The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-11

charge oil attempted lraud ny houston.
After patient hearing the committee
found that nothing appeared to sustain
the charge.
In December, 1882, Gen. Houston went
to Texas with few friends. The revO-
luton there had just commenced, and
Houston was elected delegate to the
Convention called to frame a ConStitu.
ton for the new State, which met in
April, 1888. In this Convention he was
the leading mind. In 1885 the war with
Mexico had broken out in earnest, and
Houston was elected a General. Soon
after he was chosen Commander.inc chief
of the Texan army. He had great diff
cultirS to overcome. Few men, poorly
armed and badly provided for. But he
met the obstacles with great GrmnrsS.
He procured two cannon at Cincinnati,
and otganized his small army as well as
he cOuld. Most dl lnem had rifles, pistols,
aud b0wie.kHires, aud blood had but lit
tie terror for them. They enjoyed hard
service, aud fighting was Il delightful pas
time to most Of them. On lIouSton'S
birthday, in 1886, March 2nd, Texas was
declared free from Mexico, and an indie
pendent nation. About this time the fort
Of the Alamo, commanded b. Col. Travis
was captured by the MeXicans, and the
entire garrison of one hundred and
eighty five men, were most inhumanly
put 10 death by Santa Annals miniOnS.
This reused terrible spirit of revenge
throughout Texas. Quickly following
this, March goth, Col. Fannin's command
Of five hundred men was also captured by
the Mcxicaus, after siege Of two days.
Gen. Urea, the Mexican in command,
agreed with Fannin, on his surrender,
that his men should be well treated and
sent to the United States. But Mexican
treachery and cruel barbarism soon man
tested itself On the 27th Of March, three
hundred and lifty-seven of Fannin's men
were shot. This horrible murder reused
the previously exasperated Texans to a
pitch of frenzy. But another blow still,
as if to crush them to the earth, was
pending. Santa Anna, with sixteen hun
lred men, marched upon the Texan capi-
tai, Harrisburg, and burnt the town.
He then marced nFon New Washington,
upon the San Jaclnto.
Here he was met by Gen. Houston,
April 2lst, who had gathered 7o3 men.
lie had his two Gpound Cincinnati can
non, which was his entire artillery force
The 900 McxcanS were regular and long
trained troops. HnuSton's 7S3 men were
undi>cipliurd volunteers. Here, and be-
tween these forces, occurred the battle
which decided the fate Of Texas. The
battle opened 10y charges of grape and
canister from the McXirans' cannon
Houston led his gallant men to the charge
with the cry Of remember the Alamo "
Remember Goliad :" ami terrible was
their revenge for those inhuman butchc-
rieS. The McXiranS were sheltered by
lntrcnchmcntS Over these Houston led
his men, his ankle being shattered by u
ball as lac came up to the works. vol
ley from the rifles OF the brave Texans
/ laid manv Mexican lpw-but the Texas
rifles had no bayoncts! Pistols came
next, and then the bloody bowieknife !
This did a Sla>hing work in avcnging" the
| Alamo" and Guliad.' lna few moments
G3U swarthy McXicanS bodies lay dead in
| the works Of their own defence 2OS were
wounded aud disabled, the rest tried to
run away, but were stopped and taken
pri>uncrS The Texans lost only killed,
and - wounded These figures show the
( terrible work of the deadly howie-kniie in
( the hands of brave and determined men.
What swift and awful rctribution was
/ this upon the harbarouS crur!tleS Of the
MeXicaus The next day, President Sam
ia Anna himself, disguised as common
soldier, WIS caught crawling in the pral-
ric grass, and carried before Gen. llouS-
ton. The Texan soldiers and officers in
sisted upon killing him at once, but Gen.
| Houston intcrposcd and saved him, most
k,cnly rebuking him for lis crucllicS in
ma,slcrcing the Texan prisoners. Atrea-
tv waS subsequently made with Santa
Anna, and Texan independence acknowl-
edged.
Houston was elected President of the
new Republic, and inaugurated October
-, 1886. Sauta Anna was liberated, and
sent to Washington. Negotiations were
opened for the annexation of Texas to the
United States, and peace and order were
established lIouston's Presidential term
texpirrd in December, 1888. lie was then
elected to Congress, the Constitution for
bidding that any person should hold two
executive terms in succession. But III
1871 he was again elected President OF
Texas. In 1915 Texas was admitted AS
one of the United States. Houston and
RuSk we're elected Senators. Houston
remained in the Senate until March, 4th,
1859, when he went home, having been
superseded. lie was, however, elected
Governor of Texas that Fall, but being q
Union man was dcposcd by the Secession
Convention of last Winter, his constitu
tiona term of office not expiring till De
cember of this year. The u S. Govern
ment, it is understood, prottcred him mer
and means with which to sustain his po
sition as the constitutional Executive o
the State. But he declined to make thu
issue, declaring that 1t would deuge Tex
as in bloUd, and that he felt more inclined
to bow to the decision of the State, witt
whose destiny he felt that he was bound
and whose fortunes he preferred to follow
"a State whose crushing troubles anC
brilliant prosperity he had shared, ant
whose history was indeed in good part
his own. So tire old General and herr
retired, and became 6 jssi44ent and we ap
prehend a melancholy SPECTATOR of tn
awful conflict which is shaking as by al
earthquake the great and proud Natiol
he loved so well.
In another place, in the order of dates
we intended to have spoken of his secon'
marriage, but as it did not tit in wei
there, we will add it here. This inciden
in his life was as romantic as many 9th
ers which have marked the astonishin;
career of'thi remarkable man. In l84l
soon after he was chosen President G
Texas the second time, he visited tn
States, and among other places, Mobile
lie was received by old friends and b.
the people generally, with great cordiality
One evening he was urged to attend
fashionable ball. He had no heart in il
H. L. Tkor