USA > Texas > Tarrant County > Fort Worth > History of Texas : Fort Worth and the Texas northwest edition, Volume I > Part 24
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Goliad remained in the hands of the Texans from this time until March, 1836, when it was abandoned by Colonel Fannin. The supplies captured here were of great value to the volunteers during the early part of the campaign of 1835.
General Austin, with the main army, took up the line of march west- ward, and halted at Salado, where he took up a strong position, to await reinforcements-his force at the time not exceeding 300 men. While here the Texans had several skirmishes with Cos's troops, in all of which the latter were worsted. A number of the members-elect of the con- sultation joind the army at this place. A number of troops also, from East Texas joined the army. Austin, impatient of longer delay, pre- pared to move. However, before doing so, the question of whether the members of the consultation should remain with the army or return to San Felipe de Austin and organize a provisional government was sub- mitted to a vote of the army and it was decided almost unanimously that they should return and organize a provisional government for Texas. It had become apparent that Bexar could not be taken by assault without a great sacrifice of life; for since the capture of Goliad, Cos, who had arrived on October 9, had lost no time in strengthening and fortifying the town preparatory to a siege. He had refused to receive a flag from General Austin, notifying him that if a flag was sent he would fire on it.
The army left Salado and marched to Mission Espada on the San Antonio River, some eight or ten miles below San Antonio de Bexar. General Austin, desiring a position nearer the town, dispatched two com- panies commanded by Capt. James W. Fannin, Jr. and Andrew Briscoe, all subject to the orders of Col. James Bowie with orders to examine the missions above and select a good position for an encampment. On the 27th of October, in compliance with their orders they set out, and after examining the missions San Juan and San José they proceeded to Mission La Purissima Concepción, where they selected a spot some 500 yards above the mission, in a bend of the river. In front, there was an almost level prairie with a few mesquite trees, which extended into the bend. The bend, which was skirted with timber, formed two sides of a triangle of nearly equal extent. Within the bend there was a bottom 50 or 100 yards wide and from six to ten feet below the plain in front. with an almost perpendicular bluff. The command was posted along the skirt of timbers on either side of the triangle. It was naturally a strong position, the timber and river being in the rear, with the bluff a natural parapet, to fall behind. Here the detachment lay on their arms all night. having first put out a picket guard. All passed off quietly during the night, but in taking a position and remaining there all night, the detach- ment acted contrary to instructions, as will be seen by the following order :
"Headquarters, Mission Espada. October 27, 1835. "Col. James Bowie, Volunteer Aid :
"You will proceed with the first division of Captain Fannin's company and others attached to that division and select the best and most secure position that can be had on the river, as near Bexar as
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practicable, to encamp the army to-night-keeping in view in the selection of this position pasturage and the security of the horses and the army from night attacks of the enemy.
"You will also reconnoiter, so far as time and circumstances will permit, the situation of the outskirts of the town and the approaches to it, whether the houses have been destroyed on the outside, so as to leave every approach exposed to the raking of cannon.
"You will make your report with as little delay as possible, SO AS TO GIVE TIME TO THE ARMY TO MARCH AND TAKE UP ITS POSITION BEFORE NIGHT. Should you be attacked by a large force, send expresses immediately with the particulars. "S. F. AUSTIN.
"By Order, P. W. Grayson, Aide-de-Camp."
While they were in this position, on the morning of the 28th, a des- perate engagement was fought with a detachment of the Mexican force from Bexar. It is fully described in the official report to General Austin, which follows :
"Dear Sir: In conformity with your order of the 27th inst., we proceeded with the division composed of ninety-two men, rank and file, under our joint command, to examine the Missions above Espada, and select the most eligible situation near Bejar, for the encampment of the main army of Texas. After carefully examin- ing that of San Jose (having previously visited San Juan) we marched to that of Concepción, and selected our ground in a bend of the river San Antonio, within about 500 yards of the old Mission Concepción. The face of the plain in our front was nearly level, and the timbered land adjoining it formed two sides of a triangle, both of which were as nearly equal as possible; and, with the excep- tion of two places, a considerable bluff of from six to ten feet sudden fall in our rear, and a bottom of 50 to 100 yards to the river.
