Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-21

now WAS becoming interesting j ncf were get |
ting close together again Houston encamped |
for the night very near Harrisburg, and Santa
Anna but short distance in his rear. Here
Houston was urged 10 fight. lie was threatened
with dissolution OF lhs army, and even 10 be
shot, II ne did mol fish, The next day; but be had
we'll studied his game: he did not believe that
would be The move By which Mexico's King was
10 ne caught So, when morning came, in spite
OF all opposition and threats, he took his own
course, ard all followed. lie Immediately cross
ed Buffalo Bayou al Harrisburg, aud opened
rue RIAL 0nl through Tie troods M the d'reet'on Of
Noeogdoeaes; but he did not go tar out Of sight
His object was 10 induce The belief that he had la
ken that route. A few men were lett on The East
bank Of the river 10 watch he movements OF San.
ia Anna. twas but short time until he Mexi-
cans marched in !; they sacked and burned the
town, and then moved off darn the country
Houston sow at once fsat he he'd Gecn r,gM as 10
he 1lcrt more that Santa innG mud make
Ee was now fully satisfied that he was bound
Tor New Washington al the mouih OF The San
Jacin'o. He was right; Santa Anna had heard
that there was some fine picking there, and look
his way down the Wesi bank oil Buffalo Bayou
and San Jacinto, whilst Houston again changing
his course 10 suit that OF Santa Anna, passed
down The East bank, IL convenient place, where
nc re crossed The Bayou, and, following Santa An
mas track, met him on his renrn from New
Washington. Thus surprised 10 ind Houston
there, when he supposed him far on his way 10
Nacoedoches, Santa Anna at once prepared for
battle, their forces being nearly equa-tlonslon
having about 700 available men, Houston was
not vel ready 10 tight, though nc was urged 10 Go
so, before Cos could come 10 reinforce Santa An
M but he ordered his forces into battle array,
and sent out parties 10 amnse the Mexicans with
The belief that il was his intention 10 commence
an attack Immediately. In this way ne wore oil
The evening, without coming TO an engagement;
but he had his wires al work. Anticipating mat
Santa Anna would send for Cos 10 come up, ne
sent few men under tfnsy leader, 10 keep
watch, with orders to permit all couriers from
Santa Anna 10 pass, buI 10 inteTceplhose coming
from Cos. This was well executed and Cos's cou-
rier was taken with note 10 Santa Anna, in
forming him al wha. hour he might expect 70 be
reinforced Houston ordered that he should be per-
mi;led 10 up, wilhoutopfosliion, and also Or
dercd that 80 soon as Cos had crossed and goI'en
out oi sight Of bridge which lay across hoggy
Bayou, ahon, ID miles distant, and which could
mol he crossed without bridge. that The bridge
should be burned thus cutting on The possibility oil
any Mexican making his escape on horse back
The bridge was burned, Cos joined Santa Anna,
and Houston was now ready Tor he hight. The
whole cherry was before him. and could be taken
Capt Harms, who commanded the hest company
Of Cavalry, In lake position 50 as 10 intercept
any Mexican who might allempl 10 make his Is
cane The battle was commenced. II was led on
be this man who is branded with cowardice he
had his ankle shattered al almost The hrs' flfe
llom he enemy; he did no! stop, however, bnt
continued 10 cheer on The men; soon his horse It'll
under him, enlan9led him i'll the fall ne was ie-
leased from his fallen horse, and placed on an
uher and still pursued The enemy. cheering on
his gallant lille band. The Mexicans were
whipped, but their Generals were neither amongst
he Slain nor The prisoners; but as Houston had
anticipated, had lied. The gallant Harms on The
lot kont, had given chase. They made al once
iot he bridge but, 10 their CONSERVATION, il
was gone; now pressed by The Texans they
plunged their horses into The Doggy stream.
