The Sun.
London, England, 1836-06-25 00:00:00

VICTORY OF THE TEXIANS.

Head-quarters of the Army, San Jacinto, April 25.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY D. G. BURNET, PRESIDENT OF TIIE

REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.
SIR-I have the honour to inform you, that on the eve.
_ _

ing of the 18th instant, after a forced march of fifty-five
miles, which was effected in two days and a half, the army
arrived opposite Harrisburgh ; that evening a courier of
the enemy was taken, from which I learned that General
Santa Anna, with one division of his troops, had marched
in the direction of Lynch's Ferry, on the San Jacinto, burn-
ing Harrisburgh as he passed down. The army was or-
dered to be in readiness to march early the next morning.
The main body effected a crossing over Buffalo Bayon, be-
low Harrisburgh, 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 refreshment. At daylight we resumed the
line of march, and in a short distance our scouts en-
countered those of the enemy, and we • received infor-
mation that General Santa Anna was at New Wash-

ington, 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 approaching
in battle array, having been encamped at Clopper's Point,
eight miles below. He took a position with his infantry
and artillery in the centre, occupying an island of timber,
his cavalry covering the left flank. The artillery then
opened on our encampment, consisting of one double for-
tified medium brass 12-pounder. The infantry, in column,
advanced with the design of charging our lines, but were
repulsed by a disitharge of grape and canister from our
artillery, consisting of two six-pounders. The enemy had
occupied a piece of timber within rifle-shot of the left wing
of our army, from which an occasional interchange of small
arms took place between the troops, until the enemy with-
drew to a position on the bank of the San Jacinto, about
three-quarters of a mile from our encampment, and com-
menced a :fortification. A short time before sunset our
mounted men, about 85 in number, under the special com-
mand of Colonel Sherman, marched out for the purpose of
reconnoitring the enemy. Whilst advancing they received
a volley from the left of the enemy's infantry, and after a
sharp rencontre with their cavalry, in which ours acted well,
and performed some feats of daring chivalry, they retired in
good order, having had two men severely wounded, and several
horses killed. In the mean time the infantry under the.
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Willand, and Colonel
Rush's regiment, with the artillery, had marched out for
the purpose of covering the retreat, if necessary. All
these fell back in good order to our encampment about sun-
set, and remained without any ostensible action until the
21st., at half-past 3 o'clock, taking the first refreshment
which they had enjoyed for two days. The enemy in the
mean time 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 forti-
fication about five feet high, constructed of packs and bag-
gage, leaving an opening in the centre of the breastworl,
in which their artillery was placed, the cavalry upon their
left wing. About 9 o'clock on the morning of the 21st,
the enemy were reinforced by 500 choice troops, under the
command of General Cos, increasing their effective force
to upward of 1,500 men,--while our aggregate force for the
field numbered 763.
At half-past three o'clock in the evening I ordered the
officers of the Texian army to parade their respective

~C

commands, having, in the mean time, ordered the bridg
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 conflict.
Their conscious disparity in numbers only seemed to in-
crease their enthusiasm► and confidence, and heightened
their anxiety for the conflict.

Our situation afforded me an opportunity of making the
arrangements preparatory to tha attack, without exposing
our designs to the enemy. The lst Regiment, commanded
by Colonel Burleson, was assigned the centre. The 2d
Regiment, under the command of Colonel Sherman, formed
the left wing of the army.
'rhe artillery, under the special command of Colonel
G. W. Herklev, Inspector-General, ,was placed on the
right of the Ist Regiment, and four companies of infantry,
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Millard,
sustained the artillery upon the right. Our cavalry, 61 in
number, commanded by Colonel Mirabau B. r Laman
(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. 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 oppor-
tunity of concentrating our forces and deploying from that
point, agreeably to the previous. design of the troops.
Every evolution was performed with aacrity, the whole
advancing rapidly in line, and through an open prairie,
without any protection whatever for our men. The artil-
lery advanced and took station within 200. 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 otir left wing, the whole line, at the centre
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 discharged from our lines. Our line advanced without
a halt, until they were in possession of the woodland and
the enemy's breastwork, the right wing of Burleson's and
the left of Millard's taking possession of the breastwork,
our artillery having gallantly charged up to within 70 yards
of the enemy's cannon, when it was taken by our troops.
The conflict lasted about 18 minutes from the time of close
action, until we were in possession of the enemy's encamp-
ment, taking one piece of cannon (loaded), four stand of
colours, all their camp equipage, stores, and baggage.
Our cavalry had charged and routed that ofthe enemy upon
the right, and given pursuit to the fugitives, which did not
cease until they arrived at the bridge, which I have men-
tioned 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 advan-
tage of bayonets on our side, our riflemen used their
pieces as war clubs, breaking many of them off at the
breach. 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 encamp-
ment, and our army returned with their killed and wounded.
In the battle, our loss was 2 killed and 23 wounded, 6
of whom mortally. The enemy's loss was 630 killed,
among which were 1 general officer, 4 colonels, 2 lieu-
tenant-colonels, 5 captains, and 12 lieutenants. Wounded,
208 ; of whom there were 5 colonels, 3 lieutenant-
colonels, 2 second lieutenant-colonels, 7 captains, 1 ca-
det. Prisoners, 730 ; President General Santa Anna,
General Cos, 4 colonels (nide-do.--camp to General Santa
Anna), 6 lieutenant-colonels, the private Secretary of Ge-
neral Santa Anna, and the Colonel of the Guerrero Bat-
talion, are included in the number. General Santa Anna
was not taken until the 22d, and General Cos yesterday,
very few having escaped. About 600 muskets, 300 sabres,
and 200 pistols, have been collected since the action ;
several hundred mules and horses were taken, and near

12,000 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, ill supplied with rations and cloth-
ing—yet, amid every difficulty they bore up with cheerful-
ness and fortitude, and performed their marches with speed
and alacrity—there was no murmuring.
For the Commanding General to attempt discrimination
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 their daring in-

trepidity and courage ; every officer and man proved him—
self worthy of the cause in which he battles, while the
triumph received a lustre from the humanity which cha-
racterized their conduct after victory, and richly entitled
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 honour to be, with high consideration, your
obedient servant,
SAMUEL HOUSTON, Commander-in-Chief.
Major-General S. Houston, wounded. Total killed, 6 ;
wounded, 23. Several of the wounded since dead.

