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 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
the province. But he passed higher up the country, and entered by way of Red River. He had with him fourteen Americans, five Spaniards and one negro servant (some accounts say two). When this party arrived in the neighborhood of the Tehuacana Hills, in what is now Limestone county, they halted and erected a block-house, and built pens, and prepared to capture mustangs.
Musquis, the Spanish commander at Nacogdoches, ordered to capture Nolan's party, left his post on the 4th of March, 1801, with sixty-eight regular soldiers, and thirty-two volunteers. He crossed the Trinity on the 11th, and guided by Indian spies, reached the neighbor- hood of Nolan's camp on the 20th. He had a small cannon, which was so planted as to. bear directly upon the block-house. Two of the Mexicans in Nolan's ranks deserted to the enemy, one of them carrying off Nolan's rifle. Before this, two of the Americans having learned that Nolan intended to make war upon the Spaniards, abandoned the party and reported Nolan's design to the authorities at Nacogdoches. A short conference was held between the two commanders, when Nolan retired to his block house and prepared to fight. He was killed by the first discharge of the enemy's cannon. Bean succeeded to the command, and kept up the fight for several hours. Finally, the little party surrendered as prisoners of war, under the promise of good treatment, and of being liberated at Nacogdoches and sent to the United States. Instead of being released and sent home from Nacogdo- ches, they were put in irons and sent to San Antonio, the first Americans seen in that city. From the latter city they were marched across the Rio Grande, and kept in prison many weary years. Three made their escape ; one died in prison, and after they had been six years prisoners, an order came from the King of Spain, to have
107
SPANISH HOSTILITY.
every fifth man hung. The order was, to execute only those taken in arms against the royal authority. Three of the men were not in the house during the fight. There were but nine left, and the humane judge decided that only one should be executed. The nine agreed to throw dice, the one throwing the lowest number to be the victim. The lot fell on Ephraim Blackburn, who threw but four, and he was immediately executed. The survi- vors were sentenced to ten years hard labor. Bean was the only one who ever revisited his native land. (See Bean).
Among the Spaniards there was a growing hostility ex- hibited towards the Americans. The policy of their government was exclusive. Philip II. had declared that nothing but Spanish commerce should float on the Gulf of Mexico, and on the land absolute non-intercourse was proclaimed. Salcedo, the commander at Monterey, said if "he had the power he would stop even the birds from flying across the Sabine." By a tacit understanding, the Aroyo Hondo, a tributary of Red River about half way from the Sabine to Natchitoches, had been recognized as the boundary between the Spanish and French pos- sessions, though the old Spanish maps extend their territory to the Calcasieu River. Between the United States and Spain there were other unsettled questions besides those relating to boundaries. After the purchase of Louisiana, the former revived the claim which France had asserted to Texas.
We need not enumerate the other irritating, unsettled questions. In his message, at the opening of Congress, in December, 1806, President Jefferson said : “With Spain our negotiations for a settlement of difficulties have not had a satisfactory issue." As a precautionary measure, Mr. Jefferson had ordered Major Porter, of the
108
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
army, to take posession of the old French post at Natchi- toches. Soon afterward the Spaniards threw a force across the Sabine into the old Spanish post and mission of Adaes. About the same time the Spaniards began concentrating troops on the right bank of the Sabine. Early in the spring the garrison at Natchitoches was reinforced by the arrival of Lieutenant Kingsbury from Fort Adams, with four field pieces, and three companies of infantry. Early in June, Generals Herrera and Cordero, with twelve hun- dred veteran Spanish soldiers, reached Nacogdoches, whereupon Governor Claiborn called out the militia of Louisiana, and General Wilkinson hastened towards the Sabine with all the available forces from New Orleans. Negotiations had failed ; the two powerful nations were concentrating their armies prepared to fight; the com- manders were defiant, and both nations were waiting in anxious solicitude for the commencement of hostilities.
And now occurred, on the banks of the Sabine, without the interposition of any civilian, one of the most important and most mysterious diplomatic adjustments that this continent has witnessed. Herrera and Wilkinson met in secret council. It was conjectured, apparently, not with- out reason, that Wilkinson was cognizant of the move- ments of Aaron Burr; further that he had promised Burr his aid. Two secret messengers of Burr were said to be in Wilkinson's headquarters. The two generals met, and instead of provoking each other to battle, entered into the treaty of " the neutral ground." They agreed that a narrow strip of country between the Arroyo Hondo and the Sabine should be respected as "neutral" and occupied by neither government until a definite treaty fixed, permanently, the boundary between the two nations. The next morning the following order was issued by Wilkinson :
109
TERMINATION OF THE CAMPAIGN.
