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 45
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When he reached home, after his ill-starred Texas campaign, he was coldly received, and retired at once to his hacienda, at Mango de Clavo. He was in the army again in 1858, and in a battle at Vera Cruz, in which the French were handsomely repulsed, but in which he lost a leg.
In 1841, at the head of 10,000 men, he pronounced against Bustemente; defeated that General, and became virtual Dictator of Mexico ; but was over- thrown and banished in 1845. During the invasion of the country by the army of General Scott, Santa Anna was recalled, and it is confidently as. serted that the American blockading fleet permitted him to land under the pledge that he would speedily negotiate a treaty of peace-a promise like that made to the Texans, on the battle-ground of San Jacinto, which he made no effort to fulfill. He at once took the command of the army, and was in the battle of Buena Vista, February 22d, 1847; Cerro Gordo, April 18th; Contrereras, August 19th ; Churubusco, August 20th, and Molino del Rey, September 9th; after which Scott's army entered the City of Mexico. Santa Anna, though he had displayed his youthful energy in mustering his forces for these consecutive battles, had been defeated, and retired to volun- tary exile; and the Americans had, literally, to create a government with which they could establish terms of peace.
Santa Anna was recalled to Mexico, and restored to power in 1853. This time he was appointed President for life, with the privilege of naming his suc- cessor. A successful revolution having occurred, he abdicated August 16th,
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1855, and went first to Havana and then to St. Thomas; returned to Mexico in 1863, during the French occupation of the country, and issued a mani- festo in favor of Maximilian; but Marshal Bazaine, suspecting that he med- itated treachery, banished him to St. Thomas. In 1868, a revolutionary party in Northern Mexico proclaimed Santa Anna Dictator for five years, but that movement was soon suppressed by Juarez. In 1871, he returned to Mexico, and closed his checkered life at Mango de Clavo in 1876.
We add an incident in the life of this singular man, related by General Waddy Thompson, then Minister to Mexico. The French had sent a ma- rauding party into the country, and Santa Anna had issued a strenuous order against foreigners. As this operated against the Americans as well as the French, Mr. Thompson called to ask for the revocation of the obnox- ious law. "I know nothing," said Santa Anna, " about this question of international law, but have spent my life in the camp. Eminent Mexican lawyers tell me I have a right to enforce such a law; and if we have, I know it will be beneficial to Mexico. These foreigners come here and make fortunes and go away. Let them remain here as becomes Mexican citizens, and they may enjoy this and all other privileges," but while he was Presi- dent he would cut his throat [suiting the action to the word] before he would yield anything to menaces [alluding to the note of the French Minis- ter]. " What," said he, " has Mexico gained by her revolution, if she is to be dictated to by every despot in Europe. Before, we had but one master, but if this is submitted to, we shall have twenty. We cannot fight them on the waters ; but let them land, and I will drive them to their boats faster than I did in 1839; and [casting his eye to his mutilated leg, with a tiger-like ex- pression in his eye] they have taken one of my legs; they shall have the other, and every limb in my body, before I will submit to their bullying and menaces. Let them come! Let them come !! "
SCURRY, RICHARDSON .- Was a private in the artillery company in the bat- tle of San Jacinto, in 1836-37. He was a clerk in the Senate, and successively District Attorney and District Judge. Elected to the Eighth Congress, he was Speaker of the House. After annexation he, in 1851-53, represented the Eastern District in the Congress of the United States. In 1854 he was severely wounded by the accidental dicharge of a gun. His leg was amputated, but he finally died from the effects of the wound, in 1862.
SCURRY, WILLIAM R .- Brother of the above, was District Attorney during the Republic; a Major in the Mexican War, in Wood's regiment, and greatly distinguished himself in the battle of Monterey. In 1862 he was a Lieu- tenant Colonel in the Arizona expedition, in Sibley's brigade. On the re- turn of the brigade to Texas, he was appointed to the command of the Eastern Sub-District; in 1863 was appointed a Brigadier General and assigned to duty under Taylor in Louisiana; killed in the battle of Saline, Louisiana, April 8th, 1864.
