New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-26
rexas-san Jacin,o-Houston, &c.

Your paper of yesterday contains a report ct
lecture on Texas, delivered q, the tabernacle by
Rev Mr.. Perry. on which | wish to make few
remarks through your columns In doing SO
shall epdeavor TO conhne myself to sech tncta as
are treated of by him which fell under my ewn OBJ
,erya,ion-I, TOO, having been somewhat engaged
IN ,he scenes which he describes. shall pass
over that part of ais lecture preceding the battle
Of San Jacinto, for six days previous 70 which
had been detained a prisoner by Gen Santa Ana,
having been taken at HarIisburgh n, and therefore
must be allowed 10 have obtained some knowledge
respecting Santa Ana and those under his imme-
diate command. Mr.. p states that Santa Ana's
forces numbered, with The reinforcement which he
received on the morning of the general engage
ment, l,70O. This is not so. On the morning of
the day previous to that of the general engage
ment Santa Ana had but $50 ct most under bis
command, Of what appeared to me to be the flower
of i.is division, well Offered armed and equip
ped, and well disci plined: these, with the rein
forcement, never admitted to be over 500, made
his whole number engaged in the action $50 -
1t is not necessary TO my purpose to entertain you
or your readers with the particulars of my escape
from the Mexicans and entrance into the Texaa
camp; suffice it to say, that about ~ o'clock on
the day previous to that of the general engage
nent after several very narrow esca pcs from both
Mexican and Texan small shot, which played any
hing but desirable music about my ears, found
myself in the presence of Gen. Houston who re-
ceived me very cordially and politely. l found he
uad gained his present (and the Mexicans
expected) position by forced march, crossing the
tuhalo Bayou two miles below Harrisburgh,
where, was informed, he made pithy but eo-
auent speech TO his men, in which he stated that
ne knew he had been censured for retreating, and
not giving the enemy battle before, but that they
should now have fighting enough" At the coun-
Ill alluded to by MIR. P. there was much murmur-
ing and censure cast upon Houston by some Of the
Ulcers, who, it appears, were apprehensive of
further retreat, which he made 10 reply. Events
proved that in retreating he had not wisely calcu-
ated, although appearances at the time were much
,gainst him. He knew that the salvation of Texas
depended wholly upon the little band then under
lis command, and should they by any nliscalcula-
ion hasiy step, be dispersed or cat to pieces by
he almost overwhelming force of the enemy then
victorious pursuit of them, Texas would be ir-
re,revably lost, and the many families of women
md children, who had been obliged to leave their
ZONES, and who were scattered about in advance
# the army, would be exposed to the tender ey.
ries of the blood thirsty victers. Besides, his re
treat had induced those of his men who were faint
hearted OF cowardy to leave him, by deserving SO
that during the week previous to his attacking the
Anemy, from 900 his army had been reduced 10
ess than 500; but with these he felt confident of
success whenever an opportunity Should offe.-
Accordingly, described by Mr.. p, Houston ad-
sanced to attack the Mexican entertainments,
Col. Sherman leading on the second division,
Houston advancing with the first himself. After
IN advancing fight of II minutes, Houston, hav-
rg had one horse shot under him, remounted, and
shouted the words 'Charge Remember the Ala
no and Tanning! - The men, yelling and scream
ing the words, rushed with dubbed rifles and knife
n hand, impetIously and irrcsistibly over the
rrenchments. The Mexicans gave way so gene
rally and simultaneously, that Houston, who had
,een wounded by ball in the ankle, suspecttng
n, AMBUSH called halt, which l believe, In con-
sequence Of the noise, was heard but by very
few Of his men. Gen. Rush rode up and informed
MIN that Sherman had already gained possession
Of the woods. from which an ambush only could be
apprehended, and was driving them from 1.-THE
men still rushing on in pursuit, were not recalled.
That there some cruelty exercised by soma
Of the Texans there is no doubt; but not to the
tent implied by Mr.. p. Indeed it would have
been strange had there not been-with the treach.
rrous massacre ofFannng and his brave men fresh
before their eyes-cryng, as were, for vengeance
On their murderers. The 400 mentioned by Mr.
P. were attempting to rally under Col. Amonte,
(who is now Minister from Mexico to the U. ST.
but who, finding that he codld not make stasd
with them, ordered them to throw down their
arms, and, with himself, surrendered and were
brought into camp Santa Ana was taken the
next day, near the bank of Vinces Bayou, Ia trib-
utary Of the Buffalo about ten miles from the bat
tie ground.
Mr. P would imply that there was pretty gen.
eral slaughter of the Mexicans. think the above
statement shows there was rot. nthe first place
there were but 1850 Mexicans-300, he states,
fell on the first fire of the Texans-there were up
ward of 500 prisoners taken to my knowledge
sixteen minutes elapsed from the first discharge Of
the Texans until the Mexicans gave way, during
which the Texans were not idle with their rifles,
so that there could not have been over 400 killed
in all.
Again: Mr.. P. contradicts himself;-he insinu-
ates that Houston is coward-calls him . a
drunken brute, and says that he called halt in
the heat Of the action, assigning excuse
.tAat blood enough had been she'd" Now, who
ever heard of (" drunken brute " wishing TO stop
the effuson of blood and cruelty in the heat Of bat
tie, especially under such circumstances? Such
feelings are commonly the attributes of brave men.
Again; MIR. P. says tina, Santa Ana was /" all
courtesy and suartty,-Houston, rough and de-
mocratic IN his bearing" This, with the ex-
ception of his democracy, l do not hesitate to
pronounce wholly false. was present and within
hearing during their frs, interview, and Houson's
manner toward his prisoner was that of a mag
unanimous man aud gentleman-polite, afable,
easy, and yet dignihed-and thought rather too
complimentary. In this assertion | think shall
DC borne out by any and every one who has had
occasion to come in contact with Gen. Houston in
friendly and peaceable manner, when not under
The influence of liquor. That he has eccentrici-
asa.,I lss ~