USA > Texas > History of Texas : from 1685 to 1892, volume 1 > Part 31
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Consultation. His name was Sam Houston, and by a unan- imous vote he was elected commander-in-chief. He returned thanks and accepted the position in an impromptu outburst of eloquence that electrified every heart.
Thereupon Governor Smith, Lieutenant-Governor Robin- son, the thirteen members of the council and General Houston subscribed to their respective oaths of office, sol- emnly administered by Dr. Branch T. Archer, president of the Consultation. It was a most solemn and impressive occasion, witnessed by many noble and iron-nerved men, who profoundly realized the mighty interests, for weal or for woe, involved in the act. If for weal, the political birth of a new, liberty-loving people; if for woe, the depopulation and relapse of Texas into the condition of a wilderness. Well they might, and reverently they did, " avow these declara- tions to the world-call God to witness their truth and sincerity, and invoke defeat and disgrace upon their heads should they prove guilty of duplicity." 1
1 " To Sam Houston, Esquire:
" In the name of the people of Texas, free and sovereign: We, reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct and fidelity, do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be major-general and commander-in-chief of the armies of Texas and of all the forces now raised or to be raised by it, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their services and join the army, for the defense of the constitution and lib- erty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof; and you are hereby vested with full power and authority to act as you shall think best for the good and welfare of the service.
" And we do hereby strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under your command to be obedient to your orders, and diligent in the exercise of their several duties.
" And we do also enjoin you to be careful in executing the great trust reposed in you, by causing strict discipline and order to be observed in the army and that the soldiers be duly exercised, and provided with all con- venient necessaries.
" And you are to regulate your conduct in every respect by the rules and discipline of war adopted by the United States of North America, or such as may be hereafter adopted by this government; and particularly to ob-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
On the motion of Mr. Almanzon Huston it was
" Resolved, That there shall be three commissioners appointed by this body as agents to the United States of North America, to be commissioned by the governor and council, who shall delegate them such powers and give them such instructions as the governor and council may deem expedient."
Immediately on the adoption of this resolution, Messrs. Branch T. Archer, William H. Wharton and Stephen F. Austin (the two latter being then in the army at San Antonio ) were elected as such commissioners, and an express sent to notify them of the fact.
The name of the municipality of Columbia was restored to Brazoria.
A solemn declaration was passed that "the Cherokee Indians and their associate bands, twelve tribes in number, agreeably to their late general council in Texas, have derived their just claims to lands included within the bounds hereafter mentioned (viz .: lands lying north of the San Antonio road and the Neches, and west of the Angelina and Sabine rivers ), from the government of Mexico, from which we have also derived our rights to the soil by grant and occupancy."
It further pledged them a treaty and the marking of their boundaries; guaranteed them the peaceable enjoyment of their lands ; declared illegal surveys made by white men in their bounds ; and declared friendship for and good faith towards those Indians, and on the 13th of November, 1835, it was
serve such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this or a future government of Texas.
"This commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future government.
"Done at San Felipe de Austin, on the fourteenth day of November, eighteen hundred and thirty-five.
" HENRY SMITH, Governor.
"P. B. DEXTER, Secretary of Provisional Government."
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signed by every member of the consultation present, fifty- four in number.
This solemn declaration at a later day, as will be seen hereafter, became the subject of acrimonious disputations, but language could not be made more plain or obligatory than was this guarantee to these tribes.
Notwithstanding this initiatory or compromise declaration made by the consultation of conditional fealty to the defunct constitution of 1824, it is a significant fact that Henry Smith, an avowed friend of independence, was elected Governor over Austin, who was considered at that time, as wedded to the idea of Texas remaining an integral part of Mexico, an opinion fully warranted by his former and later utterances. It was not opposition to General Austin per se, but a differ- ence of opinion. Robinson, the Lieutenant-Governor, had made two eloquent speeches in the consultation in favor of independence. Archer and Wharton, two of the three commis- sioners to the United States, were unreservedly for independ- ence, and it was well understood that General Houston had only hesitated from prudential motives, soon to pass away.
On the 14th the consultation closed its labors and adjourned. Representing less territory and fewer souls, it was the coun- terpart of the first Continental Congress in 1774 ; but sur- passed that body in the efficacy of the governmental structure erected to meet the emergency.