(EXTRACT OF A LETTER.)
The number of the enemy's killed is estimated at about
700, and the prisoners taken amount to about 500, more
than 200 of them wounded. There are 42 officers pri-
soners, including Almonti, Cos, and Santa Anna himself.
Santa Anna was taken next day after the battle, about
ten miles above, in the woods, in a mean citizen's dress,
and did not snake himself known until he was taken into

......
the presence of General Houston, to whom be immediately
offered a feast of soft corn. . _

You will be gratified by a description of Santa Anna's
person. His forehead is high, but narrow in front, spread-
ing as it extends back obliquely, hair moderately black,
small whiskers, and a little mixed with gray. He has large,
mild, black eyes ; his nose is narrow between the eyes, but
is tolerably straight, and becomes fleshy towards the'end.
His mouth is nothing extraordinary, the upper lip rather
projecting : one of his upper front teeth is gone ; his under
jaw is long. His countenance is animated when speaking.
His complexion is a little tawny ; but he shows more of
the Moorish than the Mexican tincture. He might pass
for a white man, but he would not pass for a native in the
United States. His height is 5 feet 10 inches, or per-
haps more, and he is tolerably well proportioned. His
age is 41.

TRE NOTORIOUS DUKE OF QUEENSBURY.—
To return to the Duke of Queensbury. If he had lived under
Charles the Second, he might have disputed for pre-eminence
ill the favour of that Prince with the Arlingtons, the Bucking-
hams, the Falmouths, and the Dorsets, so celebrated under his
reign. Many fabulous stories were circulated and believed re-
specting him ; as, among others, that he wore a glass eye, that
he used milk baths, and other idle tales. It is, however, a fact,
that the Duke performed, in his own drawing room, the scene
of Paris and the Goddesses. Three of the most beautiful fe-
males to be found in London presented themselves before him
precisely as the divinities of Homer are supposed to have ap-
peered to Paris on Mount Ida ; while he, habited like " the
Darden shepherd," holding a gilded apple in his hand, con-
ferred the prize on her whom he deemed the fairest. This took
place at his house near Green-park. Neither the second Duke
of Buckinghaea, commemorated by Pope, whose whole life'
was a voluptuous whim, nor any other of the licentious noble-
men, his contemporaries, appear to have even realized a scene so
analogous to the manners of that profligate period. The cor-
rect days of George the Third were reserved to witness its ac-
complishment.
If one cause more than another can be stated, which
has been injurious to the peace and prosperity of Ireland, it will
be found in the exclusive system that has been acted upon there
in regard to the Catholics. This will truly account for all the
animosities between the contending parties ; the outrages,
murders, and even rebellions, that have afflicted and disgraced
that unfortunate country. It may be considered as the root of
all the other evils, because if Catholic Emancipation had boen
granted sooner, such general improvement of intellect might
have taken place, as might have dispelled the clouds of dark-
ness, and bettered the condition of the people, physical as
well as moral. It is this system which has been the curse of
Ireland for more than five centuries ; and into what a state has
it brought the country—such as would disgrace even an age of
barbarism. Its supporters have had nothing but bloodshed and
hatred from it, yet many of them would still persevere in
the same course. It was to he hoped, that the spirit
as well as the substance of this destructive engine of power
had beta buried in the grave from which Catholic Emanci-
pation had risen : yet here it springs up again to a new life ;
and one might almost suppose, from the strength by which it
is advocated by some, like a giant refreshed. Such have been
its baneful effects ; such ever will be, unless our legislators
possess the' faculty of constituting human nature afresh, and
different from what it has been : unless they can with Prome-
thean fire, to be stolen from heaven, and not from a worse
place, instil into the heart of man different passions from those
by which it is now governed.—Colonel Rawstorne's View of
the State of Pauperism in Ireland.
ConoNEß's INQUEST.—On Thursday an inquest
was held by W. Carter, Esq., Coroner for Surrey, at the Two
Brewers public house, Wandsworth, on the body of Eliza
Nlerrvweather, who poisoned herself on Tuesday last, by tak-
ing a quantity of oxalic acid. The unfortunate deceased had
cohabited with a man of the name of Buck for some months,
acid a short tithe since she was induced by a " tally-man" to
take a quantity of wearing-apparel upon trust, unknown to
him, but he discovered it on Sunday last, and he was so exas-
perated that he told her they must part. The deceased ap-
peared very much excited in consequence, but she ultimately
agreed to leave him on the Tuesday following. On that
morning, however, when ha went into her room, he found her
in a dying state, and upon the chimney-piece lay a paper con-
taining a quantity of oxalic; acid, and also a letter, which
nap-
peared to have just been written by her. She expired shortly
afterwards. The following were the contents of the letter :
" You have now got what you wanted. You and your family
have been TR.)) untimely end . My will attend you and
your's as le
as you live. I forgive von. Ben, for all ; hut I
shall nevev rest in my grave till I have my revenge on you end.
yaws." Verdict, " That the deceased destroyed herself by
taking oxalic acid while in a state of temporary derangemeiat