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" CAMP AT HARRISBURG, April 19, 1836."
" To Henry Raguet, Nacogdoches :
" This morning we are in preparation to meet Santa Anna. It is the only chance for saving Texas. From time to time
this scene to the writer, saying: "I had been impatient for two weeks - weary of wading through mud and water - often hungry and sometimes mad, but, while General Houston spoke and towered with constantly ascending eloquence and earnestness, I was reminded of the halo encircling the brow of our Savior; and in concluding, had he personally called upon me to jump into the whirlpool of Niagara as the only means of saving Texas I would have made the leap." This noble son of North Carolina died as one of the Mier men in the prison of Perote. John S. Menefee fully agreed with Judge Usher in his eulogy on this address, upon which Captain Thomas Simons, of Texana, sprang to his feet exclaiming: "A hundred men have described that address to me, I would give a league of land if, by so doing, I could say that I heard it."
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
I have looked for re-inforcements in vain. The government adjourning to Harrisburg, struck panic throughout the country. Texas could have started at least four thousand men. We have only seven hundred (accurately 783) to march with, beside the camp guard. We go to conquer. It is wisdom growing out of necessity, to meet and fight the enemy now. Every consideration enforces it. No previous occasion would justify it. The troops are in fine spirits and now is the time for action. Adjutant-General John A. Wharton, Inspector-General George W. Hockley, Aides-de- camp Alexander Horton, William H. Patton and James Collinsworth, and Major Cook, Assistant Inspector-General, will be with me.
" We shall use our best efforts to fight the enemy to such advantage as will insure victory, though the odds are greatly against us. I leave the results in the hands of a wise God, and rely upon His Providence.
" My country will do justice to those who serve her. The rights for which we fight will be rescued and Texas free.
" Colonel Rusk ( Secretary of War) is in the field.
" SAM HOUSTON, Commander-in-Chief."
This was the last communication written by General Houston before the battle of San Jacinto.
CHAPTER II.
The Great Day of San Jacinto - An Unparalleled Victory - Capture of Santa Anna - Houston's Official Report.
Consider the mighty issues at stake. Around Houston gathered the hopes and fears of the whole American popula- tion west of the Trinity (twenty-five thousand souls, chiefly old men, women and children ), and of the refugees east of that river who had fled from their homes in wild confusion and left them at the mercy of an insatiate enemy. The country for two hundred miles was reduced to a primeval wilderness. Many of those who inhabited the western portion were with- out means of escape. Among the number were many of the Irish families of Refugio and San Patricio, still weeping and wailing for their sons and brothers who had been massacred with Fannin.1
1 A young mother, refined, accomplished and abounding in patriotism, whose first-born came into being in Victoria, in the same hour independence was declared in Washington, lay in a Mexican rancho on the Garicitas, solaced only by her husband's young sister and the kind-hearted family of De Leon, her husband having fled across the bayou amid a shower of balls
. from the advancing Mexicans. I refer to the wife, sister and first-born child of John J. Linn. Fate unavoidably threw another young couple into the recesses of a cane-brake, near Fort Bend on the Brazos, whence it was impossible for them to escape, with every path occupied or picketed by the enemy. There, in that wild retreat, with wild beasts for neighbors, and a negro boy for a companion, their first-born came into the world. That young father was Francis Menefee White, afterwards a well-known legisla- tor and commissioner of the general land office, and yet living in Jackson County. His wife had been Miss McNutt, who did not many years survive the remarkable ordeal through which she had passed.
2 (17)
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO.
The official report of General Houston is graphic and clear as to the chief events of the 19th, 20th and 21st of April. It is therefore inserted here:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, SAN JACINTO, April 25, 1836. S
" To His Excellency David G. Burnet, President of the Republic of Texas:
" SIR: Iregret extremely that my situation, since the battle of the 21st, has been such as to prevent my rendering you my official report of the same, previous to this time.
