A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 7

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Texas > A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I > Part 7

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HISTORY OF TEXAS.

reappointed commander in chief of the armies, both volunteer and regular, with entire author- ity over their operations. Male citizens between seventeen and fifty were made subject to mili- tary service, and generous land grants were offered for service in the army.

Before the adoption of the constitution the convention further instituted a provisional gov- ernment, which was to have all the powers granted under the constitution except legisla- tive and judicial and was to administer the affairs of the nation until the provisions of the constitutions could be put in execution. The personnel of this government was to consist of a president, vice president, secretaries for the departments of state, war, navy and treasury, and an attorney general, and these officers were all appointed before the adjournment of the convention, David G. Burnet being chosen president and Lorenzo de Zavala vice president. Also, the government was authorized to bor- row a million dollars and pledge the faith and credit of the country for its payment.

On the 17th the constitution was adopted, and the convention then adjourned sine die. This constitution of the Republic of Texas was modeled after the constitution of the United States, with its provisions of course conforming to the requirements of a single sovereign state. By statute the common law was to be made applicable to cases not covered by constitu- tional or legislative enactment. There were the three usual departments of government. A system of education was to be established as soon as feasible. All connection beween the civil government and religion was guarded against by making priests and ministers of the gospel ineligible to congress or the presidency. The distribution of lands, which had been sub- ject to extensive frauds, was regulated. Each head of a family was to have a league and a

labor of land, and a single man over seventeen years of age to have a third of a league. As to slaves, congress had no power to manumit them, nor could a slave owner free them without consent of congress; free negroes could not reside in the state without congressional con- sent. The foreign slave importation was de- clared piracy, and slaves could be introduced only from the United States.

In view of the academic importance after- wards assigned to the slave system as thus in- troduced and sanctioned, the following state- ments in Garrison's "Texas" seem both sane and historically true: "This establishment of slavery in Texas was nothing more or less than was to have been expected. To judge the act by the prevailing standards of a subsequent age and to condemn it is substantially to con- demn the way that nature has of working out its own processes. To the student with genuine historical insight, who takes men as he finds them and seeks an explanation of every move- ment in a searching analysis of the forces that lie behind it, such reprobation has little signifi- cance except as a mark of progress. It easily leads to a complete misunderstanding of the past. It would be idle to suppose that the colo- nists, the great majority of whom were from the slaveholding states, and many of whom had brought their slaves to Texas with them, would not have legalized slavery in framing a consti- tution. A still greater error has been com- mitted by some in accepting the view that the colonization of Texas and the revolution was the work of the 'slavocracy.' Naturally enough, the movement resulted in a wide extension of the slaveholding area; but the idea that it was consciously inaugurated and carried out with that object in view is too palpably mistaken to be worth discussion."

CHAPTER X.

THE WINNING OF INDEPENDENCE-THE CAMPAIGN OF SANTA ANNA-THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO AND ITS RESULTS.

The actual winning of Texas independence was consummated during one short campaign lasting hardly six weeks, and within three months after the fall of the Alamo and the massacre at Goliad the Mexican forces were across the Rio Grande, and domination from the south was never again to seriously threaten the state.

Throughout the session of the convention there were alarms of invasion, the hostile army was known to be on Texas soil, the letters of Travis from the Alamo told the condition of siege at that place, although the news of the fall did not reach the convention until the 15th of the month. Immediately on his reappoint- ment as commander in chief Houston set to the work of preparation for war, sending out orders to Fannin to join him that he might march to the relief of Travis. But the impossibility of getting an adequate army together prevented any aggressive movements on the part of the commander-in-chief, and he was still at the headquarters in Gonzales when the calamity of the Alamo was reported. He had arrived at Gonzales on March 11 and taken command of the four hundred troops already convened. Two days later, after the receipt of the news from the Alamo, he set out on the retreat.

