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

ing nearer and nearer 10 each oher the farther
they marched into Texas, with The purpose Of
uniting themselves before fighting decisive bat.
lie. Although Houston was aware OF This iacl,
yet he, al The head If he Texan army, But LIT
TIE INFERIOR in nam!ers 10 onc al The Mexican
divisions, continued to retreat before enc division,
thereby rendering The junction o The Two divis-
ions certain, and The possibility oil resisting Them
The greater. Would il not have been easier 10
figh; and defeat one division at time, than 10
fight The tro combned2 Was This The policy and
Generaship OF Washington and Napoleon? Is
there commissioned or non commissioned Of
ficer in the Mexican army that would have pur-
sued such conrse2
"And, yet, this is the man whose disapproba-
ton Of Taylor and Scott is endorsed by The Rich
mond Enquirer, and The editors Of ibis paper are
the men who deny that they have been "ctary Of
their praise OF Taylor" who assert that "lhe re-
cords Of the country taIsiiy lie assertion that they
have been So"
"For the first time now publish TO The world
my conui1tion that Houston is better General
than his conduct in that campaign would indi.
cate, and that there was secret understanding
between him and Santa Anna that no resistance
to that invasion should be made.
"rhe facts OF the case prove one Of three things:
that this understanding did exist or that Hous.
ton was no General, or Thai he was under The III.
Auence OF cowardice. will submit the decision
10 any honest and candid military man.
But moreover, Houston would never have
fought The baule OF San Jacinto, had he not been
compelled 10 do so b. The brave soldiers ard off
GERS then under his command. II was his design
10 retreat within the u. S. boundary under The
protection oil Gen. Gaines.
This charge IS made upon Inc authority OF
lrter written By nephew OF -''t, who is dis
ineuishrd Democratic Senator Of The United
States, and which said nephew was in The battle
Of San Jacnto 10 Schuolmale in Bedford Va,
and which Letter have read 1T this place. Says
The writer, The Texan Salitrs held a meeting and
d,tc,miaed iorsirrat no iartter-appoinled COM
mii'ee 10 inlnrm Honsion of their determination
and that celebrated battle was Ir result.
ado not be surprised Messrs. Editors il lious-
ton should be the candidate OF the Enquirer Tor
The Presidency III opposition 10 Rough ana
Realty.
"The administration have given Gen. Scott an
opportunity 10 divide the laurcls 10 he acquired
in The Mexican war with Gen. Taylor, in order
10 play oil these distinguished men against each
other in the next Presidential campaign, while
they will concentrate ihe power AMI influence oil
The otilce-holders and oiice-seekers upon The re-
p,.ted and forced 10 be hero of San Jacnlo.
"ONE or THE PEOPLE"
Now, Messls Editors we will proceed 10 lay
before yonr readers detailed statement Of The oc
currences Of March end April, 1885,, 50 lar as re-
late Il lie accusations OF this writer agG inst Cen
Houston. for he is not content with differing ~
opiuoa win Gen n bot accuses him 81 not on
" cowarilcc, bnl oi crime. We will see how
facts will bear our his broad assertions:
On lie first OF March the Alamo al San AnIo-
Mo, gafrsoned BY ls3 men, was completely in
- 4r.ra. ttna a.
