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 34
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zens who had expressed themselves somewhat freely about his despotic course, and imprisoned them in the stockade. Among those thus arrested, were W. B. Travis, Patrick H. Jack, and Monroe Edwards. This produced an intense excitement, and a military organization was effected, under F. W. Johnson, for the rescue of the prisoners, whom Bradburn threatened to send to Vera Cruz for trial. Before any blood was shed, Pieras arrived from Nacogdoches, who, after inquiring into the subject, released the pris- oners. Bradburn immediately left the Province. In 1836 he returned to Texas with Santa Anna, but being in the command of Urrea, he was not captured at San Jacinto.
BRENHAM, DR. R. F .- Was a native of Kentucky. He was one of the Commissioners sent by President Lamar, to accompany the Santa Fe expe- dition, and suffered the horrors of a long imprisonment. After his release and return to Texas, he joined Somervell's expedition, and on the Rio Grande, instead of returning with the main command, he joined in the Mier expedition, when he was again made a prisoner. When the Mier prisoners rose upon their guard at Salado, February 11th, 1843, Dr. Bren- ham, after disarming and killing one Mexican, was himself slain. The county-seat of Washington county was named in his honor.
BRIGHAM, ASA .- First Treasurer of the Republic, came from Massachu- setts to Texas in 1832; served for a short time in the office of Alcalde, in Brazoria county; was a member of the Convention in 1836; died at his home, on the Brazos, in 1844.
BRISCOE, ANDREW .- Was in the Convention of 1836, and commanded a company of Regulars at San Jacinto. He was subsequently, for a number of years, Chief Justice of Harris county. He afterwards engaged in mer- cantile business in New Orleans, where he died.
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BROWN, HENRY S .- Was born in Kentucky, in 1793; settled in Missouri in 1810; was in the battle of Fort Clark, Illinois, in 1813; in 1824 came to Texas, landing at the mouth of the Brazos with a stock of goods for the Mexican trade. He became conspicuous as an Indian-fighter, and was Captain of a company at the taking of Velasco in 1832. He died in Colum- bia in 1834.
BROWN, JOHN .- Brother of the above, came to Texas at the same time. In 1825 he was taken by the Waco Indians, and held a prisoner for more than a year; this gave him the name of " Waco Brown." He died in San Antonio, in 1831.
BRYAN, MOSES AUSTIN .- A nephew of Stephen F. Austin ; came to Texas, landing at the mouth of the Brazos, in 1831; in 1835 he was private secre- tary, first to General Austin, and afterwards to General Burleson; and was in the battle of San Jacinto. In 1839, he was Secretary of Legation to the United States. He lives now at Independence.
BRYAN, GUY M .- Brother of the above, came to Texas at the same time. After serving in the State Legislature, he represented the Western district in the United States Congress from 1857 to 1859. In 1874 he represented the Galveston district in the Lower House of the Legislature, and was the Speaker of the House. He resides in Galveston.
BURLESON, EDWARD-Was born in North Carolina in 1798. When a mere lad, he went with his father, a captain in the Creek war. His father was uneducated, and took young Ed. along to act as secretary, and keep the . muster roll of the company. He thus received his first lesson in military life under General Jackson. The family removed to Virginia, where he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel of the militia. They next removed to the western district of Tennessee, where he was elected Colonel of a regiment of militia. In 1831, he removed to Texas and settled in Bastrop county. This was then on the extreme frontier, and Burleson was soon called upon to lead his fellow-citizens to repel parties of marauding savages. His courage and ability soon inspired confidence, and the people upon the frontier learned to repose with security when Burleson was between them and the hostile Comanches.
At Gonzales, when Stephen F. Austin became commander of the Texans, Burleson was elected Colonel of the only regiment organized. A few weeks later, when Austin resigned the command, he was elected his succes- sor. To him General Cos, on the 9th of December, surrendered his army of twelve hundred men.
