Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-02-08
A pERFECT sPARTAN.


The Spartan women Of Texas are not a
few. The personal history and adventures
of the few we know, were we permitted
to relate them as given us by their own
lips, would fill an octave of thousand
pages with wild tales of truth, far more
strange than fiction. The following clip
ped from one of our exchanges is a spe-
cimen: .rr
"a very interesting and romantic Incl
dent was related by Rev. Mr.. Fontaine, in
and OF his recent lectures at the Richmond
Athen@um. Speaking of the early histo-
ry of Texas, he gave an account of Gene
raj Longs effort TO revolutionize that couu-
try in 1919. General Long served under
General Jackson in the Seminole war, and
at the Battle of New Orleans. He mar
rled, when twenty-five years of age,
celebrated beauty and heiress of Nash
vile. only sixteen years old. When he
fo~noed he design to invade Texa~, Mrs.
Tono cEtere,4 fully into his plans, and
placed at his ;lispos~,S her immense wealth.
With this he armed anu equipped three
hundred men, entered the c. UnViJ' aA"
was everywhere successful.
Near the Gulf coast he formed for
tifcatlon, where he established his head
quarters. He was elected president OF
the republic ; full cabinet was appoin
ted and a regular government organized. |
AT that time, Iturbidc was overrunning
Mexico with the design of making himself |
supreme ruler Of that State. Being jcal
Gus Of the success and power Of General
Long, he proposed to him, though an
agent, that they should unite their forces. |
which would enable them to strengthen
and confirm their authority-the one over
Mexico, the other over Texas.
General Long unwisely needed the
traitorous proposition. Before leaving the
fort, he assigned to his wife seventy five !
men, With directions TO hold the place un
til his return. He soon after, with the |
remainder Of his small army reached the !
head quarters Of General lturbide, who,
as soon as he got possession of his rival,
caused him to be assassInated. Time
passed on, Mrs. Long heard nothing of
the sad fate Of her husband The seven
ty-five men under her charge became dis
satisfied provisions were wcll-night eX
hdusted and they became clamorous
to return to the Estates" She told them
that General Long had directed he. to
remain until his return, and tl.At sic
should do so, dead or alive
Every man deserted her to relr&ce
their steps to their homes, leaving l.er
with an infant and nurse, Il young ne
gro girl of twelve or fourteen years oil
age, the sole occupants OF the fortiGca-
tion. She kept the flag of stars and stripes
floating from the walls, fired the morning
and evening gun, and beat TIC daily levi-
| lee. The Mexcans and Indians thought
the place was still garrisouud, and kept
at respectful distance. Time sped, a
year ella psed, and still 10 tdings Of her
gallant husband reached her lonely abode.
During all this space she had subsisted
by gathering oysters from the beach
and shooting birds which flew about the
fort. In 1891, General Austin invaded
Texas, and seeing flag floating from a
fortifcaton near the Gulf, he supposed
the noted Lafitte had established himcelf
there.
"He sent in flag Of truce, and what
was his surprise to find this place in the
midst of inimical Mexicans and savage
Indians, nsanHco by solitary woman"