SEGUIN, DON ERASMO .- Was born in San Antonio, in 1772, and died in
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the same city, in 1857. In 1822 Seguin was sent by Governor Martinez to introduce Austin into the country, and assist in selecting a location for his colony. At a subsequent period he represented Texas in the Legislature at Saltillo. At the breaking out of the Revolution he was Postmaster of San Antonio. He was an ardent advocate for a separate Government for Texas. During the Revolution he lost a valuable stock of cattle and horses, taken or destroyed by the invading army. He was a high-toned gentleman of truly honorable and patriotic sentiments.
SEGUIN, JUAN N .- Son of the above, was political chief of the Department of Bexar; espoused the Revolutionary cause, and entered the Alamo with Travis; was sent to Goliad for re-inforcements, and thus escaped the massacre; in command of a company, joined Houston's army at Gonzales; was with Mosely Baker in resisting the advance of Santa Anna at San Felipe; and in the battle of San Jacinto.
The Seguin and other Mexican families that espoused the cause of Texas could not remain in the West, when Santa Anna invaded the country. Erasmo Seguin, with his family and the families of his sons, and his neigh- bors' families, retreated to the East. In the journey they suffered incredible hardships. When they reached San Augustine, they were all stricken down with fever. Erasmo Seguin lost a brother, a son, and several other relatives. Enfeebled by disease, and impoverished by losses, after the battle of San Jacinto they started back to their once delightful home in the West. "The train," says our narrator, " presented a spectacle which beggars description. Old men, women and children, lying in wagons; and for several days Captain Manchaca, who was the only person able to stand up, had to drive the whole train, as well as attend to the sick." Arrived in the West, they found their homes desolate and their immense herds of cattle, horses and sheep, destroyed.
After the retreat of the Mexicans, John N. Seguin was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed commander of his native city. He performed the patrioic task of collecting the remains of the victims of the Alamo, and gave them an honorable burial. San Antonio was so far on the frontier that the Texans almost despaired of ever being able to defend it; and at one time an order was issued for the destruction of the city and the transfer of the population to the east side of the Guadalupe river. Seguin made so earnest a protest that it was revoked. In 1835 he represented Bexar county in the Senate. At a subsequent period, he had serious personal misunder- standings with some of the Americans of San Antonio; his life was threat- ened, and he left the country. His friends think he was badly treated ; but that furnishes no excuse for his subsequent conduct. When Woll invaded Texas, in 1842, Seguin was one of his staff officers, and fought against the Texans in the battle of Salado. He was a Colonel in the Mexican army at the battle of Buena Vista. He resigned soon afterwards, and, with the assistance of some American officers, made his way back to Texas with his family. He now (1878) lives with his son, at Santiago, near Comargo, Mexico.
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SHACKLEFORD, DR. JOHN .- Brought to Texas from North Alabama, in 1836, a company called the Red Rovers, composed of some of the leading young men of the country, his own son being one of the number. His company was with Fannin, and surrendered at the Coleta and was marched back to Goliad, and shared the fate of that unfortunate command. Dr. S. being a surgeon, was spared to attend the wounded. He died in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in 1857.
SHAW, JAMES .- Came to Texas in schooner Hope, in 1831; was in the Texas Congress in 1841-42, and in the Legislature in 1853; and now lives in Burleson county.
SHERMAN, SIDNEY .-- Was a native of Massachusetts ; a descendant of Roger Sherman, of Revolutionary fame. In early life he removed to Cincinnati ; in 1835, was in Newport, Kentucky, engaged in the manufacture of bag- ging by machinery. At the call for volunteers for Texas, he abandoned his business, raised and equipped a company of fifty men, and started for the theatre of war. He arrived on the Brazos in February, and hurried forward to Gonzales, intending to go to the relief of Travis, then shut up in the Alamo; but failed to get a sufficiently large force to justify him in the undertaking. At the organization of the first regiment at Gonzales, Burleson was elected Colonel, and Sherman Lieutenant-Colonel. When the army reached the Brazos, another regiment was organized, of which Sherman was elected Colonel.
At San Jacinto, on the 20th of April, 1836, Colonel Sherman led the small squadron of cavalry (sixty-eight in number) in an attack upon a detach- ment of the enemy, that occupied an island of timber between the hostile camps. He conducted the attack with admirable gallantry, but soon dis- covered that he was about to become involved in a contest with a force greatly outnumbering him. He adroitly extricated himself, with small loss, and returned to camp. On the 21st of April, in the battle of San Jacinto, of world-wide fame, he commanded the left wing and opened the onslaught. He first sounded the war-cry -- " Remember the Alamo! Goliad and the Alamo!" It was a day of vengeance and deep retribution ; and Colonel Sherman acted a full and conspicuous part in its consumma- tion.