" MORNING ORDER, EAST BANK OF SABINE, November 6th, 1806.
" His excellency, General Herrera, the military chief immediately opposed to this corps, having agreed to withdraw his troops to Nacogdoches, and to prohibit their re-crossing the Sabine River pending the negotiations between the United States and Spain, the objects of this expedition are accomplished, and the camp will be, of course, evacuated to-morrow or next day, and Colonel Cushing will lead the troops to Natchitoches.
" Signed,
WALTER BURLING, Aid-de-Camp."
This sudden termination of the campaign was not satisfactory to the American soldiers There was a suspicion that General Wilkinson had acted dishonestly, in reference to the project of Burr. "It was impossible," says Monette, " for him to divest himself of the suspicion that settled over him that he had extorted money from the Spanish Governor by exciting his fears as to the powerful invasion contemplated by Burr, and which could be arrested only by the most energetic intervention of the American commander-in-chief, with the whole of the army and means at his disposal. His troops retired indignantly from the Sabine, many of them fully convinced that they had been robbed of their anticipated laurels by the cupidity of their commander, who had entered into dishonorable negotiations, and that money, and not the sword, had terminated the campaign."
It was boldly asserted at the time, and has been often repeated, though an investigation failed to verify the assertion, that Herrera agreed to give Wilkinson $300,000 for his influence in defeating the scheme of Burr; and further that $120,000 was paid at the time, having been
110
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
transported from San Antonio on mules. Ten days later, Burling was dispatched to Mexico on a secret mission ; rumor said it was to receive the other $180,000.
The scenes which followed the retreat from the Sabine, when viewed from our present stand-point, have a strangely ludicrous aspect. The reader will please remember that, at this time, about the only force under the control of Burr was a few score of men and boys encamped on Blennerhassett's Island, near Parkersburg, West Virginia ; and that the arms of this company consisted, mostly in implements of husbandry ; and that they were preparing to descend the river in flat boats, and open a new plantation for Burr and his unsuspecting, but dishonored friend, Blennerhassett, on the lands purchased from Baron de Bastrop by Burr.
On arriving at New Orleans, Wilkinson commenced the most vigorous preparations for defending the city against Burr. He prepared a flotilla to meet the flat- boats of the latter up near Vicksburg ; and dispatched Lieutenant Swan to Jamaica to detach the commanders of the British navy at that station from the Burr movement. He put the forts near New Orleans in a thorough state of defence, and supplied them with a great quantity of am- munition and munitions of war. He called out the militia of Louisiana and Mississippi ; and proclaimed martial law. He arrested and held in military custody every one suspected of sympathy with Burr; and especially every stranger from Ohio, where Burr was supposed to have unbounded influence. The whole country was patrolled by Wilkinson's guards, and every one who could not give a satisfactory account of himself was thrust into prison. A true and life-like description of these scenes must be reserved for the pen of some future Cervantes. Albeit, Wilkinson was not another knight of La Mancha. He
111
ARREST OF AARON BURR.
had been in actual war ; had proved himself a brave and gallant soldier ; nor was he carried away with groundless fears. His views were clear, and his mind well-poised. All this bluster was not to defeat Burr ; but to affect De Nava at Monterey and his royal master in the halls of the Montezumas. It was useless. The viceroy refused to listen to Burling, and referred him, for the payment of the money, to the intendant at Vera Cruz, for which place he ordered him immediately to depart. Upon his arrival there, the intendant refused to furnish him with anything but a guard, and ordered him to take passage immediately for New Orleans. The arrest of Burr, and the return of Burling, produced a wonderfully tranquilizing effect, not only upon the commander, but also upon the New Orleans public. (See Burr, Wilkinson and Herrera, in biography.)
-
CHAPTER V.
MAGEE'S EXPEDITION-BERNARDO GUTIERRES-MARCH TO GOLIAD-DEATH OF MAGEE-DESPERATE FIGHTING-THE VICTORIOUS REPUBLICANS, ON THE WAY TO SAN ANTONIO, GAIN A SPLENDID VICTORY AT THE ROSILLO CREEK -SHAMEFUL MASSACRE OF SPANISH OFFICERS-BATTLE OF ALASAN- REPUBLICANS DEFEATED AT THE BATTLE OF MEDINA-WHEN THE ROYAL- ISTS AVENGE THE DEATH OF THEIR BROTHER OFFICERS.
