USA > Texas > Tarrant County > Fort Worth > History of Texas : Fort Worth and the Texas northwest edition, Volume I > Part 29
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"A regular army has been created, and liberal encouragement has been given by the government. To all who will enlist for two years, or during the war, a bounty of $24 and 800 acres of land will be given. Provision has also been made for raising an auxiliary volun- teer corps, to constitute part of the army of Texas, which will be placed under the command, and subject to the orders of the com- mander-in-chief. The field for promotion will be open. The terms of service will be various. For those who tender their services for, or during the war, will be given a bounty of 640 acres of land; an equal bounty will be given to those who volunteer their services for two years; if for one year, a bounty of 320 acres; and for those who may volunteer for a shorter period, no bounty of land will be given, but the same liberal pay, rations, etc., will be allowed them as other members of the army. The rights of citizenship are extended to all who will unite with us in defending the republican principles of the constitution of 1824.
"Citizens of Texas, your rights must be defended. The oppres- sors must be driven from our soil. Submission to the laws and union among ourselves will render us invincible : subordination and discipline in our army will guarantee to us victory and renown. Our invader has sworn to exterminate us, or sweep us from the soil of Texas. He is vigilant in his work of oppression, and has ordered to Texas 10,000 men to enforce the unhallowed purposes of his ambi- tion. His letters to his subalterns in Texas have been intercepted. and his plans for our destruction are disclosed. Departing from the chivalric principles of civilized warfare, he has ordered arms to be- distributed to a portion of our population, for the purposes of creat- ing in the midst of us a servile war. The hopes of the usurper were inspired by a belief that the citizens of Texas were disunited and
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divided in opinion; that alone has been the cause of the present inva- sion of our rights. He shall realize the fallacy of his hopes, in the union of her citizens, and their eternal resistance to his plans against constitutional liberty. We will enjoy our birthright, or perish in its defence.
"The services of 5,000 volunteers will be accepted. By the first of March next, we must meet the enemy with an army worthy of our cause, and which will reflect honor upon our freemen. Our habitations must be defended ; the sanctity of our hearths and fire- sides must be preserved from pollution. Liberal Mexicans will unite with us. Our countrymen in the field have presented an example worthy of imitation. Generous and brave hearts from a land of freedom have joined our standard before Bexar. They have, by their heroism and valor, called forth the admiration of their com- rades in arms, and have reflected additional honor on the land of their birth. Let the brave rally to our standard.
"SAM HOUSTON, Commander-in-Chief of the Army."
This is a strong document, even for Houston's pen, but it was all but fruitless. By January 17 there were thirty-five regulars at Refugio, and some others, apparently, elsewhere, for Houston urges Governor Smith to "cause all the regulars now enlisted to be formed into companies, and marched to headquarters." By January 28 Travis had enlisted twenty- six more and marched to the relief of Bexar. And on February 12 George W. Poe wrote that there were many at Columbia who would enlist if the officers were only prepared to "support them and clothe them." "Lieutenant Chaffin," he said, "has enlisted about thirty men who have no place to live at and he has no supply of arms, clothing, etc., for them." But as late as March 10 a special committee, appointed by the convention then in session at Washington, had to report that "Of the regular army, there appears to be sixty privates," and, though they did not then know it, thirty of these were dead with Travis in the ruins of the Alamo. The chairman, J. W. Bunton, acknowledged that his infor- mation was incomplete, and there may have been a few more, in fact, he had heard unofficially of a company of forty regulars under Captain Teal, but the number all told was pitifully small.
Enlistments for the auxiliary corps were more numerous. Companies from Tennessee and New Orleans and Mobile arrived early in the cam- paign of 1835, and, as time passed, volunteers came in constantly increas- ing numbers from the United States-chiefly from Louisiana, Missis- sippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio (Cincinnati). Most of these later arrivals and some of the earlier ones joined the auxiliary corps, though in general they hesitated to volunteer for a definite period, and were with difficulty enlisted for a term of only three months.