The new government entered at once energetically upon its duties, enacting such provisional laws or decrees, as were deemed necessary to bring order out of chaos, prepare for mil- itary defense, establish post-routes, regulate internal and for- eign commerce and impost duties, improvise a navy, establish local judicial tribunals, raise both regulars and volunteers, form a treaty with the Cherokees, etc. Governor Smith de- livered an inaugural message, ably and patriotically dealing with the issues then confronting the country. When the
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council assembled and organized on the 14th, fifteen instead of thirteen members took their seats, the additional ones, ar- rived since the original selection, being Claiborne West, of Jefferson, and Juan Antonio Padilla, of Guadalupe Victoria.
For a time harmony and energy prevailed, and there we will leave them and return to the volunteer army at San An- tonio, which we have followed up to Austin's Goliad-Dimmitt order on the 18th of November.
26
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Austin and Wharton leave the Army as United States Commissioners -
Burleson elected to succeed Austin- Arrival of the New Orleans Grays - Their Names - The Grass Fight - The Famous Decree of October 3, 1835 - Austin to the General Council.
Nothing of interest occurred until the 21st, when the follow- ing order was issued :
" HEADQUARTERS, November 21, 1835.
" It is announced to the army that it will be organized into divisions this day for the purpose of storming Bexar to-mor- row morning. The captains of companies will report to-day a roll of their respective companies, stating those who have left yesterday or to-day. All communication with Bexar is prohibited.
"S. F. AUSTIN."
This was answered on the same day in these two laconic notes :
" S. F. Austin, Commander-in- Chief :
" On receipt of your general order of this date, announc- ing that an attack on the fortifications of Bexar would be made by storm to-morrow morning, I have ascertained the disposi- tion of the officers and men of my division, and believe it to be my duty to report that a majority of them are opposed to the measure, and are unwilling to attempt it, and I concur with them in opinion.
" PHILIP A. SUBLETT, Lieut .- Col."
(402)
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
" CAMP NEAR BEXAR, 21st November, 1835.
" S. F. Austin, Commander-in-Chief:
" On receipt of your general order of this date, announcing that an attack on the fortifications would be made by storm to-morrow morning, I have ascertained the disposition of the officers and men of my division, and believe it to be my duty to report that a majority of them are opposed to the measure, and are unwilling to attempt it.
"EDWARD BURLESON, Col. Commanding."
There is a remarkable identity of language in the two responses, yet a marked contrast in one respect. Sublett closed by saying, " and I concur with them in opinion." Colonel Burleson says nothing of the kind.
Thereupon came this countermanding order :
" November 21, 1835.
" Colonel Edward Burleson and Lieutenant-Colonel Philip A. Sublett, who are the immediate commanders of the two divisions of the army, having in the. above reports made known to me that a majority of their respective divisions are opposed to the storming of Bexar and are unwilling to attempt it; and having ascertained from other sources that this majority is very large, and that not more than one hundred men can be obtained to go into the measure, necessity com- pels me to countermand the order for storming.
" S. F. AUSTIN."