HE " neutral ground " became the favorite resort of a band of lawless freebooters, who lived by depredating upon caravans. It was an important part of the duty of tho soldiers stationed at Natchitoches to protect trav- ellers and traders in passing through this dangerous territory. Lieutenant Augustus W. Magee, a graduate of West Point, was one of the officers employed in this work. At this time, the Republicans in Mexico had been defeated and many of them driven into exile. Bernardo Gutierres, who had been engaged with Hidalgo in the revolutionary movements in Mexico, had taken refuge at Natchitoches. In long interviews between Magee and Gutierres, the former conceived the idea of reviving the project of Burr; rescuing Texas from Spanish domina- tion, and organizing a republic. He enlisted a number of the leading " heroes." of the neutral ground, who, with their followers, were ready for any enterprise that prom- ised excitement and booty. With the assistance of John M'Farland and Samuel Davenport, who had been Indian agents, an alliance was formed with some of the Indian tribes in the neighborhood. Bernardo secured the co-
CYPRESS CREEK, NEWTON COUNTY.
115
MAGEE'S EXPEDITION.
operation of the Spanish Republicans in the East. A considerable force was thus assembled, ready to enter the province. As they confidently expected the assist- ance of the Mexicans in the West, it was thought best to give Bernardo the nominal command, though all recog- nized Magee as the real leader. The staff officers were Kemper, Perry, Ross, Slocum and Dr. Forsyth. The captains were, Gaines, Lucket, Orr, M'Kim, Taylor, etc. There was, at that time, a strong prejudice against the native Spaniards, hitherto the governing class. These were called, in derision, "Gachupins." One of the rally- ing cries of the newly-organized party was, " Death to the Gachupins!" They assumed the name of " The Repub- lican Army of the North."
About the middle of June, Bernardo, with the advance party, numbering 158 men, crossed the Sabine, and had a skirmish with the Spanish guard, near the bank of the river. Two of the Republicans were killed, and three wounded ; but the Spaniards were driven in disorder to Nacogdoches, and evacuated that place on the arrival of Gutierres.
In the meantime, Magee had resigned his commission in the U. S. Army, visited New Orleans, and, with the- help of Davenport, succeeded in collecting a good supply of munitions of war. To secure enlistments, each soldier was promised $40 per month, and a league of land.
There is a great discrepancy in statements as to the number in the Republican army when it was reorganized on the banks of the Trinity river. Yoakum, following M'Kim, makes the number nearly eight hundred; while M'Lean, who was in the expedition, fixes the number at three hundred. We have chosen the smaller as the more probable number. At the Trinity, the party was re- inforced by two additional companies, under Captains 9
116
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Scott and M'Farland. When they took up the line of march for the West, their supplies were "ten or twelve beeves, and fifteen inules, loaded with flour and military stores."
They crossed the Brazos in October, and arrived at Goliad on the 7th of November. The Mexican garrison, instead of offering resistance, joined the Republican ranks. A few days later, Governor Salcedo and General Herrera arrived with troops from San Antonio. Herrera had a small park of artillery, and having placed his guns in position, on the 20th of November made a furious assault upon the town. This was gallantly met by the Repub- licans. After some further unsuccessful attempts to take the place by assault, the Spaniards contented them- selves with merely keeping up the siege. The Republi- cans occasionally sallied out for provisions. In one of these was fought the battle of the White Cow, as they were after a cow of that color for food. In one of these skirmishes the Republicans lost a few of their horses. They had not calculated on the possibility of being closely confined in a little fort, and a number of them, including Captains Davenport and Scott, resigned and returned to their homes on the Sabine. Most of the new Spanish recruits deserted, and about the first of February, 1813, Magee died of consumption.
After the death of Magee, Samuel Kemper was elected commander of the Americans. Bernardo still held the nominal command of the whole. On the 10th of Februa- ry, the Spanish made another desperate attack upon the beleaguered garrison; and at one time succeeded in getting into the town. But the Republicans had posses- sion of the old Mission. From this they dashed out, and in a hand-to-hand fight drove the Royalists from the place. In this fight, the Republicans had eight killed
117
SPANISH FAILURE.
and thirty wounded. The Spaniards lost 100 killed. (This number is given in the account of Col. M'Lean, late of San Antonio, who was in the fight. Yoakum places the loss of the Spaniards at 200).