After remaining with the army several months in the West, and finding the enemy not disposed to return, Colonel Sherman asked permission to return to Kentucky, where he had left his wife. President Burnet did not accept his resignation, which he had tendered, but gave him a commission as a Colonel of a regiment of cavalry in the regular service, with orders to proceed to the United States and enlist his men, etc. Before leaving the Brazos, he was taken sick and confined to his bed for ten weeks, and was for some time in a very critical condition, his recovery being very doubtful. When about to leave his companions in arms, the Secretary of War pre- sented him with the stand of colors which he had brought to the country, accompanied with the following note:
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WAR DEPARTMENT, VELASCO, August 6th, 1836.
This stand of colors, presented by the ladies of Newport, Kentucky, to Captain Sidney Sherman, is the same which triumphantly waved on the memorable battle-field of San Jacinto ; and is by the Government presented to the lady of Colonel Sidney Sherman, as a testimonial of his gallant con- duct on that occasion. A. SOMERVELL, Secretary of War.
Approved, DAVID G. BURNET.
Colonel Sherman was again taken sick in Louisiana, on his way home, and was confined six weeks. In consequence of his exposures and fatigues in the army, his health was seriously impaired for a long time. Notwith- standing his very infirm health, soon after reaching home, he sent out some troops and a quantity of clothing for those in the field, who were very destitute. In January, 1837, he arrived with his family in Texas, and shortly after settled upon the San Jacinto Bay, where he resided for several years. In 1842, he was elected a Representative in the Texas Congress, for Harris county, and was appointed Chairman of the Military Committee. His health being still but partially resuscitated, he was able to occupy his seat but for a small portion of the session. As Chairman, etc., he introduced a bill providing for the election of a Major-General of Militia, and the protec- tion of the frontier. This bill was vetoed by President Houston, but passed both Houses of Congress by a constitutional majority. The election was to be by joint ballot of both Houses, and hold for one year, the people after- wards to elect a Major-General for the term of four years. The expediency of the first election was suggested by the very exposed and suffering con- dition of the inland frontier. Colonel Sherman was urged to be a candi- date for that office, but he declined in favor of General Rusk, who was elected. At the expiration of General Rusk's term, Sherman was elected Major-General by a popular vote, which office he held until annexation and the State Constitution. While in that office, he was appointed by the Congress, President of the Court-Martial for the trial of Commodore Moore and other naval officers. The Court sat for six weeks, and the parties charged were honorably acquitted.
On his retirement from military service, Sherman lost none of the ener- gies which had characterized him in the field, but displayed in the occupa- tions of private life useful enterprise and creative talents of a valuable order.
In 1846, he conceived the idea of rebuilding the town of Harrisburg, which had been destroyed by Santa Anna in 1836. With this view, he purchased a large interest in the town-site and 4,000 acres of land adjoining it. He then proceeded to Boston, where he enlisted capitalists and organ- ized a company to build a railway from Harrisburg westward. The diffi- culties to contend with were neither few nor small. The country was new and but imperfectly known abroad ; the population and agricultural produc- tions were inconsiderable, and labor of every character difficult to obtain. Yet his unabated perseverance removed obstacles, and success finally crowned the enterprises : the rebuilding of the town and the construction of the first railway in Texas.
The shrill whistle of the "General Sherman " was the first glad sound of the locomotive that broke upon the solitude of Texas forests, and roused to
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new life the slumbering energies of her hardy people. This locomotive was the first that appeared west of the Sabine, and the second west of the Mis- sissippi -one at St. Louis was introduced a few months before. Thus Sidney Sherman will not only be remembered as a chivalrous soldier, whose best years were spent in the service of Texas, but as the father of a railroad system which has conferred inestimable blessings upon the people, and whose future benefits will be more profoundly appreciated when our population shall be quadrupled and the whole area of our extensive territory traversed by a net-work of railways.