Thecampaign which followed was so counter- wise to the aggressive and reckless spirits of the Texans, was so marked by retreats and seeming yielding to the enemy, and was so ap- parently aimless and fruitless that, had it not eventuated so happily and gloriously for Texas, it is probable that Sam Houston's name would

today be a reproach and humiliation to the country which he indeed served so nobly and well. He was of cautious and conservative temper and kept his plans so completely to him- self that charges of cowardice and inability naturally became more and more frequent among the restless citizens who saw their homes and country at the mercy of the ruthless invader and with nothing being done to check him. But Houston, amidst all clamor, per- severed in his Fabian policy, and never once risked an engagement until he struck the final and decisive blow. Criticisms amounting to vituperation and vilification of every degree were hurled against him, but the fact that in after years his mistakes, such as he made, were forgotten, and that after the war he, like Wash- ington, held the first place of regard among his countrymen is evidence of the strength and nobleness of his own character and is ample justification of the course he pursued in win- ning independence for Texas.

Gonzales was abandoned and burned on the 13th. Thence his course was to the Colorado, where he arrived on the 17th, and remained at Columbus until the 26th ; thence he crossed and made his way to San Felipe on the Brazos, and from there marched north to Groce's landing, where he was encamped two weeks. From this point the movement began on the 14th of April which led to the San Jacinto river and to the scene of the final struggle. Meantime this retreat and the removal of the seat of govern- ment from Washington to Harrisburg threw the country into a panic. A large part of the

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

male inhabitants were in the army, and as it retired eastward the settlements were left de- fenseless against a foe whose unsparing cruelty was only too well known. Every family there- fore, taking only such property as their limited means of transportation could convey, hurried across the country or in long lines they thronged the passages over the swollen rivers, which every few miles opposed their course. It is no wonder that in such a period of anxiety and distress the soldiers under Houston be- came exasperated as his continued retrograde movement took them further from their homes and separated them from their families, whom they pictured involved in all the hardships of flight if not already a prey to the invaders. They grumbled, became openly insubordinate, and many deserted in order to protect their families, so that the original force of volunteers decreased until at the battle of San Jacinto less than eight hundred were actually engaged. Under such trying circumstances as these Houston's ability for leadership and control of those under him seem all the more remark- able, although a little more tact and frankness on his part might have lessened the friction.

By the time Houston's force reached the Colorado it numbered about fifteen hundred men, and while they were encamped on the east side of the river the Mexican general, Sesma, having been sent on by Santa Anna, arrived with a force of about seven hundred on the opposite bank. This seemed a most op- portune time to deal the invaders a crushing blow, and the reasons just why Houston did not take advantage of the occasion do not seem to have ever been made entirely clear, unless he had mapped out a general plan to withdraw his forces clear to the eastern border and there engage the enemy when at a distance from their base of supplies and when overconfident with their previous success. Anyhow, there was an outburst of indignation on the part of the patriots when continued retreat to the Brazos was ordered, and from that time on the ranks of the Texans were thinned by deser- tions. While at Groce's landing two entire com- panies refused to go farther, and were left be-

hind to guard the crossings, managing to hinder Santa Anna's advance for several days. One of these companies later rejoined the main army.

After the fall of the Alamo and the suc- cessful operations of the Mexican forces in the vicinity of Goliad, Santa Anna believed the overthrow of the rebellion to be accomplished, and thus deceived gave his attention to oc- cupying the country at the key positions, for this purpose dividing his army into several de- tachments. The division sent toward San Felipe and which came upon Houston's army at the Colorado was about seven hundred strong, and this was there reinforced by troops under General Tolsta, making the entire num- ber at that point about fourteen hundred. In- formation then reached Santa Anna at San Antonio of the large revolutionary force con- centrating under Houston, and he gave up his intention of returning to Mexico, and, sending word to two of his generals to advance their forces and co-operate with him at San Felipe, he himself set out with his staff and General Filisola and on the 5th of April joined Sesma's and Tolsta's troops at the Colorado and took command in person. He then pushed on and reached San Felipe on the 7th. Here he learned that Harrisburg was the seat of the rebel gov- ernment, and being confident that the capture of this would mean the end of the revolution, he countermanded his orders to General Urrea, who was to advance from Victoria, and with- out waiting for General Gaona, who was to come from Bastrop on the Colorado, he hastened on to Harrisburg, leaving a large part of his troops under Filisola. On his ar- rival at Harrisburg he found the town almost deserted, the officials of Texas having em- barked and escaped to Galveston island, which was the seat of government until the destruc- tion of Santa Anna's army. Santa Anna re- mained at New Washington several days, and thence on the 20th prepared to march by way of Lynch's ferry to Anahuac. In this move- ment he encountered the army of Houston, and after a month of almost uninterrupted destroying progress he was brought to bay

