The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-21
Miscellaneous,
From Blackwood's Magazine.
ADVENTURES IN TEXAS,
No. HI,---ConcIuded.
THE STRUGGLE,


ties, symptoms of disconten; showed them
selves, and several skirmishes occurred be-
tween the American settlers and soldiery.-
The two small forts of Valasco and Nacog-
doches were taken by the former, and their
garrisons and couple of field-officers made
prisoners; soon after which, however, the
quarrel was made up by the intervention of
Colonel Austin on the part ofTexas, and Col.
Mejia on the part of the Mexican authorities.
But in the year '33 occurred Santa Annals
detection from the liberal party, and the i'm
prisonment of Stephen f. Austin, the Texan
representative in the Mexican Congress, by
the Vice-President, Gomez Farias. This was
followed by Texas adopting the constitution
Of1824, and declaring itself an independent
state of the Mexican Republic. Finally,
towards the close of1S35 Texas threw off
the Mexican yoke altogether, voted itself
free and sovereign republic, and prepared to
defend by arms its newly asserted liberty.
The first step to be taken was, to secure
our communications with the United States
by getting possessions ofthe sea ports. Gen.
Cos had occupied Galveston harbor, and built
and garrisoned block-fort, nominallv for the
purpose of enforcing the customs laws, but
in reality with n view to cut offour commu-
'nications with New Orleans and the States.
This fort 1t was necessary to get possession
of and my friend Tanning and myself were
appointed TO that duty by the Alcade, who
had taken prominent part in all that had
occurred.
Our whole force and equipment wherewith
to accomplish this enterprise, consisted in n
sealed despatch, to be opened at the town of
Columbia, and half-breed, named Agostino,
who acted us our guide. On reaching Col
umbia, we called together the principle inhab
itants of the place, and of the neighboring
TOWNS of Rnliyar md Marion tLo
letter in their presence, and in six hours af-
forwards the forces therein specified were as
sembed, and we were on our march towards
Galveston. The next day the fort was TAKEN
and the garrison made prisoners, without our
losing a single man.
We sent off our guide TO the government
at San Felipe with news Of our success. In
nine days he returned, bringing us the thanks
of Congress, and fresh orders. We were to
leave garrison in the fort, and then ascend
Trinity river, and march towards San Anto-
MO de Bexar. This route was all the more
agreeable TO Tanning and myself as it would
bring us into the Immediate vicinity of the
haciendds, or estates, of which we had some
time prevously obtained a grant from the
Texan governments: and we did not doubt
that we were indebted TO our friend the Al
calde for the orders which thus conciliated
our private convenience with our public duty.
Z As we marched along we found the whole
country in commOtion, the settlers all arming
and fastening to the distant place of rendez-
vous. We arrived at Trinity river one after
noon, and Immediately sent messengers for
forty miles in all directions to summon the
inhabitants. At the period in question, the
plantations in that part of the country were
very few and far between, but nevertheless,
by the afternoon ofthe next day we had got
together acknowledgement, mounted on
mustangs, each equipped rifle and bowie
knife, powder-horn, and bullet-bag, and fur
nished with provisions for several days. With
these we started for San Antonio de BeXar, a
march oftwo hundred and fifty miles, through
trackless prairies intersected with rivers and
streams, which, although not quite so big as
the Mississippi or Potomac, were yet deep and
wide enough to have offered serious impedi-
ments to regular armies. But to Texian far
mers and backwoodsmen, they were trifiing
obstacles. Those we could not wade through
we swan over; and in due time, and with
out any incident worthy ofnote, reached the
appointed place of rendezvous, which was on
the river Salado, about fifteen miles from
San Antonio, the principal city of the prov
ince. This latter place it was intended to
attack--an enterprise offs some boldness and
risk, considering that the town was protect
ed by a strong fort, amply provided with
heavy artillery, and had garrison of nearly
three thousand men, commanded by officers
who had, for the most part, distinguished
themselves in the revolutionary wars against
the Spaniards. Our whole army, which
we found encamped on the Salado, under the
command of General Austin, did not exceed
eight hundred men.
THE day after that on which Tanning & my
myself, with our four-and-thirty recuits, reach
ed headquarters, a council of war was held,
and it was resolved to advance as far as the
mission of Santa Espada. The advanced
guard was to push forward Immediately; the
main body would follow the next day. Fan
ming and myselfwere appointed to the COM
mand of the vanguard, in conjunction with
Mr. Wharton, wealthy planter, who had
brought strong party of volunteers with
him, and whose mature age and cool judg-
ment, it was thought, would connterbalance
any excess ofyouthfill heat and impetuositv
on our part. Selecting ninety-two men out
of the eight hundred, who, to a man, volun-
tered to accompany us, we set out for the
mission.
These missions are a sort of picl1et-houses
or outposts of the Catholic Church, and are
found in great numbers in all the frontier
provinces of Spanish America, especially in
Texas, Santa Fe, and Cohahuila. They are
usually Insufficient strength to afford their
inmates security against any predatory party
OF Indians or other ymarauders, and are occu-
pied by priests, who,' while using their en-
deavors to spread'the doctrines ofthe Church
OF Rome, act also as spies and agents of the
: Mexican government.
On reaching San Aspada, we held dis
{ cussion as to the ,propriety ofremaining there
until the general came up, or of advancing at
Uonce to the river. Wharton inclined to the
Hormer'plap, audit was certainly the most