In chronicling the events of the past few years of his life, it is but the rec- ord of successive misfortunes. In 1853, he lost a valuable saw-mill by fire. Subsequently his dwelling in Harrisburg was burned, then one of the finest buildings in the State. Being homeless, he sent his family to Kentucky, and removed to the railroad office, which was shortly afterward consumed by fire. His remaining possessions and valuable papers, which had been ac- cumulated for thirty years, were destroyed. They were not only import- ant to himself, but, as relating to public affairs, would have been of great value to the future historian of our country.
General Sherman was one of the unfortunate passengers on the ill-fated steamer Farmer, which exploded her boilers within a few miles of Galves- ton, occasioning the loss of some thirty or forty lives, and seriously injur- ing many others. He was thrown from his berth, with a portion of the wreck, some hundred yards into the water, but, though injured, succeeded in saving himself on the fragments of the wheel-house.
Like most of the soldiers and statesmen who participated in the early struggles of the country, he derived little material benefit from its redemp- tion.
In 1863, at the retaking of Galveston by the Confederates, under Magru- der, General Sherman's promising son was killed. He died in Galveston ten years later, his wife and daughter having preceded him to the Spirit Land.
SMITH, DR. ASHBEL-Came from Connecticut to Texas in 1837, and was soon afterward appointed Surgeon-General in the army. In 1842-5, he was Minister to France ; in 1846, connected with Taylor's army in Mexico ; in 1849, he was President of the Board of Examiners at West Point; in 1856, in the Legislature from Harris county ; in 1861, entered the Confederate army, with the rank of Captain, and was afterward promoted to the rank of Colo- . nel of the Second Texas Infantry. In 1866, he was again in the Legislature; 1878, the Commissioner from Texas to the Paris Exposition. He lives on Galveston Bay, in Harris county.
SMITH, BEN. FORT .- A native of Kentucky ; in early life, removed to Mis- sissippi; at 16 years of age, fought in the battle of New Orleans; repre- sented Hines county in the first Legislature of Mississippi, after which Gen- eral Jackson appointed him Indian Agent. When the Revolution broke out in Texas he raised a volunteer company ; arrived at Victoria too late to par- ticipate in the taking of Goliad ; fought as a private at San Jacinto in the cavalry company. In 1837, he was President of the Board of Land Com-
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missioners of Harris county; was in the Texas Congress in 1840, and died in Montgomery county in 1841.
SMITH, ERASMUS (Deaf) .- The famous guide and spy in Western Texas; was a native of New York; visited Texas as an adventurer in 1817 ; became a permanent citizen in 1821. Being hard of hearing from his childhood, he was inclined to solitude. In company he was reticent and seemed absorbed in thought. Bold, fearless, enterprising, cautious, and a close observer of nature, he was the very man for the frontier.
Smith was with the first families of De Witt's colony that settled at Gon- zales in 1825, but when that infant settlement was broken up by the Indians he went to San Antonio, where he married a Mexican lady. When the dif- ficulties first arose between the Americans and the Mexican government, it was reported that Smith was disinclined to take any active part, as he was connected with a Mexican family. But the arrest of Zavalla, Williamson, Sam Williams, Moore, and others, decided him to cast his lot and influence with Texas, and Texas had no truer or braver defender. He joined the army under Austin, then marching for San Antonio, and his thorough ac- quaintance with the country, his coolness, and his courage, pointed him out as the proper one to command a spy company. He piloted Fannin from the Mission Espada to Concepcion, and was the first to fire a gun in the fight which ensued. In the attack on San Antonio, he marched at the head of Johnson's division as guide. In the progress of the fight, he, with a few trusted companions, ascended to the top of the Veramendi House, near which Milam was killed, and while on the top of the house, he and Lieuten- ant John L. Hall, of the New Orleans Grays, were wounded. At Gonzales, when General Houston heard of the fall of the Alamo, he dispatched Smith, Henry Karnes, and R. E. Handy toward the city to ascertain the truth. After proceeding about twenty miles, they met Mrs. Dickinson with her child, Sam, a servant of Travis, and Ben, a free negro servant of Almonte, who fully confirmed the sad intelligence. In the retreat from Gonzales, Smith, with a small company, remained in the rear of the main army, to protect families and watch the movements of the Mexicans. At San Felipe an incident occurred which he deeply regretted. He was not only hard of hearing, but his eyesight was somewhat defective, especially at a distance. He and one of his men were out for observations, when they saw what ap- peared to be an army approaching the town. His companion said it was the advance of the Mexican army, and they hastened to town to report. The town was burned, and many goods and provisions destroyed. It was a false alarm, the enemy not appearing for several days. It has never been ascertained by whose order the town was destroyed; Baker declaring that Houston ordered it, and Houston denying that he ever gave such an order. It was done probably through a misunderstanding.