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

and overwhelmed at the famous battle of the San Jacinto.

While Houston was encamped at Groce's landing General Rusk, the secretary of war, was sent by the provisional government to urge upon the commander in chief the neces- sity of taking the offensive and giving battle to the invading host, and at the same time President Burnet sent a letter in which he said: "The enemy are laughing you to scorn. You must fight them. You must retreat no farther. The country expects you to fight. The salvation of the country depends on your doing so."

The Texan army left Groce's on the 14th, headed for Harrisburg, and on the 25th of the month General Houston was able to write to President Burnet a report which was a worthy answer to the latter's sharp words and which will remain a vindication through all time of the bravery and wise leadership of Sam Hous- ton. This letter, written at the headquarters of the army on the San Jacinto, is in part as follows :

"I have the honor to inform you that on the evening of the 18th instant, after a forced march of fifty-five miles, which was effected in two days and a half, the army arrived oppo- site Harrisburg. That evening a courier of the enemy was taken, from whom I learned that General Santa Anna, with one division of his choice troops, had marched in the direction of Lynch's ferry, on the San Jacinto, burning Harrisburg as he passed down. The army was ordered to be in readiness to march early on the next morning. The main body effected a crossing over Buffalo Bayou, below Harris- burg, on the morning of the igth, having left the baggage, the sick, and a sufficient camp guard in the rear. We continued the march through the night, making but one halt on the prairie for a short time, and without refresh- ment. At daylight we resumed the line of march, and in a short distance our scouts en- countered those of the enemy, and we received information that General Santa Anna was at New Washington, and would that day take up the line of march for Anahuac, crossing at

Lynch's ferry. The Texan army halted with- in half a mile of the ferry, and were engaged in slaughtering beeves, when the army of Santa Anna was discovered to be in battle array."

Then follows the details of a skirmish be- tween the two armies, after which the report 'continues : "All these fell back in good order to our encampment about sunset, and re- mained without any ostensible action until the 21st, at half-past three o'clock, taking the first refreshment which they had enjoyed for two days. The enemy in the meantime ex- tended the right flank of their infantry so as to occupy the extreme point of a skirt of timber on the bank of the San Jacinto, and secured their left by a fortification about five feet high, constructed of packs and baggage, leaving an opening in the center of their breastwork in which their artillery was placed, their cavalry on their left wing. About nine o'clock on the morning of the 21st, the enemy were rein- forced by 500 choice troops, under the com- mand of General Cos, increasing their effective force to upward of 1,500 men, whilst our ag- gregate force for the field numbered 783. At half past three o'clock I ordered the officers of the Texan army to parade their respective commands, having in the meantime ordered the bridge on the only road communicating with Brazos (Vince's bridge), distant eight miles from our encampment, to be destroyed, thus cutting off any possibility of escape. Our troops paraded with alacrity and spirit, and were anxious for the contest. Their conscious disparity in numbers seemed only to increase their enthusiasm and confidence, and height- en their anxiety for the conflict. Our situation afforded me an opportunity of making the ar- rangements for the attack without exposing our designs to the enemy.