" I have the honor to inform you, that on the evening of the 18th inst., 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 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 Harrisburg, on the morning of the 19th, having left the baggage, the sick and a sufficient camp guard in the rear. We continued the march throughout the night, making but one halt in the prairie for a short time, and without refreshments. At daylight we resumed the line of march, and in a short distance our scouts encountered 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 Texian army halted within half a mile of the ferry in some timber and were engaged in slaughtering beeves, when the army of Santa Anna was discovered to be ap-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
proaching in battle array, having been encamped at Clopper's Point, eight miles below. Disposition wasimmediately made of our forces, and preparation for his reception. He took posi- tion with his infantry and artillery in the center, occupying an island of timber, his cavalry covering the left flank. The artillery, consisting of one double fortified medium brass twelve-pounder, then opened on our encampment. The infan- try, in column, advanced with the design of charging our lines, but were repulsed by a discharge of grape and canister from our artillery, consisting of two six-pounders. The enemy had oc- cupied a piece of timber within rifle shot of theleft wing of our army, from which an occasional interchange of small-arms took place between the troops, until the enemy withdrew to a position on the bank of the San Jacinto, about three-quarters of a mile from our encampment, and commenced fortifica- tions. A short time before sunset, our mounted men, about eighty-five in number, under the special command of Colonel Sherman, marched out for the purpose of reconnoitering the enemy. Whilst advancing they received a volley from the left of the enemy's infantry, and after a sharp rencounter with their cavalry, in which ours acted extremely well and per- formed some feats of daring chivalry, they retired in good order, having had two men severely wounded and several horses killed. In the meantime, the infantry under the com- mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Millard, and Colonel Burleson's regiment with the artillery, had marched out for the purpose of covering the retreat of the cavalry, if necessary. All then fell back in good order to our encampment about sunset, and remained without any ostensible action until the 21st, at half- past three o'clock, taking the first refreshment that they had enjoyed for two days. The enemy in the meantime extended 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
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
center of the breast-work in which their artillery was placed, their cavalry upon their left wing.
" About nine o'clock on the morning of the 21st, the enemy were re-inforced by 500 choice troops, under the command of General Cos, increasing their effective force to upwards of 1,500 men, whilst our aggregate force for the field numbered 783. At half-past three o'clock in the evening, I ordered the officers of the Texian army to parade their respective com- mands, having in the meantime ordered the bridge on the only road communicating with the Brazos, distant eight miles from our encampment, to be destroyed, thus cutting off all 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 confi- dence, and heightened their anxiety for the conflict. Our situation afforded me an opportunity of making the arrange- ments preparatory to 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 Sherman, formed the left wing of the army. The artillery, under the special command of Colonel George W. Hockley, Inspector-General, was placed on the right of the first regiment; and four companies of infantry, under the command of Lieut .- Col. Henry Millard, sustained the artillery upon the right. Our cavalry, sixty-one in number, commanded by Colonel Mirabeau B. Lamar, whose gallant and daring conduct on the previous day had attracted the admiration of his comrades and called him to that station, placed on our extreme right, completed our line. Our cavalry was first 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 and deploying from that point, agreeably to the previous design of the troops. Every evolution was performed with alacrity, the whole advancing rapidly in line and through an
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
open prairie, without any protection whatever for our men. The artillery advanced and took station within two hundred yards of the enemy's breastwork, and commenced an effective fire with grape and canister.
