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 13
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GEN. SAM. HOUSTON.
215
RESIGNATION OF BOWIE.
ard Andrews-killed. As reported by the Texans, the Mexican loss was about sixty killed. *
On the 31st of October, Austin moved up about a half a mile above, on the Alamo ditch, near the old mill ; and the next day, near the powder house, one mile east of the city. He then had about one thousand men in camp. But as they were but illy provided with arms and munitions of war, and without cannon, he was but poorly prepared to attack a still larger force, in a strongly fortified city. His long confinement had enfeebled his system, and he was destitute of experience as a military commander. The Texans in camp were characteristically independent, and commented somewhat freely on the plans of the commander. Bowie resigned his position as an officer, and others volun- teered any amount of good advice. Austin in the mean time dispatched a messenger for the cannon at Gonzales, to be used in an assault on the place.
As an illustration of the difficulties which beset the commander, it may not be improper to state that on the 13th of November, the day after General Houston was elected commander of the army to be raised-not the volun- teers in the field, who had chosen Austin as their General -Houston wrote a confidential letter to Fannin, in which he said: "The army without means ought never to have passed the Guadalupe without the proper munitions of war to reduce San Antonio. Therefore the error cannot be in falling back to an eligible position." In another sen- tence, Houston advised the retreat to La Bahia and Gonzales.
On the 2d of November, a full meeting of the commis-
* As General Austin has been reflected upon, for separating his men so near the enemy, it is but justice to state that his order to Bowie was, to ." Select a secure position to encamp the army to-night; and report with as little delay as possible, to give time to the army to march and take up its position before night. [Signed] S. F. AUSTIN.
" By order of P. W. Grayson, Aid-de-Camp."
Dated Nov. 27.
14
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
sioned officers had decided, with but one dissenting voice, against an attempt to take the city by storm; and Austin was endeavoring to enforce a siege. On the 14th, Cos, to lessen the consumption of forage in the city, started some three hundred of his cavalry horses to the Rio Grande. Austin sent out Travis, with about forty men, who over- took and captured the horses and brought them into the Texan camp. Tired of the inactive life around the city, many of the Texans had gone home, so that by this time there were only about six hundred men in camp.
On the 26th of November, Cos sent out a party of men to cut grass for his horses. As this party was returning to the city, they were discovered by the Texans; and a hun- dred men, rallying under Bowie, dashed forward to give them battle. Others followed. Simultaneously with the march of the Texans, a company, with two pieces of artillery, started from the city and a running fight took place, in which the Mexicans were reported to have lost fifty killed and several wounded. Two days after this "Grass Fight," General Austin resigned the command of the army to fulfill his mission to the United States; and was succeeded by Edward Burleson, chosen by the volun- teers in his stead.
What we have denominated the " Executive Council," is, in the ordinance creating it, called " General Council," and Kennedy calls it a "Legislative Council." The third article of the ordinance declares that " the duties of the General Council shall be to devise ways and means; to advise and assist the Governor in the discharge of his func- tions. They shall pass no laws except such as, in their opinion, the emergency of the country requires," etc. This exception invested them with unlimited power; pro- vided an emergency demanded the exercise of such power. Among the first doings of this body, was the establishment of a General Post-office, and a tariff of duties on imported merchandise. Six ports of entry were created, Sabine, Gal-
217
LOAN NEGOTIATED.
veston, Brazos, Matagorda, Lavaca and Copano. They estimated the annual cotton crop at 60,000 bales, and fixed the export duty at one and a quarter cent a pound; and a tonnage duty, which, they supposed would amount to about as much more. They levied a duty on imports of from fif- teen to thirty per centum. Had there been no interruption of trade, and no extraordinary expenses, the sums derived from export and import duties, and that on tonnage, would have gone far toward supporting the expense of administer- ing the government, But this was prospective; and, to meet the present necessities, Messrs. Austin, Archer and Wharton, the Commissioners to the United States, were empowered to negotiate a loan of $1,000,000, in bonds of $1.000 each.