The fact is that the citizens of Texas often manifested a surprising degree of indifference toward the war, and this attitude was much more general than is ordinarily suspected. They did form the majority of the force that captured Bexar in December, but their lack of discipline-the simple expression of the frontiersman's individuality-was the despair of such officers as Austin, Travis, and Fannin. With the termination of
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the campaign they did not enlist either as regulars or auxiliaries, and did not again take the field in any numbers until immediately preceding the battle of San Jacinto. On December 17 Silas M. Parker wrote the presi- dent of the general council that he had with the greatest exertion been able to get together but thirty rangers, and could with difficulty get pro- visions for them. "I cannot," he said, "engage any beef or pork for them, tho there is plenty in the country. Such is the indifference of the people as to the cause of Texas." He had to go to the men who had beeves to spare, and value the beeves and kill them himself. Travis, in a letter to Governor Smith, January 28, complained of the same indif- ference, and gives some pertinent reasons for it. He said :
"I have done everything in my power to get ready to march to the relief of Bexar, but owing to the difficulty of getting horses and provisions, and owing to desertions, etc., I shall march today with only about thirty men, all regulars except four. * * * Our
affairs are gloomy indeed-The people are cold and indifferent- They are worn down and exhausted with the war, and in conse- quence of dissensions between contending and rival chieftains they have lost all confidence in their own government and officers. You have no idea of the exhausted state of the country-Volunteers can no longer be had or relied on-A speedy organization, classification, and draft of the militia is all that can save us now. A regular army is necessary-but money, and money only can raise and equip a reg- ular army- * * * The patriotism of a few has done much ; but that is becoming worn down-I have strained every nerve-I have used my personal credit and have neither slept day or night since I received orders to march-and with all this exertion I have barely been able to get horses and equipments for the few men I have."
Again he writes from Bexar, when the enemy were already advanc- ing against it, that he hopes the people of Texas will at last onen their eyes to the danger and unite in a common cause. But he bitterly adds,
"I fear that it is useless to waste arguments upon them-The thunder of the enemy's cannon and * * The cries of their famished children and the smoke of their burning dwellings will only arouse them-I regret that the government has so long neglected a draft of the militia which is the only measure that will ever again bring the citizens of Texas to the Frontier."
Almost at the same time Fannin was writing to Lieutenant Governor Robinson,
"But when I tell you that among the rise of 400 men at and near this post, I doubt if twenty-five citizens of Texas can be mustered in the ranks-nay, I am informed that there is not half that number -Does not this fact bespeak an indifference and criminal apathy truly alarming?"
Finally, on April 8, when Santa Anna was at San Felipe, entering the heart of the most populous settlements, A. Roberts wrote to Presi- dent Burnet,
"I was astonished to find upon making a call upon the men who have stopped here [at Spring Creek] that in place of obeying promptly the general's call, some of them began to prepare for going VOL. I-14
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further who had previously decided on remaining here for some time * * * while others manifest a total indifference on the subject. * *
* It is thought that there is at this time on this side of the Brazos in a moving position at least a thousand men liable to do militia duty."
This, truly, is one side of the picture. The Texas revolution was not a spontaneous outburst of patriotic indignation against Mexican oppres- sion. Few of the colonists were satisfied with all features of Mexican rule ; but few, also, were ready to go the length of armed rebellion. A small party of radicals forced the war. It came suddenly, and was soon over-lasting less than seven months. The pacific majority were dazed by its sudden development, and before some of them recovered it was past. For some of them, too, there were other enemies besides the Mex- icans. Fear of the Indians they had always, and on the plantations of the Brazos there was added the threat of a slave uprising. With their families in danger, men heard only faintly the calls of the stricken country. But, when all is said, it really was the "old settlers" who did. almost unaided, all of the effective fighting of the Texas revolution.