hut they stuck al The opposite bank. Thus
was Santa Anna, vino Tcde very superior
horse, and could net have been caught IN any
oEer way, dismouned and subsequently, cap
tufed. Now, Aicssrs Editors, having traced The
movements Of Houston thus lar, lei US return 10
his camp Al the Colorado, and see il we can mud
ont he policy ul his different movements. when
on The Colorado, the neaIe>! point 10 the brazos
40 miles) was al San Frlipede Austin and his
nearest waylo The Sabine, notwithstanding which
he went 100 miles, and stopped upon The river, Lar
above that point. The policy OF this course was
10 draw Santa Anna lar into Inc interior OF The
country, where he wond be distant from his sup
pies, crpected 10 "ryre IN he coast, and to gel him
IRON The level prairie regions inIo broken and
wooded country, where The Texan lilies con.d
best be brouch, 10 tell hut instead OF following,
Santa Anna marched upon For Bend, some 20
miles below The position he had taken. PeTcciv-
ing this, he changed his course, making rIgh
angle and throwing himself in Santa Anna's
troy AZ hnrn
how Santa Anna was deceived there and subse-
quently drawn into fight, and tlousl0n's policy
in relation 10 Cos and the burning o! The bridge
must also be easily seen through II Houston
had shown fight all he lime, is II rresnmable that
Santa Anna would have scattered his forces ard
been surprised himself near fifty miles from his
main force, and hemmed in by bayous and
vile open prairie surrounding him, where escape
was impossible2 Does all this show that Houson
vas ain colleague" with Santa Anna--rhat he
displayed no generaship, or that he acted under
the influence of cowardice2 Does II not show
The most perfect senefalship2 This knowing
writer too asks il the course pursued by Houston
was that oil Washington and Napoleon. think,
Messrs Editors, that, upon examination il will
he lound that The policy adopted upon this occa-
sion BIZ Housion, was precisely the same as that
pursued By the immoua Washington in The last
glorious battle which terminated The Revolution
ii TO as the battle Of San Jacno did that Of 80
And was il not ever the policy Of Napoleon 10
divide and conqnef}
Tie Two divisions OF Santa Annals amy did
moi form junction as stalled by This writer. His
main force was at San Antonio when Houston
was appointed To the command, and The division
NJ Goliad under Gen. Urea, marched via Vic
;uria, Egyp, San Bernard, and 10 Columbia, and
never formed junction with the other division
until two days march on the retreat, and al least
so miles west OF the battle ground o! San Jacinlo.
Great as was The eenerslshp displayed By Gen.
Houston in front Of Santa Anna, il did not sur
pass the mastery power which he showed him.
self possessed Of over men, ] have heard IL said.
by his bilteres enemies, that al the time no other
man living could have kept together the Texas
forces under The same circumstances. Not COM
pretending The object Of his movements, all were
dissatisfied; disorsanisc1s and miliia,y aspirants
were constantly al work upon the men, reckless
of consequences. They would have been will
ing 10 lose all, 10 supplant Houston. As have
before remarked there was no organization,
either civil or military; no law, but the will Of
The men To keep them 10 their ranks
| would stop here, hui wish 10 enquire who this
Letter writer is upon whose authority those |
charges are made against Gen. HousIon-this
nentew of distinguished Senaor2 Perhaps |
he is The son OF some gentleman who went TO
Texas al an early day Tor lame; u Sc; he mas
found iha, his little coal could not blaze forth |
with The bright stars Of he Horse Shoe and San
Jacin.o. This indeed was vexalions. Perhaps |
he may have bnils up hopes Of large fortune a! |
The expense Of he good people Of Texas but was
disarponred by The intervention OF that shield
which hearllesS Spectators always ionnd between |
them and the ael:aTe ot devoted TeXas-Sam /
Houston. This would, foub, not, be entirely
sufficient 10 make Gen. Houston all that is bad !
in The eyes OF his letter wIeF Gen. Houston
has always had large majority Of VIVA! Is called
The leading men Of Texas against him, but
The support he has always had from the people !
will put 10 The blush The accusations o. his ene-
mics y.