After this failure, the Spaniards raised the siege and". retired to San Antonio. They were soon followed by the exultant Republicans. This was on the 16th of March ... Their force now consisted of 270 Americans, 200 Mexi -- cans and 30 Coshattie Indians. On the route they were' reinforced by Captain M'Farland with 300 Lipan and Tonkawa Indians. (These are the figures given by Hall and M'Lean; Yoakum, following M'Kim, makes the number of Americans 800. The probability is, that men were constantly arriving and departing, and the numbers were never very accurately known).
Salcedo and Herrera prepared to meet the foe outside of the city. They sent out all of their available force to a thicket on the Rosillo creek, nine miles below the town. They had a park of artillery, but the Republi- cans, anticipating an attack, marched in the order of battle, and when the Royalists opened fire upon them, returned it so effectually, and charged so vigorously upon the thicket, that the Spaniards soon left the field and retreated in disorder to the city. It is said the officer in immediate command was so mortified that he killed himself rather than return in disgrace. In history this is known as the battle of Rosalis, or Rosalio, and there is great confusion among writers as to the place and the particulars of the fight. The time, too, ranges from the 1st of March to the 4th of April; and as to numbers engaged, the Spaniards are variously estimated at from 1500 to 2500, while the number of the Republicans ranges from 500 to 1200.
On the 2d of April, according to Spanish authority, the
118
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Republicans entered this city. Seventeen prisoners, found in the Alamo, were released, who at once joined the ranks of their deliverers. The public stores, arms, provisions and military chest, furnished a grateful sup- ply to the needy adventurers in the Republican army. Each soldier, besides his wages, received a gratuity of fifteen dollars, a suit of clothes, and an order for two horses or mules out of the public caballada. The Indians were supplied with two dollars worth of vermillion, together with presents to the value of one hundred and thirty dollars, and sent away rejoicing. The Mexican soldiers were paroled, and the officers reserved for a sad and horrible fate.
After arriving in San Antonio, Gutierres was among his own countrymen, and began to exercise a real as well as a nominal authority. He organized a governing junta composed of some of the leading Republicans in the city. Captain Delgado, to avenge the death of his father, induced the junta to pass a secret decree for the execu- tion, by drum-head court martial of all the Spanish officers held as prisoners of war. He well knew the Americans would never sanction such an act of barbar- ity, and the prisoners were marched out of the city under pretence of sending them to the coast to be forwarded to. New Orleans. When near the Rosillo battle ground, by order of Delgado, who had them in charge, they were halted, stripped and their throats cut. The late Col. J. A. Navarro gives the following account of this slaughter : "Some of the assassins, (Delgado's company), with brutal irony, whetted their knives upon the soles of their shoes in the presence of their victims. The day following the assassination, I myself saw this band of murderers, led by their commander, Antonio Delgado, halt in front of the government buildings ; I myself heard them inform
119
EXECUTION OF PRISONERS.
Bernardo Gutierres that the fourteen victims had been put to death. The following list comprises the victims : Spaniards-Manuel de Salcedo, Governor; Simon de Herrera, Governor of New Leon; Geronimo Herrera, Lieutenant Colonel; Juan de Echeverria, Captain ; Jose Groscochia, Captain; Francisco Pereira, Captain; Jose Mateos, Captain; Juan Ignatio Arambido, Captain; Gregorio Amado, Lieutenant; Antonio Lopez, citizen. . Mexicans-Miguel de Areos, Captain; Louis, his son, Lieutenant; Francisco, his son, Ensign; Juan Caso, Lieutenant."
The execution of these prisoners of war was so dis- pleasing to the Americans that Kemper, Ross, Hall and a number of others left in disgust and returned to the United States. Those who remained elected Perry as their commander. But these soldiers, intoxicated with their success, indulged in various unsoldierly excesses in the city, but they were not long permitted to remain idle.