A law of the Legislature of 1834, had provided for the appointment of a first and second judge for each munici- pality, but as none had been appointed, the Council proceeded to do so, on the 16th of November. The courts were directed to proceed under the provision of the common law of England. *
The commander-in-chief was authorized to accept the services of 5,000 volunteers, and 1,200 regulars. During
* The following judges were appointed: Viesca, (Milam,) Joseph L. Hood and John Martin; Liberty, William Hardin and Henry W. Fanley; Brazoria, L. C. Munson and Robert Mills; Washington, James Hall and Hugh McGaffin ; Gonzales, Andrew Ponton and Charles Lockhart; Mina, (Bastrop,) Sinclar Gervis and Thomas Kinney; Nacogdoches, John Forbies and Radford Berry ; San Augustine, John G. Love and W. N. Siglier; Har- risburg, T. H. League and Nathaniel Lynch; Bevil, (Jasper,) George W. Smythi and Joseph Mott; Tenahaw, (Shelby,) Emory Rains and James Eng- lish; Jefferson, Chichester Chaplain and William T. Hatton; Victoria, Placido Benevedes and Francisco Cardinas; Goliad, Ene Vasques and Robert Galon; Bexar, John N. Seguin and Miguel Arcenfega; Refugio, Martin Power and Martin Lawler; Austin, George Ewing and Gail Borden; Matagorda, Charles Wilson and Thomas Duke.
218
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
the months of November and December the Council elected a full corps of officers. *
* For the regulars, the Council elected one Major-General, one Adjutant- General, two Colonels, three Lieutenant-Colonels, three Majors, one Second Major, twenty-six Captains, fifty-six Licutenants. For the volunteers, one Colonel, one Lieutenant-Colonel, onc Major, two Captains, and two Lieutenants. But without being too specific -- including all arms of the service ; infantry, cavalry, artillery, and rangers, there were one hundred and fifteen officers-not including Major-General Chambers and his staff of reserves. But few of those actually in the army were elected. On the day of the attack on San Antonio, Sublett was elected Colonel over Burle- son ; and Johnson, the commander at San Antonio, was afterward elected Major, to fill a vacancy. Notwithstanding this formidable array of officers, the ranks filled up but slowly. A report presented to the Convention, March 10, 1836, stated that there were at Goliad 30 infantry-privates; and 30 cavalry at Bexar. Besides these, Captain Turner had reported with a company of 56 men, and Captain Teel with forty men.
CHAPTER III.
A NAVY IMPROVISED-SAN ANTONIO INVESTED-CAPTURED BY THE TEXANS- LIBERAL TERMS TO THE VANQUISHED-BREACH BETWEEN GOVERNOR SMITH AND HIS COUNCIL-AUSTIN'S TIMELY ADVICE-CONVENTION OF 1836 DECLARES THE INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS-GOVERNMENT AD INTERIM-PROPOSED DESCENT UPON MATAMORAS.
P ROVISION was also made for the organization of a navy. Two vessels, the William Robbins and the Invincible, were purchased of Messrs. M'Kinney and Wil- liams, of Quintana. The Mexicans had two vessels of war threatening the Texas coast: the Bravo and the Monte- zuma. Theso vessels greatly interrupted trade. During the month of November, Messrs. Peter Kerr, J. M. Carrav- ajal and Fernando De Leon, of Victoria, started from New Orleans with goods, including some ammunition for the Government at San Felipe. The vessel was captured by the Bravo and run on the beach, near Pass Cavallo. The Bravo was afterward driven off by a norther, when Cap- tain Hurd, of the William Robbins, took possession of the vessel and turned her over to Captain S. Rhodes Fisher, with a crew from Matagorda. The Matagorda crew claimed salvage on the vessel, and this produced some dis- cussion in the Council. "Governor Smith," says Yoakum, " being duly advised of these proceedings, took occasion in a special message to reprehend them severely."
On the 6th of November, 1835, General Mexia, who had before figured as a Republican leader in Mexico and Texas, sailed from New Orleans, with Commodore Hawkins, in the schooner Mary Jane, with about one hundred and thirty men, for the capture of Tampico. The men were deceived, and until they were on the coast in sight of Tampico, most of them supposed they were sailing for
220
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Texas. The expedition was unfortunate. Twenty-eight of them were captured; condemned by a drum-head court martial, and shot. (See Mexia.)