Though the regular army remained, so long as the general council was in session, a good deal of an abstraction, steps were not neglected to secure supplies for its use when needed. On November 27 an ordinance ordered the purchase of munitions, provisions, scientific and surgical instruments, books and stationery. Among the small arms enumerated were 300 yagers, 600 muskets, 200 pairs of cavalry pistols, 1,000 butcher knives, and 1,000 tomahawks: among the provisions desired were 350 barrels of flour, 20,000 pounds of bacon, 15,000 pounds each of coffee and brown sugar, 5,000 pounds of soap, and 3,000 pounds of Kentucky chewing tobacco; the books included 100 copies of Scott's "Infantry Drill." twenty-six copies of Crop's "Discipline and Regulations," and thirty-six copies of McComb's "School of the Soldier." A resolution of December 6 permitted the commander-in-chief to send two agents along with the commissioners to the United States to purchase these supplies, but whether he availed himself of the privilege does not appear. Doubt- less many of the supplies were never bought, but the commissioners, Messrs. Austin, Archer, and William H. Wharton, appointed William Bryan, of New Orleans, general agent for Texas, and he from time to time shipped the stores that were most urgently needed.
The council decided. December 8, that the original order for 350 bar - rels of flour was insufficient, and increased the number to 700, while at the same time it requested the governor to have the commissioners to the United States employ one or more bakers for the army. On Decem- ber 18 it created the office of commissary general and appointed to the place Thos. F. Mckinney, probably the largest merchant in Texas. Mc- Kinney declined the office, but never spared either trouble or expense in his private capacity to procure all necessary supplies for the soldiers. Finally, thinking, perhaps that private enterprise might be able to supply some necessities which the government could not, the council elected a sutler. He was governed by the regulations for the same office in the United States army, and had authority to appoint subsutlers whenever the commander-in-chief requested them.
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Members of the consultation did not consider the "army of the people," the official designation of the volunteers at Bexar, as in any manner subject to them. Their attitude toward it was, in fact, very deferential. Resolutions were adopted, November 3, commending Austin. Fannin, and Bowie for their success in the battle of Concepción. On the 12th General Houston offered a resolution thanking the army on general principles for "perseverance, firmness, patriotism, and courage in defend- ing the liberties of Texas." And again, on the 13th, Collinsworth's cap- ture of Goliad was remembered, and in order perhaps to forestall pos- sible jealousy a resolution of thanks was voted to him and his men. The military committee defined their relations with the army in these words :
"This force is composed of volunteers from every rank of cit- izens in the country, whose services generally commenced before the assembling of this house, and as their movements have hitherto been regulated by officers of their own choice, no obligation can be im- posed upon them to submit to the control of the provisional govern- ment ; advisory communications are all that can be made to them."
With respect, therefore, to the people's army the consultation con- fined itself mainly to the effort to secure reinforcements. Districts that had not contributed their quota of men were urged to do so at once, and the temptation to shirk was removed by a resolution of November 11 to the effect that persons leaving the country to avoid participation in the present struggle should forfeit all their land and property to the govern- ment.
To this task and the equally difficult one of supplying the men already in the field the general council fell heir. An ordinance of Novem- ber 19 provided for the immediate purchase of quantities of food, cloth- ing, tents, surgical supplies, soap, candles, and cooking utensils, and axes, spades, and shovels. Medicine had already been forwarded, it was said. in sufficient quantity for the present. John W. Moore was appointed "contractor" to carry this law into effect, with authority to pledge the public faith for the payment of such debts as he might incur. The same day a proclamation was issued, calling for more volunteers, and announc- ing that "all the supplies * * suited to the necessities of this incle- ment season have been procured and are procuring through the people's agents appointed for that purpose." This statement was a trifle prema- ture but the council was determined if possible to make good its prom- ise ; so Henry Millard was appointed on the 22d to obtain supplies for a company on the way to the army, and on the 27th an ordinance was rushed through, creating a commissary at San Felipe to look after volun- teers passing there. John B. Johnson was chosen for this responsible position, and he began his duties at once by issuing eighty rations to a company from Mobile. At the same time an appropriation of $1.500 was made for the benefit of the army at Bexar, and a few days later (November 28) John Dunn also was appointed a commissary and or- dered to buy for it at Matagorda or the nearest point possible a quantity of flour, bread, and beans. December 1, having received news of the "grass fight," the council avowed itself deeply grateful to the men en- gaged in that "brilliant affair" and seized the occasion to assure them that no means would be omitted to aid, comfort, and assist them in their
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important investment of Bexar. Before the army received this grati- fying assurance, however, Colonel Burleson had grown impatient and appointed William Pettus contractor for the volunteers. This appoint- ment the council ratified on the 5th, but before Pettus had an opportu- nity to prove his efficiency Bexar had capitulated and most of the army dispersed.
