Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-13
Cen. Houston and Santa Anna.
By c. EDWARDS LESTER.

seven hundred soldiers had met nearly three
times their number, and came off victorious.
Six hundred and thirty men were left dead on
The held; among them were one officer, four
co'onels, two lieutenant colonels, seven cap.
tains and twelve lieuicnants. Multitudes had
| perished in the morass md bsyous. or the
Surviving, upwards Of two hundred and eighty
were wounded, and there were nearly eight
hundred prisoners. Only seven men were
known TO have escaped from the field. And
yet, incredible as it may seem, this bloody en-.
gagcment ha6 cost the Texans the lives of only
seven men, and less than thirty rad been
wounded. II was incredible, and when the
comma nda--;- IN oh;oe 49, '"o "rAt 'nuinn'g,
he asked
Are we really vic'ors, or is it only my
dream !!
AT 10 o'clock the next morning, Gen. Ilous.
ton sent detachment to bury those who had
fallen in battle, but decomposition had taken
place so rapidly, the troops returned and repor.
ted they could not execute his order! This
extraordinary circumstance evcited the greatest
surprise, and the Mexican prisoners accounted
tor It by resolving it like the defeat of the pre-.
vious day, into 'msIignsnt blast of destiny
In the meantime, a large number of Texan.
were securing the prairie throughout the day.
bringing in prisoners. The grass was every
where four or five feet high and those who had
not been taken the DAY before, were now cruw.
ling away on their hands and knees, hoping
thus to make their escape. Sar,a Anna had
not been taken, but the vir,ors were securing
over the fields in search Of the Dictator
You will find the hero Of Tampco,' said
Houston, if you find him al all. making his re.
treat on all fours, and he will be dressed az bad
at leust as common soldier. Examine every
man you 6nd closely.
Lieutenant Sylvester, a volunteer, of Cinci.
natl, was riding over fine prairie on a fine
h orse, about three in the afternoon, when he
saw rnsn making his way towards Vane's
bridge. The moment he saw he was pursued,
the fugitive fell down in the grass. Sylvester
dashed on in that direction, and his horse came
very near trampling him down. The man
sprang to his feet. and apparently without the
slightest surprise, looked his captor straight in
the face.
He was disguised In miserable rustic dress.
He wore skin cap, round jacket, and pan'a.
! looms of blue domestic cotton. and pair Of
coarse Shoes Blu, his face and his manners
! bespoke too plninly, that lie belonged to a diff
! ferent class than his garb betoken: and under.
meath his coarse disguise, Sylvester saw that
he wore shirt o. tie finest linen cambric.
You are officer, perceive, sir, said the horse,
man, raising cap politely.
No, soldier he replied, drawing out letter
addressed to Almon,e.
When he saw there was no hone Of escape,
he inquired sor Gen. Houston, BY this time,
Sylvester had been Joined by several Of his com.
rades and mounting his pri.oner behind him,
they rode off together on tie same horse t0
camp, several mile. distant. A. he rode by tbs
Mexican prisoners, they exclaimed with the
greatest surprise, ss they lifted their caps, 'E'
President:
IN a single moment the news spread through
the camp that Gen Santa Anna was a prisoner
|
general was lying on the ground, in consequence
Of his wound, had now fallen into doze. San
Ia Anna came up behind him end took his han,
Houston reused himself, and turning over gszet
up 10 the face ofthe Mexican when he extend
ed his LETT arm, and laying his right on hi
heart, sad--
i am Gen. Anionio Lopez de Santa Anna
President OF the Mexican Republic, and claiu
10 be your prisoner OF war.
Houston waved his hand To box, for it wa
the only scat in the camp, and asked his prison
ers TO be seated and then sent for hlmontf
: who spoke Eug gIish perfectly, requesting him .
{ act as interpreter.
u Alrnonts approached his captive general wit
evident respect and priei, and the followin
conversation took place between the two coH
manders; Houston in the meantime lying o
the ground, resting on his elbow. Great pain
have been taken to get as nearly as possible tn
exact words used BY the speakers, and ,hos
J: who were present-at the interview have insu
! ed us that all here related they do remembe
= and they recollec, nothing else Of impor,snc,
M Santa Anna, (af,er embracing Amopte ar
70 resovssing perfectly from his embarrassment
s' rose, and advancing with the cir Of one born
B: command. said to Gen. Houston
That men may consider himself born to I
common destiny, who hath conquered the N
- poason The West; end il now remains fos hi
- 10 b generous 10 the vsnqoishsd.'
Houston--You should have remembered th