At the reorganization of the army at Gonzales, in 1836, Burleson was elected Colonel of the first regiment. It was Burleson's regiment, at the battle of San Jacinto, which was placed immediately in front of the Mexican breastworks, and which stormed those works, drove out the enemy, and captured the cannon. It was a party of Burleson's men, set to watch the retreating Mexicans, that brought in Santa Anna as a prisoner. In 1837,
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he was elected Brigadier General of the militia, and in 1838, appointed Colonel in the regular army. He was ever watchful, and whether he had a command or not, was always ready to meet the wily foe. At Seguin he defeated the party of Cordova, and saved the settlements from the ravages of the Mexicans and Indians. He chastised the Indians that murdered Mrs. Coleman, and his regiment participated in the war for the expulsion of the Cherokees from East Texas. Towards the close of the same year, he defeated a party of Cherokees on Cherokee creek, in San Saba county. At the battle with the Comanches, at Plum creek, Burleson commanded one division of the Texans. In 1841, he was elected Vice-President. After the raids of Vasquis and Wall, in 1342, the people of Texas very generally thought it advisable to organize a raid into the States on the Rio Grande, as a retaliatory measure, and nearly all desired Burleson as a commander. President Houston announced himself in favor of the contemplated expedi- tion, and appointed General A. Somervell to the command. Somervell had not sought the position, and would have declined it but for Houston's ur- gency in the matter. In a letter to Anson Jones, dated San Antonio, March 25th, 1842, Somervell says: "I arrived here on the 17th, to take command of the forces in the field, in accordance with the order of the President. The men and officers refused to obey, claiming the right, as volunteers, to select their own officers, which they did, and Burleson was elected without opposition." Notwithstanding this flattering expression in his favor, Bur- leson, who was as obedient to his superiors as he was brave upon the field, absolutely refused to take command, and the expedition which resulted so disastrously was led by Somervell. It is useless to speculate as to what would have been the result, had the brave and heroic leader selected by the men commanded them on the ill-fated expedition to Guerrero.
In 1843, he was a candidate for the Presidency, but was defeated by Dr. Jones, the candidate of the outgoing administration of Houston. Burleson was in Mexico during the war, on the staff of General Henderson. After his return to Texas, he settled his family at the beautiful spring which forms the San Marcos river, and was immediately elected to the State Senate, from the district including the capital of the State. At the meeting of the Legislature, he was elected President of the Senate. This was by a unani- mous vote, on the motion of the venerable Jesse Grimes. At the close of his term he was re-elected again to the Senate. But his health was declin- ing, and he died in the city of Austin, December 26th, 1851. The writer of a brief biographical sketch says: "His death produced a profound sen- sation throughout the whole length and breadth of a State, in which his name had become a familiar household word. Eloquent eulogies were pro- nounced in both houses of the Legislature, and resolutions, expressive of the general grief, adopted.
" A purer character than that of General Burleson is not to be found delin- eated in the history of any country. His reputation as a soldier, not won in a single victory, or single enterprise, but built up by years of service and success, was left behind him without a single stain; while the purity of his conduct as a legislator escaped even the breath of suspicion. No unhal- lowed ambition prompted him to brave the dangers of the battle-field-no
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petty jealousy of the laurels won by others ever found a lodgment, for a single moment, in his noble and generous bosom. Brave, yet unambitious -inodest, yet firm of purpose-simple in his manners, yet dignified-he won the friendship of the worthiest of the land, and never lost it. In him were happily blended the attributes of a successful warrior, with the repub- lican and patriarchal simplicity of a quiet and unassuming country gentle- man, whose bravery was unsurpassed by his open and cordial hospitality. In his personal intercourse with society, whether in the camp among his comrades in arms, or among his countrymen in the walks of private life, perhaps the most prominent trait of character, which was everywhere de- veloped, was an inflexible love of justice, in its most extensive and signifi- cant sense. He seemed to be scarcely aware of the honors which crowded upon him as he passed through life."