menled on The ilh 10 more than COCO. On Inc
fpeniny ri tic 81, Sam Houston was appointed
b. he Convention, then in session n Washing on
on The BRACES, comman.ant ut all The forces oil
Texas. News had arrived Of The critical s''na-
lion cf The file band u San Antonio and also
of The approacii ol another heavy column Of The
enemy against Cclcncl Fannin 3: Gnliad. The
then existing Government ha ordered Fannin 10
abandon Gr!iad and uEile his force 10 that OF
Travis, al San Antonio. Thu he neglected Ia
dn. Thus s:ood affairs when Houston was ap
poinlsd Commandal-n-chct. The appointment
VA scarcely conferred upon MIN, when ne des-
patched anolhe: order 10 tannn 10 DESTROY Inc
works al Golad. and iortnwiIh reinforce Travis,
nj San Antonio. lie issued IN appeal 10 The Gill
Gems, urging hrm 10 the rescue. On the fourth
he was on his way 70 san Anonin on The sixth
h: was Al Gonzales IN III. Gnadaourc, The near
Isl settlement 10 san Antonio, AMI >cvcnly-iive
miles distant. Here a lew citizen soldiers had
cnngrccaled, but still too iew 10 march IL The re-
lei OF The Alamo Here then he was compelled
10 wait until n sufficient! force conld be collected,
and organize. He met here his messenger re-
tnrnin. from Goliad. with an answer from Fan
nn that he had rot sufficient teams u remove
his ar,llcry;lh he messenger was sent hack 10 Fan
min, with orders Iospike his guns, throw them into
the river, and march forthwith to the relief CT the
Alamo. On the eighth information reached him,
that after incessant fighting Tor five days. Tie
Alamo had been carried by storm, and liz gallant
lille band OF defenders buchered 10 man. He
sent another express 10 Faunin, directing him TO
change his course from San Antonio, and join
him upon The Guadalupe; but instead OF the
messenger finding him on the way 10 San Anio-
Mo, as was expected, he was still al Goad his
disobcdience or neglect Of orders proved his run
and deprived Texas oil about nine hundred men,
with nearly all her ordnance and military stores.
II was soon ascelancd that The Mcxicans were
marching directly upon Gonzales with six thou
Sand men. The force Of Texans collected there
then was less than five bundled; The MeSirans
six thousand s!ronc. well appointed, and flushed
with victory; The Texans, only five hundred,
panic-struck by the recent terrible massacres,
without organization, civil or military, without
arms, ammunition, or any thing else other lhan
what each man was able 10 furnish himself. ms
Government, il il might be called one, had nc
thing Under these circumstances will any impair
tial man in his senses, say that Houston should
have made stand here 7 presume not; yet
have heard him abused for no, doing 50. From
This poin; Gen Houston with his lille band fell
ba * so miles, 10 the East bank al the Colorado,
al Columbus, and took up a position 10 hold IN
check Santa Anna, who was following on his
rack with his main force, whilst ne sent from
Gonzales strong detachment against The upper
settlements On the Colorado at Bastrop, also
about 80 miles distant, and about the same dis
lance above the point occupied br Houston, iorni-
ing nearly an equiaeral triangle; another strong
division of The Mexican army, that from Goilad,
was marching also upon another point about Az
miles below him. II will now be horne in mind,
that Houston occupied centra posiloni having
in front a Mexican force Of 2500 under the inn
mediate command OF Santa Anna; strong de-
attachment 80 miles above him, and another Of not
less thar 1000, but 40 miles below him. There
were considerable settlements on the COLORADO,
and also on the West side OF the BsaZos, on " 40
miles in his rear. Not having an army 10 drive
back Tue Mexicans, it became necessary 70 cover
he retreat al the families; this he did, hy holding
in check the main body Of lhr enemy until the
neople had time 10 cross he Brazos; nor did ne
leave his position until both the DIVISION below
and above him had crossed The riveri The latter
bearing down upon him. and, SANTA Anna: haV-
ing detached a part OF his main force, was cross
inc them but about II miles below him. The
Texan forces now amounle 10 1900 men, accord
ing to The opinion of he bes inicrmed and those
wIo abuse him most only put 1t at 1000 and here
il was that he was most abused for not fighting.
Even taking ii for granted that this force was nc
highest number, what chance, under The circum-.
SIAN. es, lad he Tor vic'ory7 and, even i he had
whioped one division, he could not possibly have
followed up the advantage; the positions oil The
enemy, the nature Of The country, his disparity oil
-,mbers, all pgecIuded The possibility OF any per.
coed; hul had he gone into battle and
,nraily 10 ROM The enemY-if he bad