Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-05-27
IMPORTANT FROM TEXAS.

Capture Of Santa .Annas Army and HE
HIMSELF taken prisoner.
Subjoined will be found the accounts, as
they have reached us, of the complete ouer-
Mroio Of The .uericaH .army, by The forces
Of Gen. Houston! Perhaps there is no
victory in the annals of war, 60 complete as
the one here related.
New Orleans papers of the Sd inst. con
tain intelligence Of the capture Of Santa
Anra and his army. The circumstances as
related are, that the Mexican army had
from some cause or other been separated
into two bodies divided by the river Brasos,
bodies from eifecling a iunction-that
Houston marched against the larger body,
amounting to 100 or 1900 men-that the
latter retrea,ed, and in their retreat set
fire to the town Of Harrisburgh. Houston
succeeded in overtaking them abou. seven
miles from that town, and made sudden
and vigorous attack on them, and after
some severe fighting, the Mcxicans were
totally defeated.
The Battle took place on the 2lst April
Houston had only 600 men, Santa Anna
had 100, half Of whom are killed, the rest
with SANTA ANNA himself, his brother and
second in command, General Cos and their
officers were taken prisoners, whilst the
Texans had but killed and 90 wounded.
The New Orleans Bee of the Sd instant
says; We have heard it stated, as if on
good authority, that General Houston held
a council of war on the fate of his prisoners,
and that Santa Anna and all his officers had
been shot. 1t was also stated that General
Gaines had written private letter confir-
matory Of this account. There can. how.
ever. be no doubt that Houston has con
quered, and that the Mexican army is pros
trated.
If it be true that the Texans were but
GOO strong, and that they lost so few men,
when the enemy's numbers were so much
superior, and their loss so much greater, it
may be said that the annals OF war contain
no record of an achievement go Brilliant
For the honor OF humanity, we hope Santa
Anna and Cos, and their officers, have not
been shot--yet the fate of Tanning and his
men, murdered in cold blood, would seem to
justify the retribu;ion,
Laier.-New Orleans papers Of the 81
contain no later sdvices from Texas than
those received through papers of the 3D.
hut the following letter to u mercantile
house in Philadelphia, gives later and
somewhat different version of the story.
New ORLEANS, May 5.
Dear Sjr-I suppose you have heard the
report of 1ouston's being victorious 10
Texas, and capturing Santa Anna. | think
there is but little doubt he has had a battle.
ana been victorious, but | do not think to
the extent reported. AS to Santa Annals
capture 1t is not so, am certain. as he was
expected hourly at Metamoras, when a yes.
sci (slnce arrived here) left there, long be
lore this battle was fought. 1t is, bowey.
err probable the report originated in the
TACT OF there being an officer in the Mexi.
can army, named Sontano, who NAV have
oeen taken prisoner. Gen. Green one of
the principal Texan officers, has lust re,nrn'
ed from up the river, and inform, me ,bn,
there will be body of 700 men from Mis-
slsslppi and Tennessee, who will be n,
plaquimlne to 60 by land on the l2th NM.
there VIII be another body of 1000 or more
by the 25th. The 700 volunteers who lofi
here for Florida, will be back (disbandedl
in day or two, and at least 500 of them
viii prove efficient soldiers; one ofthe best