We will now return to the army under General Burleson, encamped before San Antonio. The men were but poorly provided to maintain a siege. Many had gone home, though others were constantly arriving. Still, the number had fallen off nearly one half. At one time there were about fourteen hundred men in camps, though all were not regu- larly organized into military companies. There were, on the first of December, six hundred in the ranks of General Burleson ; while Cos had a much larger force in the city, occupying a strongly fortified position, and was daily expecting 500 additional troops under General Ugartechea. These troops arrived in time to participate in the defence of the city. Cos had put the place in a thorough state for defence. The old fortress of the Alamo, on the east side of the river, had been repaired, and fortified with cannon. The main plaza, on the west side of the river, was also fortified. The streets entering it were barricaded and protected with artillery. The narrow streets, lined with stone and adobe houses, afforded ample shelter, and admirable positions for its Mexican defenders. Under these circumstances, many of Burleson's officers were in favor of abandoning the siege. On the 2d of December, a council of war was held at the Tex- an headquarters, at which an assault was determined upon. " With this view," says Burnet, " the army was paraded, and after a stirring address from Colonel William H. Jack, a call was made for volunteers. Four hundred and fifty men, including the New Orleans Grays, advanced to the front and enrolled their names .* It was decided to make the
There were two companies of the New Orleans Grays-R. C. Norris was major, and William G. Cooke and - Breese were captains. They were raised in New Orleans by Col. Christy and Adolphus Sterne. Among the men were Thomas William Ward, Martin K. Snell, Thomas S. Lubbock, Henry S. Fisher, William L. Hunter, Johh D. McLeod, and others, less distinguished in our history. See map of Texas, 1834.
221
CAPTURE OF SAN ANTONIO.
attack the next morning, December 3d, in three divisions. The old mill a half mile above the town was to be the place of rendezvous, from which the assailants were to advance along three parallel streets, entering the plaza from the north-Flores, Acequia and Soledad. Colonel J. C. Neil was directed to make a ruse, by opening fire on the Alamo, with artillery. During the ensuing night, the scouts reported that a man had been seen going from the camp to the town. This induced a suspicion that the enemy had been apprised of the intended assault. Many now regarded the project as utterly hopeless, and threatened to leave unless it was abandoned. Under these circumstances, Colonel Bur- leson contermanded the order for the assault, and thought of falling back on Goliad. On the same evening three citizens, Messrs. Maverick, Holmes and J. W. Smith, who had been held in duress in the town, were released by Gen- eral Cos and arrived in camp. They gave minute and encouraging information relative to the garrison, their defences and police. On the next day, Colonel Milam suggested to Burleson, to seize the new enthusiasm excited by these representations, and storm the place without delay. Burleson gave a cheerful assent, and authorized Milam to set about the daring enterprise. Milam promptly stepped forward in front of Burleson's tent, waved his hat with a joyous ringing huzzah, and announced that he was going into San Antonio, and called for volunteers to go with him. The response was direct and cordial, and upwards of four hundred men formed in line, and enrolled their names. The residue agreed to remain and give an outside support, which was indispensable. As before agreed upon, the old mill was the place of rendezvous; and 2 o'clock a. m., the hour of meeting; while Colonel Neil was to make a feint upon the Alamo, on the east side of the river. At the appointed time, only three hundred men were on hand ; with two field pieces, a twelve and a six-pounder. In consequence of the diminished numbers, the assailants formed in only two divisions, entering Acequia and Soledad streets.
222
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
We cannot do better than to give our readers the official reports of General Burleson and Colonel Johnson, of the capture of the city, and the surrender of General Cos :
HEAD-QUARTERS, VOLUNTEER ARMY, Bexar, December 14, 1835.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXAS:
SIR: I have the satisfaction to inclose a copy of Colonel Johnson's account of the storming and surrender of San Antonio de Bexar, to which I have little to add that can in any way increase the lustre of this brilliant achievement to the federal arms of the volunteer army under my com- mand; and which will, I trust, prove the dowhfall of the last position of military despotism on our soil of freedom.