" Colonel Sherman with his regiment, having commenced the action upon our left wing, the whole line at the center and on the right, advancing 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 dis- charged from our lines. Our lines advanced without a halt, until they were in possession of the woodland and the breast- work, the right wing of Burleson's and the left of Millard's taking possession of the breastwork; our artillery having gal- lantly charged up within seventy yards of the enemy's cannon, when it was taken by our troops. The conflict lasted about eighteen minutes from the time of close action until we were in possession of the enemy's encampment, taking one piece of cannon (loaded), four stand of colors, all their camp equi- page, stores and baggage. 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 have mentioned before, Captain . Karnes, always among the foremost in danger, commanding the pursuers. The conflict in the breastwork lasted but a few moments ; 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 returned with their killed and wounded. In the battle, our loss was two killed and twenty-three wounded, six of whom mortally. The enemy's loss was 630 killed, among whom was one general officer, four colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, five captains, twelve lieutenants. Wounded, 208, of which were : 5 colonels,
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
3 lieutenant-colonels, 2 second lieutenant-colonels, 7 captains, 1 cadet. Prisoners, 730; President-General Santa Anna, General Cos, 4 colonels, aids to General Santa Anna, and the colonel of the Guerrero battalion are included in the number. General Santa Anna was not taken until the 22d, and General Cos on yesterday, very few having escaped.
" About six hundred muskets, three hundred sabres and two hundred pistols have been collected since the action. Several hundred mules and horses were taken, and near twelve thousand dollars in specie. For several days previous to the action our troops were engaged in forced marches, ex- posed to excessive rains, and the additional inconvenience of extremely bad roads, illy supplied with rations and clothing ; yet, amid every difficulty, they bore up with cheerfulness and fortitude, and performed their marches with spirit and alac- rity. There was no murmuring.
" Previous to and during the action, my staff evinced every disposition to be useful, and were actively engaged in their duties. In the conflict I am assured they demeaned them- selves in such manner as proved them worthy members of the Army of San Jacinto. Colonel Thos. J. Rusk, Secretary of War, was on the field. For weeks his services had been highly beneficial to the army; in battle he was on the left wing, where Colonel Sherman's command first encountered and drove the enemy. He bore himself gallantly, and con- tinued his efforts and activity, remaining with the pursuers until resistance ceased.
" I have the honor of transmitting herewith a list of all the officers and men who were engaged in the action, which I re- spectfully request may be published as an act of justice to the individuals. For the commanding General to attempt dis- crimination as to the conduct of those who commanded in the action, or those who were commanded, would be impossible. Our success in the action is conclusive proof of such daring intrepidity and courage; every officer and man proved him-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
self worthy of the cause in which he battled, while the triumph received a luster from the humanity which charac- terized their conduct after victory, and richly entitles them to the admiration and gratitude of their General. Nor should, we withhold the tribute of our grateful thanks from that Being who rules the destinies of nations, and has in the time of greatest need enabled us to arrest a powerful invader, whilst devastating our country.
" I have the honor to be, " With high consideration, " Your obedient servant, " SAM HOUSTON, Commander-in-Chief."
There have been many contributions given to the public by various individuals, from soon after the battle down to about 1860, of their personal observations and recollections of the incidents preceding, attending and following the battle - some prompted by an honorable desire to elucidate facts and others by enmity towards General Houston, engendered in exciting political contests. Other contributions are from the pens of individuals reluctantly drawn before the public, by demands for their recollections. I have read, re-read and compared these various publications for many years, and, in youth, with a qualified measure of prejudice against General Houston, living, as I did, among the people of the southwest. These people, as Houston fell back before the advancing Mexicans, fled from their homes, lost their live stock and personal effects, suffered greatly in the retreat and buried many of their little ones by the roadside, or in the forests along the Trinity and Neches, and when they finally returned to their deserted homes, were dependent for food almost ex- clusively on wild game ; and for a year after often retired to their beds at night hungry and with their children crying for bread. They were naturally embittered and severely criticised him and his military policy.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Posterity will not, and cannot, lay any of these calamities at the feet of Henry Smith, the civilian, or Sam Houston, the victorious chieftain, or those eminent men who coincided with them in their endeavors to concentrate the power and re- sources of the country in opposition to the invading hosts of the enemy. Nor will it withhold from Houston its highest plaudits, for the manner in which, in the hour of darkest gloom, with three hundred and seventy-four unorganized, illy fed and poorly armed raw volunteers, he fell back from Gon- zales and from point to point, plead for re-inforcements, drilled and organized his forces and waited, despite the clamors of the brave but impetuous men around him, till dis- cipline was established, his numbers increased and the oppor- tunity came for that decisive blow which gave liberty and independence to his country.