Early in June another Spanish army appeared in the neighborhood, under the command of Don y Elisondo. So unexpected was the approach of this new army, that a company of Republicans, out grazing their horses, were captured ; and Elisondo might then have marched without opposition into the city, but he halted on the heights of the Alasan and commenced throwing up rude breast-works. He sent in a friendly message to the citizens, advising them to surrender to the royal arms. As an inducement to this, he proposed to parol all the Americans, and per- mit them to depart to their homes. He probably thought this the safest way to dispose of men who, in battle, might prove dangerous foes. But these brave men had no idea of leaving the city as paroled prisoners without a . fight. The Mexicans, who at first were disposed to sub- mit to Elisondo, changed their minds when he demanded
120
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
seventeen of the leading citizens as prisoners. They probably conjectured that these men were to be put to death to avenge the murder of Herrera and his compan- ions. While they amused Elisondo with the hopes of a bloodless triumph, they rallied their disorganized bands, and, under the leadership of Gutierres, Perry and Manchaca, silently, on the night of June 4th, (McLean says June 8th,) marched out to attack the unsuspecting Spaniards. It was near daybreak when they assaulted Elisondo's fortifications. They succeeded in entering his works, and tore down the Spanish flag, and unfurled their own tri-color in its place. The Spaniards rallied and retook the breast-works. For four hours the battle raged with great fury, but finally the Royalists were driven from the field with a loss of about three hundred killed and as many wounded. The Republicans had five killed and thirty wounded.
After this fight Gutierres left San Antonio and retired with his family to the Sabine. He was succeeded in the command by the famous General Toledo. Toledo re-organized the civil administration, and did all in his power to reduce the army to a state of discipline, no easy task with such a class of adventurers. He well knew that the Royalists would not surrender a city of such im- portance as San Antonio without another effort for its recovery.
The next general sent to capture the city was Arredondo, commander of the eastern internal provinces at Monterey. The new commander, with his army of about four thousand men, halted on the Medina river, southwest of the city, and threw up fortifications. He arranged them in the shape of a horizontal >, with the open end towards the city. To meet this force Perry had about three hundred Americans, and Toledo and Man-
121
CRUELTY OF THE SPANISH COMMANDER.
chaca about six hundred Mexicans. On the march to the battle-field, Perry, according to McLean, was joined by his old commander, Kemper, in company with Judge Bullock and six or eight other Americans. The battle was fought August 18th. The Republicans were rushing forward with great impetuosity, when Toledo saw that they were entering into the trap set by Arredondo, and ordered a halt. The men, not understanding the reason for the order, continued to press on. They displayed a heroic courage, and would probably have won the day, but in the midst of the fight, Musquis, one of the captains in their ranks, deserted with his whole company to the enemy. Thus deserted and betrayed, these brave men were finally thrown into disorder and compelled to retreat. The retreat soon became a rout. The fugitives fled to- wards the Sabine, and were hotly pursued by their relentless foes. The pursuing party was cavalry, under the command of Elisondo, still chafing under his recent defeat. All who fell into his hands were incontinently butchered. Seventy or eighty of these unfortunate men were overtaken at the Spanish Bluff, on the Trinity River. They were marched to an island of timber, at the junc- tion of the San Antonio and La Bahia roads, where a deep trench was dug for a grave, across which a piece of tim- ber was placed. After tying the prisoners, ten at a time, they were placed on this piece of timber and shot, their bodies falling into the trench. Among the victims of this butchery were Colonel Manchaca and Captain Antonio Delgado.
" Two days after the battle," says Mr. Yoakum, " Gen- Arredondo, having his wagon loaded with wounded and dying, marched in triumph into San Antonio. Here commenced a scene of barbarity which that place had never before witnessed. Seven hundred of the peaceable
-
122
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
citizens were seized and imprisoned. Three hundred of them were confined during the night of the 20th of August in one house, and during the night eighteen of them died of suffocation. From day to day others were shot without any form of trial. The cruelty of the Spanish commander went even further. He had a prison for females. It was tauntingly called the Quinta. Here were imprisoned five hundred of the wives, daughters and other female relatives of the patriots ; and for being such, they were compelled daily to convert twenty-four bushels of Indian corn into the Mexican cakes called tortillas, for Arredondo's army. After thus having satis- fied his appetite for blood and revenge, the Royalist commander found an opportunity, about the 1st of Sep- tember, to collect and bury the bones of Salcedo and his staff. By this time Elisondo had returned from the Trinity, driving before him on foot the widows and orphans of those he had there slain. The property of the patriots was all confiscated."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.