Linn; Refugio-James
211
THE FLAG OF TEXAS.
In September, General Cos, with 500 additional soldiers, - landed at Pass Cavallo and marched immediately to San Antonio, superseding General Ugartechea, who was dis- patched to the Rio Grande for reinforcements
Austin, after reaching Gonzales, and effecting a thorough reorganization of the volunteers, started for San Antonio, with the intention of capturing that stronghold of the enemy and key to Texas. He reached the Mission La Espada, nine miles below the city, on the 20th, where he remained a few days, resting and recruiting his men .* On the 27th, he detached the companies of Fannin and Bowie, consisting of ninety-two men, to ascend the river and, if
Power and' John Malone; Goliad-Ira Westover; San Patricio-Lewis Ayers and John McMullen; Jackson-James Kerr; Sabine-J. S. Lane. The following were also officers of the Provisional Government:
Secretaries of the Council-P. B. Dexter and E. M. Pease; Secretaries of the Governor-Charles B. Stewart and Edward B. Wood; Treasurer- Joshua Fletcher; Auditor-John W. Moody; Comptroller-H. C. Hudson; Post Master-General - John R. Jones.
The following account of the Flag of Texas, is from an address of Hon. Guy M. Bryan, before the Texas Veteran Association, in 1873. Travis and the men of Alamo died fighting for the Mexican flag of 1824, as they had not heard of the Declaration of Independence. The Lone Star emblem was a fortunate accident. A half century since overcoats were ornamented with large brass buttons. It happened that the buttons on the coat of Governor Smith had the impress of a five-pointed star. For want of a seal, one of these buttons were cut off and used :
" The first Lone Star flag that I can find account of was made at Harris- burgh in this county, and presented to the company of Captain Andrew Robinson, in 1835. The Lone Star was white, five pointed, and set in ground of red.
" The Georgia battalion flag was azure, lone star, five points, in white field. This flag was raised as national flag on the walls of Goliad by Fan- nin when he heard of the Declaration of Independence. National flag adopted by President Burnet, at Harrisburg, 9th of April, 1836, for naval service-union blue, star central, and thirteen stripes, alternate red and white. December 10th, 1836, Congress adopted national flag-azure ground, with large golden star central, combined with flag adopted by President Burnet. This was amended by act, January 25th, 1839, that made the per- manent flag blue perpendicular stripe, width one-third of the whole, white star, five points in the centre, and the two horizontal stripes of equal breadth, upper white and lower red."
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
practicabie, select a more suitable camping placc. Fannin spent that night in a bend of the San Antonio river, near the Concepcion Mission, about one mile and a half below the city, on the east side of the river. This movement was, of course, well known in the city ; and no doubt Cos congratulated himself with the thought that he would easily capture this reconnoitering party. The next morning, Oct. 28th, was foggy and favored his design. But the Texans had chosen a favorable position for defense. The river was skirted with timber, with a narrow second bank, considerably lower than the level prairie. Around this depression of the surface, there was a bluff from six to ten feet high. The command was divided into two parties, each one taking a position along the skirt of timber on the upper and lower sides of the bend, having the open plain in front of them. It was naturally a strong position, the river and timber being in the rear of each division, with this natural parapet to fall behind in case of an attack. This, however, the Texans did not expect, and some of their number had ascended to the roof of the Mission, to obtain a clear view, as soon as possible after daylight, and were thus cut off from their companions during the fight. During the dense fog, a considerable force of cavalry and infantry, with one cannon, had marched out from the city and surrounded the Texans on three sides. The fight com- menced about eight o'clock, the Mexican line presenting a continual sheet of flame. The Texans fired more cautiously and with more deadly effect. Their rifles picked off the gunners from the enemy's cannon. Three times the Mex- icans sounded the charge, but in vain ; the Texans hurled them back, and remained masters of the field. Sixteen dead bodies were found near the abandoned cannon, which had been discharged but five times. In this, the first real engagement of our Revolution the Texans lost one-Rich-
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