At three o'clock on the morning of the 5th instant, Colonel Niel, with a piece of artillery, protected by Captain Roberts and his company, was sent across the river to attack, at five o'clock, the Alamo, on the north side, to draw the attention of the enemy from the advance of the divisions which had to attack the suburbs of the town, under Colonels Milam and John- son. This service was effected to my entire satisfaction; and the party returned to camp at nine o'clock A. M.
On the advance of the attacking divisions, I formed all the reserve, with the exception of the guard necessary to protect the camp, at the old mill position, and held myself in readiness to advance, in case of necessity, to assist when required; and shortly afterwards passed into the suburbs to reconnoiter, where I found all going on prosperously, and retired with the reserve to the camp. Several parties were sent out mounted, under Cap- tains Cheshire, Coleman and Roberts, to scour the country and endeavor to intercept Ugartechea, who was expected, and ultimately forced an entry, with reinforcements for General Cos. Captains Cheshire, Sutherland and Lewis, with their companies, were sent in as reinforcements to Colonel Johnson, during the period of attack; and Captains Splann and Ruth and Lieutenant Borden, with their companies, together with Lieutenant Colonels Somerville and Sublett, were kept in readiness for further assist- ance, if required. On the evening of the 8th, a party from the Alamo, of about fifty men, passed up in front of our camp and opened a brisk fire, but without effect. They were soon obliged to retire precipitately, by opening a six-pounder on them, commanded by Captain Hunnings, by sending a party across the river, and by the advance of Captain Bradley's company, who were stationed above.
On the morning of the 9th, in consequence of advice from Colonel John- son, of a flag of truce having been sent in, to intimate a desire to capitulate, I proceeded to town, and by two o'clock A. M., of the 10th, a treaty was finally concluded by the commissioners appointed, to which I acceded immediately, deeming the terms highly favorable, considering the strong position and large force of the enemy, which could not be less than thirteen hundred effective men-one thousand one hundred and five having left this morning with General Cos, besides three companies and several small
char
SOU
EDWARD BURLESON.
225
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
parties which separated from him in consequence of the fourth article of the treaty.
In addition to a copy of the treaty (marked No. 1) I inclose a list (No. 2) of all the valuable property ceded to us by virtue of the capitulation.
General Cos left this morning for the mission of San Jose, and to-morrow commences his march to the Rio Grande, after complying with all that had been stipulated.
I can not conclude this dispatch without expressing, in the warmest terms, my entire approbation of every officer and soldier in the army, and particularly those who so gallantly volunteered to storm the town, which I have the honor to command, and to say that their bravery and zcal on the present occasion merit the warmest eulogies which [ can confer, and the gratitude of their country. The gallant leader of the storming party, Colonel Benjamin R. Milam, fell gloriously on the third day, and his memory will be dear to Texas as long as there exists a grateful heart to feel, or a friend of liberty to lament his worth. His place was most ably filled by Colonel F. W. Johnson, Adjutant-General of the army, whose coolness and prudence, united with daring bravery, could alone have brought matters to so successful an end, with so very small a loss, against so superior a force, and such strong fortifications. To his shining merits on this occasion I bore ocular testimony during the five days' action.
I have also to contribute my praise to Major Bennet, Quartermaster- General, for the diligence and success with which he supplied both armies during the siege and storm.
These dispatches, with a list of killed and wounded, will be handed to your Excellency by my first aid-de-camp, Colonel William T. Austin, who was present as a volunteer during the five days' storm, and whose con- duct on this and every other occasion merits my warmest praise.
To-morrow I leave the garrison and town under command of Colonel Johnson, with a sufficient number of men and officers to sustain the same, in case of attack, until assisted from the colonies; so that your Excellency may consider our conquest as sufficiently secured against every attempt of the enemy. The rest of the army will retire to their liomes.
I have the honor to be your Excellency's obedient servant,
EDWARD BURLESON,
Commander-in-Chief of the Volunteer Army.
GEN. BURLESON, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE FEDERAL VOLUNTEER ARMY OF TEXAS:
SIR: I have the honor to acquaint you, that on the morning of the 5th instant, the volunteers for storming the city of Bexar, possessed by the troops of General Cos, entered the suburbs in two divisions, under the command of Colonel Benjamin R. Milam-the first division, under his immediate command, aided by Major R. C. Morris, and the second, under my command, aided by Colonels Grant and Austin, and Adjutant Brister.
