The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-07-01
life, and gained by HE characterization, Il

the time by dealing out original or 'twicc
told" tales For the edfcation OF each otl,ef,
while our determined driver urged his jadcd
cattle forward with voice and thong. in order
to reach Houston before dark, but all in vain!
for night came down upon us, dark and dis
NAL, when within four ,ujl:s of our point OF
destination. AS the gloom t'lickcncd around
us, our road grew worse and worse till at
length we came to Il stand still. our carriage
very nearly ovcrturninr.
Our driver here got out to reconnoitre, bu
being near sighted could make nothing out,
and. only succeeded in upsctting himself in
the mud, the fete he came so near ACCOM-
plishing to the discontinue, of our whole
party. A house hard by was next applied to
for candle and lantern, but such convent
enccs were unknown within its humble pre-
cincts. In default of these set-cfs to dark
night, the proprietor and our driver procured
some pine chips and knots, by climbing into
With these fambeaus burning in an old shoe
which the driver picked up, that served fol
a l.oldcr, he went ahead, wadng through tn:
mud, and l, taking the reins, followed this
sspillar of firc'' into town.
The city of Houston, one of the chief towns
or citiei-which ever the reader prcfrrs-"1
Texas, is situated in Harris county, at the
head of navigation, on Buffalo Bayou, and was
formerly the capital of the State. The site
is a very handsome one for a city, and cannot
fail, in future to become place of much i'm.
portancc. Houston is already place ofcon.
siderable trade, and is rapidly improving
The city s regularly laid out, and painted
with shade trees. Many Of the houses have
gardens adjoining them, planted with orna-
mental trees and slruLbcry, which is great
addition to the appearance Of the place.
The next day after our arrival in Houston.
precisely at 8 o'clock +. NJ. we stepped on
board little steamer lying at the Wharf, and
leaving slow travelling and muddy roads be-
hind, started down the Bayou for Galveston,
a distance of eighty miles. This Bayou nav
igation was the most novel ever experience
ed. The stream at Houston is 80 narrow,
that it Is impossible for the very small steam
boats which navigate it, to turn about. This
difficulty, however, is fortunately obviatcd,
by a small branch intcrsccting the Bayou at
this place. The stern the boat being back
ed into the mouth of this stream sufficient
room is obtained to bring her bow round Gulf
wise, by slight squeeze
When fairly rounded to, and steam up, we
went gliding down the Bayou, the guards of
our boat almost touching its banks on either
side, SO very narrow is this little creek, and
as scrpentinc, zigzag. and meandcrng as any
little brook delights in being. The banks OF
the Bayou arc covered with trees, many OF
them the evergreen species, and others in
early flower, giving the prospect, and sylvan
scenery Of those banks, an everlasting sum-
mcr-likc appearance.
At Harrisburg, q small town on the Bayou
Il few miles below Houston, the emily piece of
il rail road in TcXas-twcnty miles in length
connects with Gulf navigation. Here the
iron track, with the black iron horse standing
upon it met my eye, with their old familiar
look, refreshing as the presence OF long alb
sent friends.
Buffalo Bayou widens as the mouth is APP
preached, which is forty miles from Houston.
The Bayou emf ties into San Jacinto bay at
the mouth of San Jacinto river; and on this
acute angle of land, formed by the two streams
was fought the great battle Of San Jacinto;
great in its effects, altho' insignificant as a
military engagement. This battle was the
death blow to Mexican tyranny and Mexican
rule in Texas. On this spot Santa Anna with
1900 men in an cntrenched camp. was defeat
cd and totally routed, himself aud command
being either slain or captured, by less than
half their number of Texans, in an engage
ment of a few minutes. The night our little
steamer entered San Jacinto bay, being very
dark and stormy, we got fast on Red fish bar,
a very dangerous shoal, whcre| we had to lie
at anchor, till morning showed our Captain
his position, when We ran into Galveston.
+. Il. +.