The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-04-13

GERS were destitute of most, even, of the
nccessaries Of life. 1t is worthy of remark,
also, that Santa Anna afterwards said, sthat
this was the first moment he had ever un-
darH:ood tile American character; and that
what he had witnessed. convinced him that
Americans never could be conquered"
Santa Anna's marqne was set near the
20. where Houston was lying. His trunks
were not examined, nor any portion Of his
haggage molested. The Texan General
knew that there was hardly a man in his
army who did not wish to see Santa Anna
cxpiatc his crimes with his blood, and very
few believed it would be possible even for
Houston to protect him from assassination.
But he knew the eyes of the civilized world
would be turned upon the Texan camp, and
That however guilty Santa Anna may have
been, the name of Texas would be given
over to cxecration if any violence WAS offer
cd to the captive. He therefore took the
necessary prccaution to see that not only no
violence, but indignity, should be offered to
his prisoner. The course he took in this
matter entities him to the regard of man.
kind. The feeling that prevailed in the
army could not be mistaken, and various cir
rumStanccS have come to our knowledge
which serve to Illustrate not only Houston'S
extreme vigilance, but his superior shrcwtl-
ness in detecting insubortination, and lis
address in putting it down. One example
we will alludc TO.
An officer had resolved to shoot Santa
Anna, and had prepared himself for the
work. His design, however, he had kept
t" himself, and Houston could have had no
lnt'matlon of it from any quarter. But as
the officer WAS passing Houston on the day
OF the night he had fixed for the execution
of his purpose, the General, who saw some
thing wrong in his manner, bcckoncd him
to approach. lie convcrscd with him, pri
vatcly and conf,lcntially, on the subject of
his fears; and after depicting the horrible
consequences that would follow Santa An
mas assassination, told the officer that he
had made him his confdant in the matter,
because lie knew he would be more likely
than any other man i'll the camp, to detect
any murderous scheme projected, and he re-
lied on his vigilance. The officer gave him
his pledge he would act on his suggestion,
and, moreover declared that Santa Anna
should never be assassinated while he was in
the camp. He was as good as his word
aud vet he afterwards declared he had, Mt
tn" very time, the arms Oh his person with
Which he had sworn to kill Santa Anna.
Such was one of the thousand expcdients
Houston was obliged to resort to, to main
tain discipline over those wayward, reckless
men. No one knew how he did, and vet it
passed into n provcrb that Houston acas the
only man IN the acorld that could hare kept
The army in sutjcction, or achieved the in
dependence Of Ieras, or PRESCRIBED it after
1T aoas aoon. Houston, therefore, exercised
the keencst vigilance over the safety of his
prisoner and treated him as guest and a
gentleman, rather than rs captive.
Night came. The guard was so disposed
rs to include Santa Annals marque, and
he slept on his campbell with every comfort
he could have had if he had been the vic
tor; while, near by him, Houston lay upon
the eartll-his wonted bed in camp-with
no respite from the intense agony of his
wound. The ball had entered about one
inch above the ankle joint, shat:ering the
bone, and severing the muscles and arteries.
1t prostrated him for months, during which
time he was worn down by fever and pain
to the shadow of man.
AS Houston and Rusk were riding side by
side from the battlefield, returning to camp,
they discovered two ravens lowering over
the field in the smoke which fingered over
the battle scene Some of the men pro.
posed to shoot them, as they were near the
earth. Houston said, "No, don't shoot
them-iti is good omen. Their heads are
pointing westward. 'Tis the course of en-
pire. own I am little superstitious
about the raven" 4
The next morning Santa Anna asked
leave to see General Houston, which was
granted. He presented himself elegantly
dressed in citizens garb, and rendered a
most respectful and cordial greeting to his
'host," aud inquired kindly for his health
and the state of his wound. The difference
in the dresses Of the two men was striking.
Houston had on a plain, old black coat,
snuff colored pantaloons, black velvet vest,
fur cap, R worn ont pair of boots, and a
scimitar Of tried metal, with plated scab.
bard-,a gift fromehis friend, Captain Jo-
seph Bonnell, effort Jessup. He had worn,
it, hung by buckskin thongs. This consti-
tuted his wardrobe and his armory. Santa
Anna would have been taken for the victor,
and Houston for the captive.
The Washington Union informs us that
the dispute with Spain, touching the seizure
Of the Black Warrior, IS satisfactorily I'D.
justsd. The Spanish Government consents
to proclaim that the authorities in Cuba
exceeded their power, and agrees accord