"The first regiment, commanded by Colonel Burleson, was assigned the center. The second regiment, under the command of Colonel Sher- man, formed the left wing of the army. The artillery was placed on the right of the first regiment and the cavalry on the extreme right completed the line. Our cavalry was

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

dispatched to the front of the enemy's left for the purpose of attracting their notice, whilst an extensive island of timber afforded us an opportunity of concentrating our forces. Every evolution was performed with alacrity, the whole advancing rapidly in line, and through an open prairie, without any protection what- ever for our men. The artillery advanced and took station within two hundred yards of the enemy's breastwork, and commenced an effec- tive fire with grape and cannister.

"Colonel Sherman, with his regiment, having commenced the action upon our left wing, the whole line, at the center and on the right, ad- vancing in double-quick time, rung the war cry 'Remember the Alamo,' received the enemy's fire, and advanced within point-blank shot before a piece was discharged from our lines. Our lines advanced without a halt until they were in possession of the woodland and the enemy's breastwork, the right wing of Burleson's and the left of Millard's taking possession of the breastwork. The conflict lasted about eighteen minutes from the time of close action until we were in possession of the enemy's encampment. Our cavalry had charged and routed that of the enemy upon the right, and given pursuit to the fugitives, which did not cease until they arrived at the bridge which I mentioned before. The conflict in the breastwork lasted but a few minutes; many of the troops encountered hand to hand, and, not having the advantage of bayonets on our side, our riflemen used their pieces as war clubs, breaking many of them off at the breech. The rout commenced at half past four, and the pursuit by the main army continued until twilight. A guard was then left in charge of the enemy's encampment, and our army re- turned with their killed and. wounded. In the battle our loss was two killed and twenty- three wounded, six of them mortally. The enemy's loss was 630 killed, 208 wounded, and 730 prisoners."

Only a few of the Mexicans escaped, and great quantities of stores, ammunition and guns fell into the hands of the Texans. Santa Anna, conscious of his former treachery and

his just deserts, was found the next day, hid- den in the brush and habited in the uniform of a private soldier, but as he was led back among the other prisoners their ejaculations of "El Presidente," and the fact that he wore some rich articles of jewelry revealed his identity. The subsequent forbearance and leniency in the treatment of this fiend is ample evidence of the self-control and wisdom of the American conquerors and proof of their ability not only to win independence, but to preserve it and found a worthy nation. But it was with diffi- culty that the authorities preserved Santa Anna from mob justice, and vengeance rankled in the hearts of the people for many weeks.

The humbled dictator was willing to offer any terms for his own safety, and after several weeks of delay, during which he had to be closely guarded and secreted from the angry people, he signed at Velasco, on May 14th, two treaties, one of them being a secret agree- ment, according to which he was to send the Mexican forces out of Texas and to lend his aid in securing the recognition of the inde- pendence of Texas. This treaty was forwarded to General Filisola, chief in command of the remaining Mexican armies in Texas, and was ratified by him toward the end of May.

The forces under Filisola were at the Brazos when the news of the overthrow of Santa Anna came, and he at once began to fall back, and after concentrating the different divisions he began a retreat to the Colorado. The Mexi- cans were in sad plight as to provisions, and the long campaign at a distance from a base had exhausted nearly all their resources and fighting power. The way to the Colorado was one scene of hardships and disasters, owing to the heavy floods and scarcity of all food- stuffs, and it was an emaciated and worn-out army that reached Victoria about the middle of May. Here the troops that had been sta- tioned at San Antonio joined in the retreat. In the meantime the Mexican government had learned of the disastrous ending of their in- vasion. Instructions were at once forwarded to Filisola to hold the territory already gained, and that as the treaty of Santa Anna had been

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

signed while he was in durance and intimi- dated it was annulled, and that under no cir- cumstances should the independence of the revolting state be recognized. But these or- ders from the central government did not reach Filisola until his troops had crossed the Nue- ces and were on their way to Matamoras, and at a consultation of the officers it was decided that owing to the destitute condition of the army and the agreement already ratified by Filisola the retreat should continue. By the middle of June, therefore, the Mexican forces, once so brilliantly arrayed and well equipped, but now so gaunt and disorganized, had crossed the Rio Grande, within less than four months after Travis had sent out final appeal for help from the Alamo. The Alamo had indeed been remembered.