In regard to the burning of Vince's bridge, across a deep and boggy bayou of the same name, much has been written, but the facts connected therewith are few, simple and well authenticated. About 9 a. m., April 21st, while General Houston, accompanied only by Gen. Rusk and Col. Alexander Horton,1 had ridden out a few hundred yards to reconnoitre the Mexican position, Gen. Cos, with a re-inforcement of five or six hundred men, passed near by and joined Santa Anna. Cos, on his way down, had made a feint on the guard and camp containing the sick across the bayou at Harrisburg. " Gen. Houston," says Col. Horton, "at once announced that he would have the bridge burned immediately and fight that afternoon, after his men were well refreshed, and before Santa Anna could receive other re-inforcements. Returning to camp he hurriedly dispatched Deaf Smith to destroy the bridge." Smith was accompanied by six men, Young P. Alsbury, Den- more Rives, John Coker, E. R. Rainwater, John Garner and - Lapham. At 2 p. m. he returned and reported the duty
1 Yet living in San Augustine.
THOMAS J. RUSK
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HISTORY, OF TEXAS.
performed. This statement is verified by the written account of Mr. Alsbury, sanctioned by Coker and Col. Horton, and this is all there is to state. Various published romances, written in after years, are unworthy of notice in a historical work. A portion of the guard at Harrisburg, under Wagon- master Roarer, made a forced march, reached the bridge on the bayou over which Cos had passed, and opened fire on his rear guard, which fled to the Brazos, leaving their baggage, which was conveyed to camp by the victors, and furnished supplies that were greatly enjoyed by the hungry Texians.
Secretary Rusk also made an official report to President Burnet of the battle of San Jacinto. It is too important to be omitted and is here inserted :
"WAR DEPARTMENT, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TEXAS, - " SAN JACINTO RIVER, April 22, 1836.
" To His Excellency David G. Burnet, President of Texas : " SIR: I have the honor to communicate to you a brief account of a general engagement with the army of Santa Anna, at this place, on the 21st instant.
" Our army, under the command of General Houston, arrived here on the 20th instant. The enemy, a few miles off at Washington, apprised of our arrival, committed some depredations upon private property, and commenced their line of March to this point. They were unconscious of our approach until our standard was planted on the banks of the San Jacinto. Our position was a favorable one for battle. On the noon of the 20th, the appearance of our foe was hailed by our soldiers with enthusiasm. The enemy marched in good order, took a position in front of our encampment, on an eminence within cannon-shot, where they planted their only piece of artillery, a brass nine-pounder; and then arrayed their cavalry and infantry a short distance on the right, under the shelter of a skirt of woods. In a short time
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
they commenced firing upon us ; their cannon in front, their infantry on the left, and their cavalry changing their posi- tion on the right. A charge was made on the left of our camp by their infantry, which was promptly repelled by a few shots from our artillery, which forced them to retire. I have the satisfaction of stating that only two of our men were wounded, one very slightly, the other, Col. Neill, of the artillery, not fatally.
" The attack ceased; the enemy retired and formed in two skirts of timber, and remained in that position, occasionally opening their fire upon us, until just before sunset, when they attempted to draw off their forces. The artillery and cav- alry were removed to other points. Colonel Sherman, with sixty of our cavalry, charged upon theirs, consisting of upward of one hundred, killing and wounding several. Their infantry came to the assistance of their cavalry, and opened upon us an incessant fire for ten or fifteen minutes, which our men sustained with surprising firmness. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon those who were engaged in this charge, for never was one of equal peril made with more courage, and terminated with less loss. Two of our men were severely wounded, but none killed.1 This terminated the movements of the day.