Late in the afternoon of the same day, the 21st, the com- pany of New Orleans Grays, afterwards so distinguished for gallantry, and the first to join the standard of Texas from the United States, arrived in the vicinity, and, on the 22d, re- ported themselves for duty. They numbered sixty-four men, and sailed from New Orleans in October, on the schooner
.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Columbus, Captain Leidsdorf, for the mouth of the Brazos, with an invaluable supply of munitions, provisions and military stores, contributed by the citizens of that, the most patriotic city in the United States. At Velasco and Quintana, vis-a-vis sisters at the mouth of the Brazos, they were welcomed by grateful huzzas, the waving of handkerchiefs by enthusiastic ladies and the roar of artillery. On the steamer Laura, they were transported up the river to Brazoria, where the wildest enthusiasm was manifested by the whole population. Flowers were strewn along their line of march by ladies and little girls, cannon boomed, handkerchiefs waved and loud huzzas greeted them as they advanced. Mrs. Jane Long, the queenly and patriotic widow of General Long, gave them a feast and their souls were made glad by an outpouring of generous hospitalities. They promptly moved forward on foot, 250 miles, to San Antonio. At Victoria they received a similar ovation, presided over by those two noble ladies, Mrs. Mar- geret C. and Miss Susan Linn, assisted by other ladies. Of all companies that came to Texas, the New Orleans Grays stand pre-eminent. Many of them were murdered with Fannin four months later and others gave their lives to Texas on other fields, while others like William G. Coke, Thomas Wm. Ward, Thomas S. Lubbeck and Martin K. Snell, lived to win honor- able reputation in after years. Their muster-roll, it is sup- posed, was burned with the adjutant-general's office in 1855, and for that reason a copy is appended in the note below, together with their places of nativity, from an original preserved and furnished me by one of their number in 1886, Sidney S. Callender, then a retired printer and publisher in New Orleans, known to me as a reliable gentleman, with whom I served on the Rio Grande in 1842.1
1 Alexander Abrams, Ohio; G. L. Addison, Maryland; Louis F. Ame- lung, Louisiana; Charles Bannister, Louisiana; John Belden, New York; Wm. Blowne, England; Wm. Boyle, Pennsylvania; Nathaniel Brister, Vir- ginia; Sidney S. Collender, Mississippi; Charles J. Carrier,* South Carolina;
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
On November 24th, Austin announced to the volunteers that he and William H. Wharton, their judge advocate, had been appointed commissioners to the United States and must leave them. He had them paraded for the purpose of ascer- taining how many would remain in camp to continue the investment of the town, under a commander to be elected by themselves. Only four hundred and five responded, and these included the sixty-four New Orleans Grays. This number, it is believed, constituted in the main, all who were then on the ground. They elected Colonel Edward Burleson to suc- ceed Austin. Burleson appointed Francis W. Johnson as his adjutant-general, and Peter W. Grayson and William T. Austin his aids-de-camp.
Austin and Wharton, after a service of forty-four days, (October 11th to November 24th ), left for San Felipe. The
Seth Carey, Vermont; James M. Cass,* Connecticut; Wm. Chamberlain, Ohio; Charles W. Connor, Pennsylvania; Wm. G. Cooke, Virginia; John Connell, Pennsylvania; Michael Cronican, Massachusetts; Noah Dickinson, Jr.,* Upper Canada; V. Drouellard, Louisiana; Wm. D. Durham, England ; George M. Gill* (or Gillard), Pennsylvania; Wm. Graham, Nova Scotia; Francis H. Gray,* Scotland; George Green,* England; John L. Hall, Mary- land; Julian Harley, South Carolina; Wm. Harper,* Ireland; E. S. Heath,* Massachusetts; Nicholas Herron, Virginia; Stuart Hill, -; Nathan Holbrook, Massachusetts; Wm. L. Hunter,; Virginia; Francis Johnson, Maine; Allen O. Kenney,* Virginia; Francis Leonard, Louisiana; Albert M. Levy, Virginia; Thomas S. Lubbeck, South Carolina; Dennis Mahoney,* Ireland; Robert C. Morris (captain of the company), Louisiana; Adam Mosher, Kentucky; Marshal B. McIver, Kentucky; John D. McLeod, England; John D. McNeel, North Carolina; James Nowland, Ireland; Christopher O'Brien, Ireland; Wm. G. Preuch,* Louisiana; F. Proctor, Louisiana; John Reese,* Wales; Joseph P. Riddle,* Pennsylvania ; Richard Ross, Illinois ; Hiram H. Russell, Tennessee; Charles Sargeant,* Massachu- setts; Henry S. Smith, New York; Martin K. Snell, Pennsylvania; Thomas R. Striff, Virginia; George Stephens, England; E. N. Stringer, Louisiana; Hartwell Walker, New Hampshire; Thos. Wm. Ward, Ireland; James West,* Pennsylvania; John Wood,* South Carolina; Mandred Wood, Pennsylvania ; Edward Wrentmore, England; and George Voss,# Germany; total, sixty- four - representing sixteen States and six foreign countries.
The sixteen marked thus * were murdered with Fannin. One marked thus t escaped. One marked thus į was saved as a mechanic.
1
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
outlook, with the volunteers decreased one-half in number, the Mexican fortification greatly strengthened, and a large re-inforcement under Ugartechea daily expected, was certainly darker than at any time since the engagement at Concepcion, twenty-seven days before. But there were lion-hearted men in that little band and the end was not yet. "Old " Ben Milam was there.