To gather up a few more fragments con- cerning the war of independence: Santa Anna was kept a close prisoner until after Houston became president of the republic, and he was finally sent to the United States capital at Washington, and thence returned to Mexico, where he had been previously defeated by a signal majority for the office of president, af- ter which he does not come into prominence until the war between the United States and Mexico. The Texan navy, though small, was

able to effect no little part in the winning of in- dependence, and by the capture of vessels loaded with Mexican supplies contributed timely suc- cor to the exigent army and government. Mexico by no means resigned her Texas prov- ince ungrudgingly. The government, despite the withdrawal of all the troops to the south of the Rio Grande, continued its hostile attitude and at least by decrees -- never executed- made preparations for renewed invasion. But, as had so many times before been true, polit- ical troubles and threatened convulsions at home kept the Mexican pot boiling over all the time, and she had no time to dip into that across the border. The four thousand troops at Matamoras were never started north again, and the only aggressions of Mexico during the next few years were confined to petty excursions, the incitement of the Indians, and a general hatred of Texans and avoidance of peaceful relations with the country. The treaty of Santa Anna was never ratified, and the hostile attitude was maintained. On the Texas side a large force was once formed to resist in- vasion and to proceed against Matamoras, but the movement finally came to nothing, owing to the lack of a navy. Two or three other hostile movements will be noticed in the proper order.

MANZ & CO

SAM HOUSTON

CHAPTER XI.

TEXAS AS A REPUBLIC-DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTING THE GOVERNMENT -DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN RELATIONS-INDIAN WARS-THE REGULATORS AND MODERATORS-THE MIER EXPEDITION-SANTA FE EXPEDITION.

The Republic of Texas existed as a unit in the family of nations for nearly ten years, or from the declaration of independence on March 2, 1836, until, on February 19, 1846, ' President Jones surrendered the executive au- thority into the hands of the newly elected governor of the state. During this decade in which the Lone Star shone out alone and apart in the national constellation the history of the republic diverges from its former continuity of narrative, and in the great composite of details becomes descriptive of the conditions of the period. Therefore it is necessary at this point to select the important phases in the career of the Texas republic and to treat them topically without strict regard for their interdependent development or chronological order.

In exercise of the powers conferred by the constitution, there was held in September, 1836, an election for the offices of president, vice president, and senators and representa- tives to congress. There were three candi- dates for the presidency, Stephen Austin, Sam Houston, and the late governor Henry Smith. Houston's exaltation in the minds of the peo- ple after his successful campaign is shown by the fact that he was chosen by a large ma- jority over the father of Texas, Stephen Aus- tin, whose noble and consistent patriotism was for the time dimmed by the military glory of the former. Mirabeau B. Lamar was elected vice president.

Houston's large-mindedness and his con- ciliatory temper were manifested in his ap- pointment of Austin to the office of secretary of state and Smith to that of secretary of the war, thus doing what was in his power to harmonize the factions which were influences potent for harm to the infant republic. By provision of the constitution Houston was not to enter his office until the following Decem- ber, while congress was summoned to as- semble in October, but by mutual willingness the president and vice president of the pro- visional government retired from office on October 22, and on the same day Houston was inducted into office, the irregularity being sanctioned by congress.

At the same time with the election of the new government, the people gave unanimous ratification to the constitution as it stood, also practically the total vote in favor of annexa- tion to the United States. As the annexation movement deserves a special chapter, only a few facts concerning its development will be mentioned in this chapter.

The new government was confronted with many perplexities and knotty problems to un- ravel before Texas could take her place among the nations and attain the highest degree of welfare and development within. The mes- sages to congress of the retiring and the enter- ing presidents recite many facts concerning the status of the republic after the achieving of independence. The army and navy were

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 7

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co.
Number of Pages: 968