" Early next morning, about nine o'clock, the enemy received a re-inforcement of 500 men, under the com- mand of General Martin Perfecto de Cos, which increased their force to fourteen or fifteen hundred men. It was sup- posed that an attack upon our encampment would now be made; and, having a good position, we stationed our artillery, and disposed of the forces, so as to receive the enemy to the best advantage. At three o'clock, however, the foe, instead of showing signs of attack, was evidently engaged in fortifying. We determined, therefore, immed-
1 Trask shortly afterwards died of his wounds.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
iately to assail him ; and, in half an hour, we were formed in four divisions : the first, intended as our right wing, composed of the regulars under Colonel Millard, and the second divis- ion, under command of Colonel Sidney 'Sherman, formed our left wing. A division, commanded by Colonel Burleson, formed our center. Our two six-pounders, under the com- mand of Colonel Hockley, Captains Isaac N. Moreland and Stillwell, were drawn up on the right of the center division. The cavalry, under the command of Colonel Mirabeau B. Lamar, formed upon our right. At the command to move forward, all the divisions advanced in good order and high spirits. On arriving within reach of the enemy, a heavy fire was opened, first with their artillery on our cavalry. Agen- eral conflict now ensued. Orders were given to charge. Colo- onel Sherman's division moved up, and drove the enemy from the woods occupied by them on their right wing. At the same moment, Col. Burleson's division, together with the regulars, charged upon and mounted the breastworks of the enemy, and drove them from their cannon, our artillery, the mean- while, charging up and firing upon them with great effect. The cavalry, under Col. Lamar, at the same time fell on them with great fury and great slaughter. Major-General Hous- ton acted with great gallantry, encouraging his men to the attack, and heroically charging, in front of the infantry, with- in a few yards of the enemy, receiving at the same time a wound in his leg.
" The enemy soon took to flight, officers and all, some on foot and some on horseback. In ten minutes after the firing of the first gun, we were charging through the camp, and driving them before us. They fled in confusion and dismay down the river, followed closely by our troops for four miles. Some of them took the prairie, and were pursued by our cavalry; others were shot in attempting to swim the river ; and in a short period the sanguinary conflict was terminated by the surrender of nearly all who were not slain in the com-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
bat. One half of their army perished ; the other half are prisoners, among whom are Gen. Santa Anna himself, Colo- nel Almonte, and many other prominent officers of their army. The loss of the enemy is computed at over six hundred slain, and above six hundred prisoners ; together with a cabal- lado of several hundred mules taken, with much valuable baggage. Our loss, in point of numbers, is small, it being seven slain and fifteen wounded.1
" This glorious achievement is attributed, not to superior force, but to the valor of our soldiers and the sanctity of our cause. Our army consisted of 750 effective men.2 This brave band achieved a victory as glorious as any on the records of history, and the happy consequences will be felt in Texas by succeeding generations. It has saved the coun- try from a yoke of bondage ; and all who mingled in it are entitled to the special munificence of government, and the heartfelt gratitude of every lover of liberty.
" The sun was sinking in the horizon as the battle com- menced; but, at the close of the conflict, the sun of liberty and independence rose in Texas, never, it is to be hoped, to be obscured by the clouds of despotism. We have read of deeds of chivalry, and perused with ardor the annals of war; we have contemplated, with the highest emotions of sublim- ity, the loud roaring thunder, the desolating tornado, and the withering simoon of the desert ; but neither of these, nor all, inspired us with emotions like those felt on this occasion. The officers and men seemed inspired by a like enthusiasm. There was a general cry which pervaded the ranks: " Remem- ber the Alamo !" " Remember La Bahia ! " These words elec- trified all. "Onward ! " was the cry. The unerring aim and irresistible energy of the Texas army could not be withstood. It was freemen fighting against the minions of tyranny and the result proved the inequality of such a contest.
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