"We divided the command into divisions, and occupied each one side of the triangle, for the encampment on the night of the 27th, Captain Fannin's company being under cover of the south side, forming the first division, and Captains Coleman, Goheen, and Ben- net's companies, (making in all only forty-one, rank and file) oc- cupied the north side, under the immediate command of myself, (James Bowie, as aide-de-camp).
"Thus the men were posted, and lay on their arms during the night of the 27th, having out strong picket guards, and one of seven men in the cupola of the mission house, which overlooked the whole country, the horses being all tied up.
"The night passed quietly off, without the least alarm, and at dawn of day, every object was obscured by a heavy, dense fog, which entirely prevented our guard, or lookout from the mission, seeing the approach of the enemy.
"At about half an hour by sun, an advance guard of their cavalry rode upon our line, and fired at a sentinel who had just been relieved. who returned the fire, and caused one platoon to retire ; but another charged on him ( Henry Karnes), and he discharged a pistol at them, which had the same effect.
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"The men were called to arms; but were for some time unable to discover their foes, who had entirely surrounded the position, and kept up a constant firing, at a distance, with no other effect than a waste of ammunition on their part. When the fog rose, it was apparent to all that we are surrounded, and a desperate fight was inevitable, all communications with the main army being cut off. Immediate preparation was made, by extending our right flank (first division) to the South, and placing the second division on the left, on the same side, so that they might be enabled to rake the enemy's, should they charge into the angle, and prevent the effects of a cross-fire of our own men; and, at the same time, be in a com- pact body, contiguous to each other, that either might reinforce the other, at the shortest notice, without crossing the angle, in an ex- posed and uncovered ground, where certain loss must have resulted. The men, in the meantime, were ordered to clear away bushes and vines, under the hill and along the margin, and at the steepest places to cut steps for foot-holds, in order to afford them space to form and pass, and at suitable places ascend the bluff, discharge their rifles, and fall back to re-load. The work was not completed to our wislı, before the infantry were seen to advance, with arms trailed, to the right of the first division, and form the line of battle at about 200 yards distance from the right flank. Five companies of their cavalry supported them, covering our whole front and flanks. Their infantry was also supported by a large force of cavalry.
"In this manner, the engagement commenced at about the hour of 8 o'clock A. M., on Wednesday, 28th of October, by the deadly crack of a rifle from the extreme right. The engagement was immediately general. The discharge from the enemy was one continued blaze of fire, whilst that from our lines, was more slowly delivered, but with good aim and deadly effect, each man retiring under cover of the hill and timber, to give place to others, whilst he re-loaded. The battle had not lasted more than ten minutes, before a brass double-fortified four-pounder was opened on our line with a heavy discharge of grape and canister, at the distance of about eighty yards from the right flank of the first division, and a charge sounded. But the can- non was cleared, as if by magic, and a check put to the charge. The same experiment was resorted to, with like success, three times, the division advancing under the hill at each fire, and thus approximat- ing near the cannon and victory. 'The cannon and victory' was truly the war-cry, and they only fired it five times, and it had been three times cleared, and their charge as often broken, before a disorderly and precipitate retreat was sounded, and most readily obeyed, leav- ing to the victors their cannon. Thus a small detachment of ninety- two men gained a most decisive victory over the main army of the central government, being at least four to one, with only the loss of one brave soldier (Richard Andrews), and none wounded; whilst the enemy suffered in killed and wounded near 100, from the best information we can obtain, which is entitled to credit; say sixty- seven killed, among them many promising officers. Not one man of the artillery company escaped unhurt.
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"No invidious distinction can be drawn between any officer or private, on this occasion. Every man was a soldier, and did his duty, agreeable to the situation and circumstances under which he was placed.
"It may not be amiss here to say, that near the close of the engagement another heavy piece of artillery was brought up, and fired thrice, but at a distance; and by a reinforcement of another com- pany of cavalry, aided by six mules, ready harnessed, they got it off. The main army reached us in about one hour after the enemy's retreat. Had it been possible to communicate with you, and [to have] brought you up earlier, the victory would have been decisive, and Bexar ours before 12 o'clock.
