Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-05-01
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.
A Leaf of History---Sam Houston and the Bat
tie of San JacintO.

x,
ing down in gloom, to rise no more. Three heavy
columns of pampered soldery of Mexico, led by
Santa Anna, supported by Urea, Cos and Flllsola,
had crossed the Rio Grande, and the vuture flag of
the South, threatningly waved on the banks OF the
Gaudaloppe.
The heroic Travis,-brave to a fault, and reckless
and defiant as he was brave-at the head of one hun
dred and thirty spirits fashioned after himself, occu-
pied the Alamo, the frontier fortress OF Texas In
defiance to the express orders of Gen. Houston, the
communicable he determined there TO await the
combined shock of the legions of the deSpot Cour-
Ter after courier reached the Alamo, commanding
Travis to fall back upon the camp of Houston, but
his undiSciplned spirit brooked control, and each
successive courier, bore back the reply:
eve will not retreat. We will conquer or del''
The shock camel Four days and nights of sleep
less battle, with undated fury, ragged around the
walls of Alamo, and after the fifth mornings sun
shone on the confused mass of blood stained ruins
and bones, and smouIdeTing ashes OF the intrepid
dead No living Texan was left 10 tell his comradS
deeds but the huge piles of Mexican slain, with their
gastly gaping wounds told with terrible certainly
that Travis and Bowie and CrocKet had fought, and
bied, and died, if they had not conquered there
The scene in the tragic DRAMA was the massacre
Of Goliad The Ill lated Tanning mbued with the
spirit of reckless self reliance, which proved
the destruction of Travis and his commando too long
heSated to execute the order for retreat issued by
that wise and intrepid man, whose great mind con-
ceived and whose iron will achieved the revolution.
Pressed every side by a well appointed and over
wheming foe,-without supplies, and with but little
ammunition, Tanning sought TO fight and retreat,
conteSting and staining every inch of ground with
the life blood of the foe. But the power of numbers
on the one side and the want of ammunition on the
other caused Tanning to commit the unpardoning er
ror OF trusting 10 the pllghted honor OF Mexican,
even though belted as a soldier. capitulation en-
tered into with all the solemnities of chivaric
was the result-the Texan flag was iurled but not in
disgrace for the terms of capitulation are held Sa
cred by all but Earbarous nations and the faith of
Mexican General was pledged that the next days
should smile upon the Texans, they return TO
Jneir fre-side homes. Night passed away, and with
the early beat Of the morning drum, Tanning and his
comrades marched out the plain OF Gollad TO
receive their release. Unarned and unSuSpecting
they were conducted through the long lines of the
Mexican army drawn up to battle array, until they
were swallowed up on every side, by the bristling
bayonets of the foe. A signal was given, not of re-
lease, but of death! One Wild terrific crash was
heard; urd cloud of fire and smoke enveloped the
Texans, and all that was left of them, their man
gled remains weltering in th;ir blood
Like the angry howl of the storm, when it bursts
upon southern sea- the wall Of death and the cry
for vengeance, swept over the plains of Texas. The
great heart Of Houston Sweed with grief and indig
nation; his mild blue eve, which wont TO beam
with gentle kindness: blazcd like the Lon's when
batting for his young; his expansive brow, darkened
with the pent up storm within, and his compressed
lips, told of a will, which nOught but destiny could
thwaFt. His little army of scarce sixteen hundred
men, inspired with wild chiyalry and imbued with
devoted patriotism, capable of any sacrifice, save
that Of submitting to absolute control, burned for
vengeance, and demanded TO be led forward against
the treacherous foe But Houston, alike great as a
soldier, and statesman, had three months before, on
the plains of San JacntO, selected the altar which
TO conSecrate the liberty of Texas, contrary 10 the
expectations and wishes of the army, he commenced
his retreat, LAYING waste to the country over which
he passed. and making his movements with such
skill to completely bewilder the enemy His
troops uttered loud murmurS against his policy, and
in tones Of threatning mutiny, demanded that stand
should be made at the Colorado, declaring that they
would dlSband, unless the foe were given battle.
Houston sought to impress upon his troops the fact
that battle upon the Colorado, was defeat TO Texas
he said TO them Our is just; it must and shall
triumph, let those return to their homes who not
prepared TO make every sacrifice for the good of
Texas"
The next mornings dawn found less than eight
hundred men by the Texan standard. The retreat
was recommended; the scouts of Houston, watched
the movements of Santa Annals troops with eagle
vigilance-they began TO weary, and their line of
march commenced TO be marked with deserted arms
and accoutrements-their supplies grew short, and
the Texans swept before them the wild cattle Of the
prairie, they pursued their march of retreat.
Houston was now within striking distance OF Santa
Anna, and Cos within day march of joining
the latter Houston still declined battle, but quietly
took position upon the field Of San JaclntO, the next
spot he had selected three months before for his bat
tie field. One day more and the columns of Cos and
Santa Anna, united within short distance of HOus-
tons camp, without being aware of its proximity
His strategy was perfect and his success complete.
The two armies now lay facing each other, on a roll
ing PRAIRIE surrounded by forests of bayonetS, the
only means of retreat frail bridge extending
across a deep bay The hour had arrived when the
destiny OF Texas, TO be decided-the blow about
TO be struck on that field, to determine whether
Texas to exist as the conquered province OF a
deSpo to take her place among the nations of the
earth, as a free and sovereign power. 1t was on the
2lst of April, 1886, when Houston, mounted on his
steed, formed his little army of 700 men, in col
Of attack and approached to the very front, in
few deep toned burning words, he poured into their
hearts the lava fame which until them had been pen
up in his own noble soul He told them that by his
order the bridge had been destroyed-that retreat
was impossible-tha the field of San JacintO must be
the grave the birth spot Of Texas Independence
that the condition Ofhisamy would not justify his risk
ing two battles and hence he had waited until the for
ceS of Santa Anna and Cos were combined-the enc
my was before them; to strike was to conquer. And
then rapidly arranging his order of attack the army
OF horses moved forward masked by the tall prairie
grass ni within rifle shot of the foe; when rapidly
deplOyed into line of battle, the electric voice of
Houston, was heard rising high and clear above the
battle line ''nOw charge my ladsI And remember
the Alamol Remember Goad!'' The very Heavens
seemed TO echo back that fierce battle shout-s'Re
member the AlamOi Remember Goliad!' And with
the Of the tornado and the force Of the whirl
wind that little band Of heroes with Houston at their
head, hurled themselves upon the foe. Short, des
perate and terrific like the mad crashing Of the ele
ments, was the wild, strange and glorious battle.
Seventeen hundred Mexicans were lying dead and
dying that proud field, and Santa Anna, the boast
ed Napoleon of the South seeking safety in dis
graceful fight. And from amid the smoke and fame,