We add some extracts from eulogies delivered at his death. The first is from a speech of' Hon. Ed. Tarver, of Washington, who had been intimate with the Burleson family from his boyhood. The second is from the eulogy pronounced by Hon. George M. Bryan, over the corpse, just before the funeral rites were performed by the Masonic fraternity, of which General Burleson was a shining light:
" These are the departing days of the present year; this is the time when most reflecting minds are disposed to take a general retrospect of the events of the outgoing year; and I imagine that the latter days of this will be re- membered as the most gloomy which have fallen upon the land for many years. To-day, nature herself seems shrouded in mourning. All is black- ness, darkness and desolation, as though she herself participated in our national sorrow and sympathized with us in our bereavement:
"' There is a tear for all who die, A mourner o'er the humblest grave, But nations swell the funeral cry, And triumph weeps above the brave.'
" The deceased has filled for many years a prominent place among the citizens of Texas, and Western Texas in particular.
" In relation to her history and its soul-stirring events, he might truly say, " cujus pars magna fui." He discharged the duties of the many im- portant stations which he was chosen to fill in the councils of his country with a singleness of heart and purity of purpose that did honor alike to him and his country. Sir, I know his history from the beginning. His life has been one continued scene of peril, of suffering and of the most trying vicissitudes. Yet he has passed through all with a stainless and blameless reputation, unsullied by the imputation of wrong either in his public or private capacity.
" In contemplating his character, we are at a loss which most to admire, the childlike simplicity and unmixed goodness of the man, or the undaunted bravery of the soldier. In every relation of social life, there were none whose motives were so entirely unsullied by selfishness.
" He has been the prop and stay of the western frontier. In every expe-" dition against the common foe, his name has been a rallying cry, around
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which the bold frontiersmen have gathered and girded on their armor for the strife.
" This event has come so suddenly upon us, that, although for days past we have been taught to believe that he must die, I, for one, had still held out, hoping against hope; and not until I heard the funeral knell of this moru- ing, could I bring myself to realize the sad fact that General Edward Burleson is no more. He had been standing for days,
"' Where nature makes that melancholy pause, Her breathing moment, on the bridge where time, Of light and darkness, forms an arch sublime.'
"He who had gone unharmed and unhurt through dangers so many ; who has come the unscathed victor from so many hard-fought battles, has at last shared the common lot and yielded to the King of Terrors. HIe met death with that calmness and fortitude which become a soldier and a Christian.
" Ile was so much loved and respected by all, that we had fondly hoped that his life might be spared for years to come; that he might have many years of quiet enjoyment in the country whose prosperity and independence he contributed so much to establish. But Providence has willed it other- wise, and we must bow in humble submission to his decree.
" Of Edward Burleson there is nothing left us but the memory of his services and the remembrance of his virtues. Let such recollections be ever cherished."
"During the Mexican war, when General Taylor called upon Texas for volunteers, Burleson was among the first to respond. And the Rio Grande and the heights of Monterey attest his patriotism and valor.
""'The hero of thirty battles, he was never known to retreat.' Brave without rashness, cautious without timidity, benevolent without weakness, he was the friend of the vanquished, as he was the terror of the enemy. But, it was not only as a soldier that General Burleson was conspicuous; he shone in the more peaceful walks of life. As a statesman, he long held a prominent position in Texas. As the Vice-President of Texas, as a candi- date for the Presidency, as a Senator of the Legislature of the State since annexation, in all these positions he has been remarkable for his good sense, his honesty, his purity and his humility. No one who had so filled the public eye, could have worn honors more meekly than General Burleson. He was a man of softness and delicacy of feeling. Ile was as kind and gentle in his family, and in his intercourse with his fellow-men, as the most modest, benevolent and humane man could be. Ile was a Free Mason and a Christian, and carried into his private and public life the practical exem- plifications of the pure and ennobling doctrines therein taught. He was a good man, and as such we revere him. Ile was a patriot, and as such we love him. Ile was a benefactor, and for this we praise him. He died as he had lived, in the service of his country. IIe has gone to his Creator, who will reward him-that mighty God, who by this act admonishes us of our frailty-' what shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue.' A few days since and he was amongst us, strong and in robust health. Behold him now ! There he is, cold and lifeless, with no ear to hear, no mouth to
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speak to the loved ones who throng around him. Old friend of my uncle- my own friend-the friend of Texas, fare thee well! ' Your body is buried in peace, but your name liveth evermore!'"