"With sentiments of high consideration, we subscribe ourselves, Yours, most respectfully, "JAMES BOWIE, Aide-de-Camp. "J. W. FANNIN, Commandant, First Division. "General S. F. Austin."
The following communication by Major Moses Austin Bryan affords a good reason why the main army did not reach Concepción in time to participate in the battle of the 28th October. He also mentions the name of Captain Andrew Briscoe, who commanded one of the two com- panies detailed. General Austin made the order to Colonel Bowie, but only mentions Captain Fannin. In the report of the battle by Bowie and Fannin Captains Coleman, Goheen, and Bennett were mentioned. These gentlemen may have had a small squad of men, each, but not a company ; for subsequent to the battle, the squads of Coleman and Goheen united, and elected Coleman to the command of the company thus formed.
With this explanation, we subjoin Mayor Bryan's communication :
"On the morning of the 27th of October 1835 the 'Army of the people' was camped at the Mission de Espada about nine miles below San Antonio and General Stephen F. Austin, wishing to occupy a position as near the town as possible, ordered Colonel James Bowie (a volunteer Aid) to take the companies of Captain James W. Fannin (The Brazos Guards) and the Harrisburg company, Captain Andrew Briscoe, and select a suitable camp and report that afternoon at camp with his two companies. About 9 o'clock at night D. B. Macomb (Assistant Adjutant General) who went with Colonel Bowie returned to camp and reported that a position had been selected about 11/2 miles below San Antonio on the river and that Colonel Bowie, Captain Fan- nin and Captain Briscoe considered the position so strong, that they had concluded not to return to Espada, but would await the arrival of the army in their camp. General Austin was very much worried, as he believed the small party of ninety-two men would be attacked next morning by daylight and he ordered his adjutant General War- ren D. C. Hall and his aide-de-camp William T. Austin to go and see all the officers of the army and notify them that the army must be ready to march at daylight the next morning, as he felt sure General Cos would attack Bowie, Fannin, and Briscoe. The General was in feeble health and the anxiety he felt for the detachment kept
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him from sleeping that night. At daylight on the morning of the 28 October it was reported to the General that the company from Eastern Texas which was the camp guard had marched off and it was reported that General Sam Houston with three or four other delegates to the consultation had left before daylight for San Felipe de Austin where the consultation had been called to meet on the 15th of October. The General ordered that two companies be sent immediately after the deserting company. The army, all ready to march, was detained I think two hours waiting the return of the two companies with the deserting company. The two companies returned without the deserters and the army took up the line of march for the Mission Concepción, near which was the camp ground selected by Colonel Bowie. When the main army arrived at the camp the Mexican soldiers who attacked Bowie, Fannin and Briscoe were in sight retreating into San Antonio. As the General rode up Bowie, Fannin, and Briscoe came out and met him and he told them he wished to follow the Mexicans into town immediately. They pro- tested that the place was too strongly fortified, etc. The General dis- mounted and the army halted at the new camp, and as soon as the General's tent was pitched he called a council of war, and advised following the defeated Mexicans into San Antonio. A majority of the officers in council disapproved of the General's views and the army camped in the position selected.
"Captain Robert J. Calder, who was a Lieutenant in Captain James W. Fannin's company, will probably remember about the council of war, etc. I was General Austin's private secretary, and was by his side in camp, and on the march all the time and know the above stated facts."
"MOSES AUSTIN BRYAN."
As will be seen by the following communication, Austin, with a divi- sion of the army, took a position above the town, at the Old Mill, while Bowie and Fannin with a weaker force occupied Concepción.
"Head-Quarters, On the Canal Above Bexar, October 31, 1835.
"Colonel James Bowie and Captain Fannin :
"I have taken a position on the Alamo Canal, at the mouth of a dry gully about one mile from town. There is one a little nearer, but it cannot be occupied to-day. I have certain information that all the surplus horses, except about 150 or 200, were started to Laredo last night. The number that left is reported 900 head. The escort does not exceed twenty or thirty men.
"I have dispatched Captain Travis, with 50 men, to overtake and capture them. He has guides, and I have no doubt will succeed.