The first division, consisting of the companies of Captains York, Patton, Llewellyn, Crane, English and Landrum, with two pieces and fifteen artil- lerymen, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Franks, took possession of the
226
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
house of Don Antonio de la Garza. The second division, composed of the companies of Captains Cooke, Swisher, Edwards, Alley, Duncan, Peacock, Breece and Placido Venavides, took possession of the house of Berrimendi. 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 twelve- pounder having been dismounted, and the want of proper cover for the other gun, little execution was done by our artillery during the day. We were, therefore, reduced to a close and well directed fire from our rifles, which, notwithstanding the advantageous position of the enemy, obliged them to slacken their fire, and several times to abandon their artillery within the range of our shot. Our loss during this day was one private killed, one Colonel and one First-Lieutenant severely wounded ; one Colonel slightly, three privates dangerously, six severely, and three slightly. During the whole of the night the two divisions were occupied in strength- ening their positions, opening trenches, and effecting a safe communication, although exposed to a heavy cross fire from the enemy, which slackened toward morning. I may remark that the want of proper tools rendered this undertaking doubly arduous. At daylight of the 6th, the enemy were observed to have occupied the tops of the houses in our front, where, under the 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, with few inter- ruptions during the day. A detachment of Captain Crane's company, under Lieutenant W. McDonald, followed by others, gallantly possessed themselves, under a severe fire, of the house to the right, and in advance of the first division, which considerably extended our line ; while the rest of the army was occupied in returning the enemy's fire and strengthening our trenches, which enabled our artillery to do some execution, and com- plete a safe communication from right to left.
Our loss this day amounted to three privates severely wounded, and two slightly. During the night the fire from the enemy was inconsiderable, and our people were occupied in making and filling sand-bags, and other- wise strengthening our lines. At daylight ou the 7th, it was discovered that the enemy had, during the night previous, 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. From the first they opened a brisk fire of small-arms; from the last a heavy cannonade, as well as small-arms, which was kept up until eleven o'clock, when they were silenced by our superior fire. About twelve o'clock, Henry Carns, 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 imme- diately followed him, and made a secure lodgment. In the evening, the
227
CAPTURE OF SAN ANTONIO.
enemy renewed a heavy fire from all the positions which could bear upon us; and at half-past three o'clock, as our gallant commander, Colonel Milam, was passing into the yard of my position, he received a rifle-shot in the head, which caused his instant death; an irreparable loss at so critical a moment. Our casualties. otherwise, were only two privates slightly wounded.
At a meeting of officers, held at seven o'clock, I was invested with the chief command, and Major Morris as my second. At ten o'clock P. M., Cap- tains Llewellyn, English, Crane and Landrum, with their respective compa- nies, forced their way into and took possession of the house of Don J. Antonio Navarro, an advanced and important position close to the square. The fire of the enemy was interrupted and slack during the night, and the weather exceedingly cold and wet.
The morning of the 8th continued cold and wet, and but little firing on either side. At nine o'clock the same companies who took possession of Don J. Antonio Navarro's house, aided by a detachment of the Greys, ad- vanced and occupied Zambrano's Row, leading to the square, without any accident. The brave conduct, on this occasion, of William Graham, of Cooke's company of Greys, merits mention. A heavy fire of artillery and small arms was opened on this position by the enemy, who disputed every inch of ground, and, after suffering a severe loss in officers and men, were obliged to retire from room to room, until last they evacuated the whole house. During this time our men were reinforced by a detachment from York's company, under command of Lieutenant Gill.
The cannonading from the camp was exceedingly heavy from all quarters during the day, but did no essential damage.
Our loss consisted of one captain seriously wounded, and two privates severely. At seven o'clock P. M., the party in Zambrano's Row were re- inforced by Captains Swisher, Alley, Edwards and Duncan, and their respective companies.
This evening we had undoubted information of the arrival of a strong reinforcement to the enemy, under Colonel Ugartechea. At 103 o'clock P. M., Captains Cooke and Patton, with the company of New Orleans Greys and a company of Brazoria volunteers, forced their way into the priest's house in the square, although exposed to the fire of a battery of three guns and a large body of musketeers.
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