"Associates, Senators and Representatives, let this practical lesson teach us what we are.
" That though ' we sit within the Halls of State, Or mount the Monarch's throne;
Our names are lauded to the skies, Yet earth is not our home ; We soon must leave the joys of earth To wither, droop, and die ; Our grandeur, titles, wealth and power, Must in the cold grave lie.' "
BURLESON, EDWARD JR .- Son of the above, became a brave and patriotic soldier on the frontier upon which he had been raised; won distinction as an Indian-fighter, and was highly esteemed as a citizen. He represented Hays county in the Constitutional Convention of 1875, and died in 1877, a few weeks after burying his wife.
BURNET, DAVID G .- Was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1788. In 1806, he joined Mirandi's expedition against Venezuela, served in the capacity of lieutenant, and commanded a launch in an attack upon a coast village. The enterprise not proving successful, he returned to New York; but joined Miranda again in his attack upon Caracas, in 1808. Mirandi was captured but Burnet escaped. In 1813, he became a citizen of Ohio; in 1817, engaged in mercantile business at Natchitoches, Louisiana. His health was very poor, and for three years he led a wandering life with the Comanches on the frontiers of Texas. His health having been thoroughly restored, he returned to Cincinnati and studied law. He became a citizen of Texas in 1826, and the next year obtained an Empresario contract. Finding it im- possible with his limited means to settle his colony, he sold his contract to a New York company. Early in 1831 he married Miss Estis, of New York; and having purchased machinery for a saw-mill, he with his young wife sailed for Texas, in the schooner "Call." The vessel was partially wrecked at Bolivar Point, and Mr. and Mrs. Burnet, at considerable peril, made their way through the breakers, and, drenched with the waters of the sea, reached the beach. Most of their wearing apparel was lost, but fortunately the boiler was hermetically closed, and floated off from the deck of the vessel, and was afterward recovered in Galveston bay. The saw-mill did not, however, prove a successful venture.
Mr. Burnet, whose home was on the San Jacinto river, represented Lib- erty in the Convention of 1833. IIe drew up the very able memorial to the Mexican Government, showing the absolute necessity of a separate State Government for Texas, apart from Coahuila. He also drew up a set of resolutions strongly denouncing the African slave trade. This met with violent opposition, as Monroc Edwards was already introducing Africans into the province; but the Convention finally passed the resolutions. In
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1834, he was appointed a district judge for the department of the Brazos, and regularly held his court at San Felipe.
When the project of declaring Texas independent of Mexico was first agitated, Judge Burnet thought it premature. But the total destruction of civil liberty in Mexico by the personal despotism established by Santa Anna, left the true friends of republican institutions no alternative but indepen- dence, and he cordially espoused the revolutionary cause. At the organ- ization of the government ad interim, March 16th, 1836, he was elected President of the young Republic. On the evening of the day he was inaug- urated came the sad news of the fall of the Alamo and its brave defenders. This was followed in quick succession by the news of the defeat of Grant, the battle of Coleta, the surrender of Fannin, and the horrible massacre of Goliad. A panic seized the public mind; the members of the Convention hastily dispersed, leaving the Secretary to finish up the journals and prepare the Constitution for publication. To be nearer the principal seaport, the seat of Government was transferred from Washington to Harrisburg. President Burnet sent patriotic appeals to the country and to the United States, for aid in this time of peril and disaster. He did all in his power to collect provisions and army stores for the soldiers in the field. He also assisted families in escaping from the invading foe. He was sorely grieved that the army retreated without any show of fight, across the great rivers where he thought a stand ought to have been made. After Houston had crossed the Brazos, the President sent General Rusk, Secretary of War, to headquarters, to try to arrest the further retreat.
Two days before Santa Anna reached Harrisburg, Burnet left the place to secure the safety of his family, then at his home on the San Jacinto bay. He had just placed his family on a small sail-vessel at New Washington, when Almonte, at the head of a squad of Mexican cavalry, dashed into town. Burnet, with his rifle in hand, stood in the stern of the boat, ready for defence; but Almonte did not dream that the President of Texas was in that little craft, and made no effort to take it, and the boat with its precious cargo safely reached Galveston. Here, in conjunction with Mr. Potter, the Secretary of the Navy, and other members of the Government, he exerted himself to send forward supplies to the army, which had reached Buffalo Bayou. But they were not entirely safe at Galveston; it was known that Urrea was advancing along the coast towards that point. All available resources were called into requisition for the defence of the island. Fortu- nately the battle of San Jacinto relieved them from danger.