"I have to inform you that a servant of Antonio de la Garza came into camp to-day, bringing a proposition from the greater part of the San Fernando company of cavalry, and the one of Rio Grande-to desert. This man was sent to procure a guarantee for them when they come out. I have given the guarantee, and have now to com- municate to you the mode in which they will come out to us-where.
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etc. He says they will be obliged to come in the day time, upon some occasion of alarm, when they are ordered out. These troops are stationed in the house of Padilla, in one of the lower labors which Colonel Bowie understands the situation of. It would be well, then, for you to-morrow to make a diversion on that side, so as to pro- duce the necessary stir ; so that they may be ordered out, and thus give the men the chance to come out as it were on duty, and then escape. They will present themselves with the butts of their guns advanced, or a white flag. Padilla has many acquaintances in those companies, who sent Garza's servant (José Ortiz) to have an unde: standing with him as to the guarantees and the mode of joining us "In regard to the measure of harassing the enemy tonight, as was spoken of before we parted, by simultaneous firing on the town, ] have to say that I am obliged to decline, owing partly to the condition of the men here at present, having lost so much sleep last night ; and partly to the difficulty of crossing the river from here, so as to co- operate in time with the men on foot. As you will make a diversion tomorrow for the purpose of bringing on the deserters, you will therefore decline anything of the kind to-night, unless you think it better to proceed on your part. If you think so, you can act as you think best, in that respect, but without expecting any co-operation from this quarter, for the reason I have mentioned. I will, however, mention that a few men from here may probably fire on the Alamo, which is, you know, on this side of the river-about moondown.
"As there is abundance of corn here, you can use that brought by Seguin for your detachment.
"I wish you to send to Seguin's ranch for some rockets, that are there-two or three dozen. In Spanish they are called quetes, pro- nounced quates-we may want them.
"Please to give me your opinions and those of your officers as to the mode of. further operations on the enemy.
"S. F. AUSTIN.
"By order, W. D. C. Hall,
"Dispatch the bearer with your answer to-night, as soon as pos- sible. I wish your opinions as to storming or besieging.
"S. F. A."
"Camp Concepción, 9 o'clock P. M. October 31, 1835. "General S. F. Austin.
"Dear Sir: Yours of this date has this moment been received, and contents duly considered.
"We will make the desired diversion on to-morrow, in order to afford those companies protection should they desire to join us, as early as circumstances and the weather will admit, say nine o'clock.
"We have received many reports with regard to the disposition of the troops, and some of the officers, but so various as to make it doubtful what degree of credit should be attached to them. No doubt. however exists but provisions are short, and we can compel them by close siege to fight us outside, starve, or run away. If these troops
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join us on to-morrow or any other time, we propose to you to be in readiness to enter the town forthwith.
"In order to effect this object, let us agree to send our respective parties, at the same hour in the morning, so as to be always ready to act in concert, and thereby effect our object with as little loss and as much certainty as practicable.
"If this be done and all communication of every sort, with the city stopped at once, and these two companies do not join us in a given time (say five days or some certain day), let us storm the town simultaneously. We cannot doubt for a moment the result.
"The corn from Seguin's ranch was received this morning, and is quite respectable.
"In conclusion we will endeavor to perform our duty below town. and do most earnestly request, nay urge, that a more regular com- munication with each other, twice a day if possible, be kept up. "JAMES BOWIE, "J. W. FANNIN, JR."
In these positions the forces at San Antonio gained strength daily by the arrival of volunteers, and here we must leave them for a time and turn to the consultation assembling at San Felipe.
CHAPTER XIV THE CONSULTATION OF 1835
We will now turn to the civil department. On October 1, Colonel Austin, as chairman of the San Felipe committee, proposed to the other committees of Texas the formation of a central representative committee, pending the meeting of the consultation: "This committee proposes that one of the members of each of the other committees of safety be appointed to come to this place without one moment's delay, and remain here as a permanent counsel-such a measure is now deemed to be indispensably necessary." On the 8th, as we have seen, Colonel Austin was called to the command of the volunteers at Gonzales. In the meantime, only two committees had responded to his urgent request. R. R. Royall had been sent by the committee of Matagorda and Joseph Bryan by the committee of Liberty. At the same time several members of the San Felipe com- mittee had gone to join the army. A reorganization of the committee was therefore effected.