From San Felipe, November 13th, the day succeeding his election as commander-in-chief, General Houston wrote to Captain James W. Fannin at San Antonio, tendering him the appointment of inspector-general, saying :
" So soon as convenient, should you accept the appoint- ment, I will require you to join me at this place, or wherever the headquarters of the army may be established. But, my dear sir, if your presence is necessary for the safety of the army in camp, or is in anywise necessary, do not abandon it. Two days since the agent started to New Orleans for artillery and means to reduce San Antonio. When can they reach camp? Not before March next .. Would it not be best to raise a nominal siege, fall back on La Bahia and Gonzales, leaving a sufficient force for the protection of the frontier (which, by the way, will not be invaded ), furlough the balance of the army to comfortable homes, and when the artillery is in readiness, march to the combat with sufficient force, and at once reduce San Antonio. All admit that nothing can be done until the cannon arrive. I hear our friend, Colonel Bowie, is at the head of the army. I am glad of it. I congratulate him and the army. Bid him God-
speed. You may show him this letter.1 Remem- ber our maxim : ' It is better to do well late than never.' The army, without means, ought never to have passed the Guad- alupe without the proper munitions of war to reduce San
1 General Houston had been wrongly informed, but this shows the high estimation in which he held Colonel Bowie.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Antonio. Therefore, the error cannot be in falling back to an eligible position."
This letter was confidential, but was some years since pub- lished with Fannin's letters to and from various parties.
The following letter to Capt. Wylie Martin at San Antonio, in this connection is of interest :
" SAN FELIPE DE AUSTIN, Nov. 24th, 1835.
" MY DEAR SIR : In accordance with our last conversation, I take pleasure in explaining my views, if they can, in any possible event, be of service to our country or countrymen.
" If, in the range of human occurrences, it shall be proper or even neccessary for the army of the people before Bexar to fall back, because of the men not being prepared with proper clothing for winter, and the want of necessary artillery, and munitions of war, I would suggest to you the advantage of retiring in good order, and sending the cannon, baggage and sick, in advance, so that they can at least reach the Cibolo under conduct of a strong guard, and a vigilant officer to command it, before the enemy takes up his line of march.
" It would seem, then, that the army should be formed in two divisions, one to pursue the route to La Bahia, and the other, that of Gonzales. There ought to be a sufficient force left at La Bahia to make a firm defense at that place, and all possible means used for that purpose.
" Gonzales being, in my opinion, the most important interior key to Texas (proper), should also be placed in a condition for defense, with a force of from one to two hundred placed there, under a firm and prudent commander, who will, at once, establish discipline and organization; and, using the greatest vigilance, retaining a few horses to keep out scouts. This, it seems to me, must be a rallying-point for Texas.
" Your friend,
" SAM HOUSTON.
·
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
It will be seen that time soon controverted the opinion of General Houston, sustained the wisdom of Austin's advance . upon San Antonio, and, through the genius of Milam, not only proved that San Antonio could be taken without cannon, but set an example followed by General Taylor in the capture of Monterey, nearly eleven years later. San Antonio had her Concepcion and Monterey her Independence Hill and Bishop's palace, but the genius of Milam guided the tunneling hosts to victory in both, in San Antonio in person, in Monterey by example.