While the Texans were at Harrisburg, Smith had the good fortune, while out reconnoitering, to capture a Mexican courier, with an important mail. From this the Texans learned that Santa Anna was with the advance divis- ion of his army, then at Morgan's Point. On the morning of the 21st of April, Smith, with a few companions, was detailed for the dangerous and important service of destroying Vince's bridge, which was accomplished.
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The day after the battle, and after the capture of Santa Anna, Deaf Smith was sent to the camp of Filisola, with the orders of the President for him to retreat westward. In 1837 he was Captain of a ranging company in the West. He left San Antonio March 6th, and on the 16th was camped at the Chacon, a small stream within five miles of the town of Laredo. Here he was discovered by the scouts of the enemy. Anticipating an attack, he took a position in a mesquite thicket. A company of Mexican cavalry, of twice their number, advanced to the attack, but after having ten killed and as many wounded, they retired to the town. Two of the Texans were wounded. On retiring to civil life, Smith became a resident of Richmond, and in company with John P. Borden established a land agency business. He died at that place, November 30th, 1837. The Houston Telegraph, draped in mourning, and announcing his death, said: "This singular individual was one whose name bears with it more of respect than sounding titles. Major, Colonel, General, sink into insignificance before the simple name of Deaf Smith. That name is identified with the battle-fields of Texas. His eulogy is inseparably interwoven with the most thrilling annals of our country, and will long yield to our traditionary narratives a peculiar interest."*
SMITH, HENRY .- Governor of Texas in 1835; was a native of Kentucky, but went in early life to Missouri. In 1821, entered Texas and after spend- ing some time in the settlement on Red river, became a permanent resident of Brazoria County, where he taught school in 1827; he was wounded in the battle of Velasco, in 1832; was a member of the Convention in 1833; and an Alcade, and acting political chief the next year; was a member of the General Consultation in 1835, and was appointed Provisional Governor of the new State, which was then expected to remain a member of the Mexican Confederation. A serious misunderstanding between the Governor and the Executive Council led the latter body to depose him ; but he declined to surrender his office, and the controversy was still unsettled, when the Provisional Government was displaced by the new Goverment ad interim, after the Declaration of Independence in 1836. At the election in the fall of 1836, Smith was a candidate for President; was defeated but invited by President Houston to the office of Secretary of the Treasury-a position he filled with marked ability, notwithstanding the affected sarcasms of Gouge, in his Fiscal History. At the close of Houston's term, Smith retired to his home in Brazoria county. In 1840 he emigrated to California, where he died in 1853. At the time of his death he was making preparations to return to Texas.
SMITH, JAMES .- For whom Smith county was named, was commander of the militia called into service in 1844 to quell the disturbances between the Regulators and Moderators.
* Many apocryphal incidents have been interwoven with the name of Deaf Smith. The last that has passed under our notice was that of a duel about the Archive War. The difficulties growing out of the removal of the Archives occurred in 1842-43. Smith died in 1837.
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SMITH, THOMAS I .- A native of Tennessee, came to Texas in 1836, and joined the army then under the command of Felix Huston; was wounded in the fight with Woll's men, at Salado creek, in 1842; and was soon after- ward dispatched with a small force to remove the public archives from Austin. In this he was successful. The next year he settled on Chambers' creek, Ellis county ; in 1844 conducted a scouting party, against the Indians, into the Wichita mountains ; in 1847 was in command of a ranging company, with headquarters on Richland creek; and died in Austin, in 1847.
SMYTH, GEORGE W .- A native of North Carolina; came to Texas during Colonial times, and was Land Commissioner in Jasper couuty ; was in the Convention in 1836; in 1837, President of the Board of Land Commissioners of Jasper county; 1845, in Annexation Convention; 1848-1852, Commis- sioner of General Land Office; 1853-55, in United States Congress; in 1866 a member of the Reconstruction Convention, and died in Austin during the session.
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