Several days elapsed before the news of the great victory reached the island. As soon as practicable, the President went up to Lynchburg, to adopt such measures as might be deemed necessary to secure the fruits of the victory. For better accommodation, the Government was transferred to Velasco. Though the country was now in no immediate danger from Mexico, the President found himself sorely embarrassed. He was without an exchequer, and yet an army must be supported in the field; an army that was constantly receiving large accessions, though there was no pros- pect of fighting. A large number of prisoners were to be fed and guarded. Civil law and order had to be evoked from chaos; diplomatic relations had
N. Y.
TOM GREEN.
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to be established with other nations; in a word the whole business of insti- tuting Government was to be done, and that without the requisite means. To augment the difficulties, the ordinance creating the Executive Department required that all measures and all appointments should have the sanction of a majority of the Cabinet. It was soon known that upon important ques- tions, the Cabinet was divided. These differences were freely discussed among the people, and around the camp-fires of the soldiers, producing not only political strife, but personal animosities.
During this period, excitement ran so high that the President, and even Houston and S. F. Austin, were accused of bribery. This however, is not very remarkable. Aner George Washington was elected President, he was accused of being a tool of the British party; and it was said that John Adams secured his election as President by the proper distribution of British gold.
In the midst of this excitement, it was rumored that Burnet would be assassinated. On the night of the expected assault, Mrs. Burnet kept a light burning, and sat at an open window, with a cocked pistoi in her hand, determined, if necessary, to die defending her noble husband. Her pre- caution perhaps prevented the attack. Soon after the receipt of the letter referred to above, Colonel Millard arrived at Velasco with informal orders to arrest the President and take him to the headquarters of the army for trial. The execution of this order, whose purport was to be kept a pro- found secret, was committed to Colonel A. Turner, who was then at Velasco. The order to Turner was very comprehensive. It read: "You are hereby ordered to proceed, (from Quintana to Velasco), and arrest the person of David G. Burnet; take into your possession the books and papers of his office ; and you will also take into your possession the books, records, and papers of the Secretaries of State, of War, and of the Treasury, and them safely keep, and report forthwith." This order was signed by Colonel H. Millard. As Colonel Turner was determined in some way to counteract this revolutionary movement, he was in no hurry to execute this most extraordinary order. In the meantime, one of the men who came from the army with Millard got drunk and told the object of their visit to the seat of Government. When it became known that the army contemplated the subverson of the civil authority, a wonderful reaction took place in the public mind. Such citizens as T. F. M'Kinney, the Jacks, Whartons and others, resolved to stand by the President at all hazards. Some of them even threatened the lives of Millard and his companions. It was also for- tunate for Burnet that a company of troops, known as the Buckeye Rangers had just arrived from Cincinnati, where they had been munificently enter- tained at the Burnet House, by the President's brother. This company declared unanimously and enthusiastically for the President. Millard became alarmed for his personal safety, and hastily left, and returned to the army.
To the President, this was a most trying period. One of his children died from exposure in an uncomfortable house. Believing that the proper time had come for the full restoration of civil law, he, on the 12th of July, issued a proclamation forbidding the further impressment of private property by
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the army. Ou the 14th he revoked all commissions held by persons not actually in the army or navy. This last, though highly approved by the people, brought him into conflict with General T. J. Chambers, who was still operating in the United States as Major-General of the Reserve. July 23d, he issued a proclamation for a general election, to take place on the first Monday in September. The election was held, and Congress met in Colum- bia on the 3d of October. The Constitution, which had been almost unan- imously adopted, fixed the second Monday in December for the inaugura- tion of the new President. But Burnet felt that he could now safely turn over the responsibility of the Executive Department to his successor, and he tendered to Congress his resignation .*
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