There had been, as stated, in the month since Austin ar- rived in the vicinity of San Antonio, a great deal of scouting and, besides the splendid victory of Concepcion, several slight skirmishes. In one of these, however, near the powder- house, in full view of the town, seven or eight of the enemy were killed. Bowie, Byrd Lockart and Travis, in command of small detachments, had been as far west as the Nueces, burning the grass wherever it was high enough, to destroy nature's forage for any advancing mounted force. Cos found it necessary to send out at night foraging parties to cut and bring in grass for his horses. A rumor spread through the camp that a Mexican force was en route for San Antonio, car- rying a large amount of silver to pay off the troops and pur- chase needful supplies. On the 26th of November (one account says on the 28th), while Colonel Bowie was at the head of a small party, a few miles west of San Antonio, he discovered about two hundred Mexicans advancing from the west, and from the packs on loose animals, believed it was the party with silver. He sent a runner to camp for help. Such men as could mount pressed forward as fast as possible, and those on foot followed, all in rather helter-skelter order. But before their arrival the Mexicans approached so near the town that Bowie determined to take the hazards and furi- ously - cautious men might say recklessly - attacked them. A severe fight ensued, during which General Burleson and his
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
men arrived in irregular squads and eagerly joined in the con- test. But the enemy, losing a number of their men and seeing the advancing re-inforcements, abandoned their pack- animals and fled into the town. Strange to say the Texians lost not a man. One man struck down by a spent cannon ball from the fort, was left as dead ; but he regained consciousness and, seeing none of his comrades, concluded all were captured and took to the hills, which he traversed to the Guadalupe and followed that stream, until at the end of several days, almost perished, he struck the settlements, and was so mortified when he realized his mistake, that he never stopped until he crossed the Sabine. The packs proved to be bundles of grass cut on the Medina; and hence this somewhat ludicrous engagement was christened and has ever since been known as the Grass Fight. No two writers have fully agreed in regard to this comparatively insignificant affair, insignificant in blood, but decidedly significant in inspiring mutual confidence among the volunteers. I have given the facts as substantially given by half a dozen participants, including the published account of Wm. S. Taylor and Jacob H. Shepherd, and the unpub- lished one of Darwin M. Stapp, all men of courage and integrity. All agree that Bowie was the hero of the occasion and that General Burleson and his men did all that was possi- ble under the circumstances. Among the first to arrive and join Bowie was the father of General Burleson (James Burle- son ), a brave old soldier of the Creek war, whose presence created the wildest enthusiasm among the younger men. Among the latter was Joel W. Robison, deceased in 1888 at Warrenton, Fayette County. Robison had fought as a boy at Velasco, was in the skirmish at Gonzales and next at Con- cepcion, and was soon to follow Milam into San Antonio and to be at San Jacinto. When the days of peace came he honorably and on repeated occasions represented his county in the State councils.
On the last day of Austin's command, November 24th, he
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wrote to the commandant at Goliad, among other things say- ing that the " government in Mexico is organizing an army of . ten thousand men, to be commanded by General Santa Anna in person, who is to be on in the spring ; and efforts are making to send re-inforcements to this place." 1
It was late in the month of October that the Mexican decree of October 3d became known in Texas. In the language of President David G. Burnet, in his historical compend published in 1859 :
" Before that period arrived (the assembling of the Con- sultation ) intelligence was received from Mexico corrobora- ting and realizing our most alarming apprehensions. By a decree of the supreme government, of the third of October, 1835, the Federal constitution, so long contemned and abro- gated, in fact, was abolished in form. The State legislatures were suppressed and department councils substituted, and the government was transformed into a central consolidated republic (rather despotism ) the army its pedestal, the church its pillars That Texas was under no obligation, political or moral, to accept the new form thus thrust upon her, will not be questioned by any who can comprehend the genius and appreciate the inherent rights of the people under all representative governments. The social compact was forcibly dissolved; the elements composing the body politic were disintegrated, and Texas, being an integrant of that body, was at perfect liberty to choose her own future organism."
This brief extract from the incisive pen of President Burnet, himself for a time halting before joining the friends
1 In fact the re-inforcements under Ugartechea were then en route; yet a month later when every semblance of republicanism had been crushed in Mexico and despotism had been crystallized by the imperial decree of the 3d of October, General Austin bitterly opposed independence and characterized its advocates as "an unprincipled party *
* * clanned together to get possession of the public affairs to promote their own aims of ambition and personal aggrandizement."
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of independence, presents the whole situation confronting the people of Texas so distinctly that none can be mistaken in regard to the all-pervading and all-controlling issue, viz., either submission to an absolute military despotism, or the declara- tion and achievement of independence. Fortunately for liberty and human rights - fortunately for the United States and the Anglo-Saxon race in America, and, as over half a century has conclusively demonstrated, fortunately for Mexico, the people of Texas declared for independence, placing their all at hazard with a firm reliance upon their own prowess and upon that Almighty Power in whom they, as their forefathers had done, trusted for mercy, for justice and for guidance.
On the 30th of November, having reached San Felipe on the previous day, General Austin addressed a long communi- cation to the provisional government, announcing his readi- ness to proceed to the United States, recounting the recent events and present state of affairs at San Antonio, and expressing his views as to the future.
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