The council had made little effort to reinforce the army, relying upon the work already done by the permanent council and the consultation and upon the general excitement aroused by the battle of Gonzales, the capture of Goliad, and the subsequent march on Bexar. A letter from Milam and Burleson, received on December 9, and announcing the begin- ning of the assault on Bexar and the need of ammunition and reinforce- ments, created, therefore, a prodigious stir. One committee was ap- pointed to gather up and dispatch to the army all the powder and lead in town, another to employ expresses to scour the country for volunteers and additional ammunition, and still another to procure horses for these expresses. Most of the members being thus on special duty, the council adjourned. The next day an address was issued, explaining to the people the straits of the army, and pleading for reinforcements. J. W. Fannin and Thomas J. Rusk were appointed recruiting agents-the one to operate east and the other west of the Trinity-to enlist volunteers for thirty days. In the meantime Dimit was increasing the strain by calling for reinforcements at Goliad. But on the 15th came the news that Bexar had fallen, and the joy of the council was unconfined.
As to the pay of the volunteers, the consultation had decreed that such as remained in the service until the fall of Bexar, or until honor- ably discharged, should receive $20 a month and such donations of land as the government should vote them. For some reason, however-per- haps to create an incentive to enlistment in the regular army or the auxiliary corps-the council did not admit these volunteers to the benefit of the bounty laws. Only those-so reads the ordinance-"their heirs or legal representatives, who have been or may hereafter be killed in battle ,or come to death by sickness or accident in going to or returning from the volunteer army." shall be entitled to one mile square, or 640 acres of land.
On November 18 the committee on naval affairs reported on that portion of the governor's initial message which recommended the issu- ance of letters of marque and reprisal to privateers. Both the perma- nent council and the consultation had favored the policy of commission- ing privateers, and the committee submitted an ordinance continuing the policy. This was passed on the 25th and approved by the governor on the 27th. It provided for the issuance of letters of marque by the gov- ernor and council to "men of known character, standing and skill as naval tacticians," but no vessels of less than eighty tons burden should be licensed ; they were to cruise in the Gulf and prey solely on vessels sailing under the flag and commission of the central government of Mexico; prizes were to be adjudicated in Texan ports ; the government was to receive twenty per cent of the prize money ; and commissions were limited to six months in duration. A supplement to this ordinance passed on the 30th reduced the government's share of the prize money to ten
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per cent, and provided that the privateers should sail under the Mexican flag, with "the figures 1, 8, 2, 4, cyphered in large Arabics on the white ground thereof."
The committee closed its report with a strong recommendation for the establishment of a naval force :
"Your committee would further most earnestly represent that the establishment of a small naval force for the security of our extended coast and the protection of our own commerce would seem to them highly necessary and indispensable, and under that conviction would recommend the purchase, arming, and equipping two schooners of twelve, and two schooners of six guns each to cruise in, and about the bays and harbors of our coast. This arm of the service should be confined and entrusted only to men whose nautical skill and experience are well known and established, and whose activity and efficiency, would with greater certainty secure the objects of its crea- tion and organization.'
In accordance with this report an ordinance passed on the 25th and approved the 27th "established a navy, to consist of two schooners of twelve guns each, and two schooners of six guns each." They were to be purchased and equipped as soon as practicable and were to rendezvous at Galveston. Under this authorization four vessels were obtained during January and February, 1836-the Liberty, Invincible, Independ- ence, and Brutus-and during 1836 and 1837 they did valuable service in protecting the Texan coast.