During the next few days little of importance was done by the council. Royall took up the work that Austin had been doing in spreading in- formation and urging organization, and kept a steady correspondence with Austin in the army. On the 14th the council appointed Captain William S. Hall "contractor for the army of the people," and instructed him to proceed with all possible dispatch to collect supplies for Austin's forces. In case he met with obstacles he was empowered to press into service "any Valuables that may be necessary to a speedy and prompt co-operation with our force at headquarters." And on the 15th, Royall issued an urgent circular begging the people to turn out promptly and march to the assistance of the volunteers who were advancing toward San Antonio.
On the 16th, thirty members of the consultation assembled at San Felipe. Those present were: From the Municipality of Bevil-John Bevil, Wyatt Hanks, Thomas Holmes, S. H. Everett, John H. Blount ; from the Municipality of San Augustine-A. Houston, Jacob Garrett, Wm. N. Sigler, A. E. C. Johnson ; from the Municipality of Harrisburg- Lorenzo de Zavala, Clement C. Dyer, Wm. P. Harris; from the Munici- pality of Matagorda-Ira R. Lewis, R. R. Royall, Charles Wilson ; from the Municipality of Viesca-J. G. W. Pierson, J. L. Hood, S. T. Allen. A. G. Perry, J. W. Parker, Alexander Thompson ; from the Municipality of Nacogdoches-Wm. Whitaker, Sam Houston, Daniel Parker, James W. Robinson, N. Robins; from the Municipality of Columbia-John A. Wharton, Henry Smith, Edwin Waller, J. S. D. Byrom. The municipali- ties of Liberty, Gonzales, Mina, and Washington were unrepresented at this first meeting, but Henry Millard, Claiborne West, A. B. Hardin, James B. Wood, Hugh B. Johnson, and Peter J. Menard soon arrived from Liberty.
October 17, 1835, there was not a sufficient number of members present to form a quorum of the consultation, owing to the members be- ing absent in the army, it was resolved, "that the members present adjourn
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until the first day of next month, or as soon as a quorum can meet in this place, so as to afford an opportunity to those who may desire it to join the army in defense of their country. That those who cannot join the army may remain here with the council of Texas, and have access to all the intelligence in possession of the council, relative to the present crisis."
This action was in accordance with the desire of the members-elect who were in the ranks of Austin's army. Before leaving Gonzales they had adopted on the 11th, resolutions requesting all members to join the army, equipped for a campaign: "Resolved, That if any portion of the Convention meet at the time and place appointed and find it impracticable to repair to the camp, as invited in the foregoing resolution, that they be requested, if they amount to quorum, to adjourn from day to day and suspend all action until the first of November."
At the same time, on account of the confusion previously noticed as to the place where the consultation was to meet, several delegates had assembled at Washington, and before adjourning they adopted resolutions to reassemble there on November 1.
On the 18th the permanent council had in attendance the following members : President, R. R. Royall; delegates of Viesca, A. G. Perry, J. T. Hood, J. G. W. Pierson, Alex Thompson, S. T. Allen, J. W. Parker ; delegates of Nacogdoches, William Whitaker, Daniel Parker ; delegates of Liberty, Joseph Bryan, Hugh B. Johnson, Peter J. Menard, A. B. Hardin, J. B. Wood; delegates of San Augustine, Jacob Garrett, A. Houston delegate of Austin, William Pettus ; delegate of Harrisburg, Isaac Batter- son ; secretary, J. G. W. Pierson.
From this time until it was superseded by the consultation the council took in hand a number of important measures. On the 18th a second urgent appeal was addressed to the people, begging them to take the field. On the 23rd, Baker and Johnson, who had been sent by Austin to organ- ize public opinion in East Texas, reported the result of their labors, and this report apparently suggested several of the subsequent measures of the council :
San Felipe, October 23, 1835. "To The Chairman of the General Council of Texas.
"Sir: On yesterday evening we returned from Nacogdoches, to which place we went about three weeks since, carrying, at the request of Colonel Austin, information of the landing of General Cos, with instructions to solicit aid from that section of the country for the pur- pose of expelling him from Texas.
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