Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-15
Houston and Santa Anna,

Ioilouc. OLA HuHui W oHu thirty men were
left dead on the field; among them were
one general officer, fous colonies, two lieu
tenant colonies, seven captains, and twelve
lieutenants. Multitudes had persisted in
the morass and in the bayous. Of the sur
wing, upwards of two hundred and eighty
were wounded, and there were eight hun
dred prisoners Only seven men are known
to have escaped from the field. And yet,
incredible as it may seem, this bloody en-
gagement had cost the Texans the lives of
only seven men, and less than thirty had
been wounded. It was incredible, md
when the COMMANDMENT Chief awoke next
morning, and heard the facts, he asked, Ks
this SO, or is it only nay dream =
Lieutenant Sylvester, a volunteer frrin
Cincinnati, was riding over the prairie. on
fine horse, about three o'clock in the af-
ternoon, when he saw man making his
way towards Vince's bridge. The moment
he found himself 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 sprapg
to his feet, and apparently without the
slightest surprise looked his captor full in
the face. He was disguised in a most mis-
cradle rustic dress. He wore skin cap, a
round jacket, pantaloons of blue domestic
cotton, with pair Of heavy soldier shoes.
But his face and his manners bespoke too
plainly that he belonged to different class
than his garb betokencd !; and underneath
his coarse disguise, Sylvester saw that he
wore shirt Of the finest linen cambric.-
You are an officer, perceive sir said
the horseman, raising his cap politely
"No, soldier, !" was his reply ; and he drew
out letter in Spanish, addressed to AL
monte. When he cav there was no hope Of
escape, he enquired for Gen. Houston. -
BY this time Sylvester had been joined by
several Of his comrades, and mounting his
prisoner behind him, they rode off together
on the same horse, to the camp, several
miles distant. As he passed the Mexican
prisoners, they exclaimed with great sur
prise as they lifted their cps, I'll 'slPresi-
dente p
In single moment the news spread
through the camp that General Santa Anna
was pris oner, and the Dictator was taken
to Houston. The General was lying on
the ground, and having slept little during
tie night, in consequence Of his wound had
now fallen into dose Santa Anna came
up behind him, and took Ills band Hous-
ton reused himself, aud turning over, gazed
up in the face of the Mexican, who extern
dcd his left arm, and laying his right on his
heart said, II am General Antonio Lopez
de Santa Anna. President of the Mexican
Rcpub1le, and claim to be pour prisoner
OF war Houston waved his hand to a
box for it was the only seat Ii, the camp and
asked his prisoner to be seated. He then
sent for Allnontc, who spoke English per-
fectiy and asked him to act as Interpreter.
In the meantime Santa Anna had taken
his seat and glancing his eye occasionally
around the camp with timid expression
pressed the sides of his breast with both
hands, and gave two or three half suppress
ed groans, like man who was suffering
deep pain.
Almonte approached his captive General
with evident respect and grief, and the fol-
lowing conversation took place b. tween the
two commanders; Houston, in the mean
time, lying on the ground resting on his ell
bow. Great pains have been taken to get
as nearly as possible the exact words used
by the speakers, and those who were pres
ent at the interview have assured us that all
here related they do remember, and they
recollect nothing else Of Importance
Santa Anna-( After embracing Almonte
and recovering perfectly from his cmbar-
rassment, rose, and advancing with the air
Of one born to command, said to General
Houston )-'.That man may consider him
self born to no common destiny, who has
conquered the Napoleon Of the West and
it now remains for him to be generous to the
vanquished."
Houston GU should have remember
ed that at the Alamo
S. A.. You must be aware that was
justified in my cause by the usages Of war.
[ had summoned surrender, and they had
refused. The place was then taken by
storm, and the usages of war justified the
slaughter of the vanauishcd.'
H.-"That was the case once, but it is
now obsolete. Such usages among civil
zed nations have yielded to the influences
Of humanity"
S. However this may be, was
acting under the orders of Government"
H.-"Why, YOU ore TIE government Of
Mexico"
S. Al hare orders in my possession
commanding me SO to act
H.-A Dictator, sir, has no superior. +"
S. Al have orders General Houston,
from my Government, commanding me to
exterminatc every man found in arms in the
province Of Texas and treat all such as pi-
rates for thsy have no Government, and
are fighting under no recognized flag -
This will account for the positive orders Of
my Government"
H.-@''Ss Ear as the first point is concern
ed, the Texans hatter themselves they hav e
IA Government already, and they will prob
ably be able to make 3 flag. But if you
feel excused fer your conduct at San Anto-
MO, goa have not the same excuse for the
massacre of Col Fannin's command. They
had capitulated on terms proAercd by your
General. And yet, after the capitulatiop,
they were all pcrhiously mass,scrcd, witho,1ss
even the consolation Of dying with arms in
their hands
Those who were present gay that when
Houston came to speak Of the Goliad TRACE
dy, it seemed impossible for him to restrain
his Indignation. His eyes flashed IKE a
wild beasts and in his gigantic effort to curb
in his wrath, cold sweat Fan off from his