The outbreak of the revolution found Texas without any system of revenue, and from the beginning the various governing bodies were at great difficulty to supply the needs of the volunteers in the field and to provide for the regular army which it was hoped could be created.
On October 20 the permanent council appointed a committee of five "to inquire into the state of the public funds and, if necessary, report a plan for replenishing them." The committee recommended that six "public agents" be appointed to cooperate with the committees of safety. in each jurisdiction in the collection of dues on land and stamped paper. They were also to negotiate loans whenever possible, and pledge as security therefor the public faith. On the 22d Gail Borden's powers were strengthened as collector in the jurisdiction of San Felipe, and he was instructed to publish a notice that drafts drawn by captains of com- panies-presumably for supplies-and approved by the president of the council would be accepted in payment of public dues.
On the 27th a more ambitious effort was made to secure funds by the appointment of Thomas F. Mckinney to negotiate a loan of $100,000 in New Orleans. But from this undertaking he excused himself on the ground that such a commission would need to be supported by unques- tionable authority, which he feared would not be conceded to the per- manent council. Before this reply was received the council had merged into the consultation. It had expended the sum of $374.30, had made provision for the efficient collection of the public dues, and supplies were on the way to the army. These consisted of "upwards of 100 beeves, a considerable quantity of corn meal, and sugar, coffee, bacon, blankets, shoes and tent cloths."
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The actual financial affairs of the consultation were scarcely more important than those of the permanent council. On the morning of November 6, five members were appointed to provide for the necessities of the army, with authority "to borrow money or originate other debts for that purpose," and in the afternoon they reported a loan of $500 obtained from Thomas F. Mckinney. Of this, $238 had been expended in paying drafts already drawn on the government, $20 was used in for- warding an express, and a balance of $242 remained in their hands. The following day the consultation declared "that Texas is responsible for the expenses of her armies now in the field, that the public faith of Texas is pledged for the payment of any debts contracted by her agents," and "that she will reward by donations in land all who volunteer their serv- ices in her present struggle"; but for practical purposes this meant little more than the expression of a willing spirit to meet her obligations if she were able.
At the same time a windfall arrived in the shape of a contribution from New Orleans. Edward Hall brought the news on the 6th that a committee in that city had raised $7,000 for the benefit of Texas. Half of it had been employed in equipping and transporting volunteers, but the balance, rapidly growing by other donations, was retained by the committee. Three days later we find the consultation appointing Hall agent for the purchase of war munitions and instructing him to draw on this committee for funds. Patriotic citizens also began to offer loans and securities in the hope that an hypothecation of individual property might prove more tempting to money lenders than a bare pledge of the public faith. Stephen F. Austin tendered his "whole estate," to be mort- gaged as the consultation saw fit; J. W. Fannin presented thirty-six slaves ; and Ben Fort Smith offered eleven leagues of land for the same purpose. On the 13th the consultation gratefully accepted these proffers, but resolved to make use of them "only when imperiously demanded in the most extreme emergency."
The ordinance which created the provisional government made it the duty of the general council "to devise ways and means," and jointly with the governor to contract loans "not to exceed one million of dollars." hypothecating the public land and pledging the faith of the country there- for ; "to impose and regulate imposts and tonnage duties, and provide for their collection under such regulations as may be the most expedient": to appoint a treasurer and clearly define his duties; and finally, to dis- pose of all monies due or accruing on lands and all other public revenues. As if this were not sufficient latitude, the governor and council were given "power to adopt a system of revenue to meet the exigencies of the state."
In his first message to the general council Governor Smith recom- mended the appointment of a treasurer and other fiscal officers. The council agreed with him, and the committee of state and judiciary re- ported, on November 17, "that the immediate appointment of a treasurer to the provisional government, whose duty shall be clearly defined, is now devolving upon this body. Receipts and disbursements of public monies have been hitherto carried on without system, consequently with- out any other responsibilities to the public than that high sense of moral
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