The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-04-21
ThelailgS rrala
SAN JAorNTo NAY.

'iHlhll w Wv -inh WY w NHiI'i ''"'i
was the browning net which gave lib
erty TO Texas as republic, free and
independent Of Mexico, the mother
country. That was thirty-elght years
ago to-day, On the day Of tue battle
The entire Anglo.Saxon population of
Texas west OF the Trinity river had
been driven east of that stream, for
security against the victorious columns
OF the Mexican army, under the presi-
dent, General Santa Anna. No Amer
cans remained west OF tho Trinity,
save and except the now immortal
band, then under the craftsmanship Of
General Sam Houston, aud u few de-
lached parties seeking to join him.
Having assumed command Of the
little army at Gonzales, and before he
had time TO properly organize the
forces, General Houston learned dell-
nltely, on the night OF the 18th OF
March, at Gonzales, that the Alamo
aud every one Of Its defenders had
fallen, and that Santa Anna, with an
overwhelming force, was moving enst
In two columns-o directly by Con
zales, the other by Goliad and Victoria.
The news was brought by Mrs. Dlckln-
son and the negro servant of Colonel
Travis, who with her infant, swere the
only inmates Of the Alamo spared.
They had been allowed to leave, with
single Mexican as protector
In the meantime, Santa Anna had
reached the Brazos ut Fort Bend uow
Rlchmond), and leaving General
Fillsola on the west side, he crossed
over with n portion Of his army and
moved eastcrly in search of Houston.
The opposing forces first came In view
of each other on the Goth Of April, on
the now memorable plains Of San ia
cinto. Each at once took position and
began preparations for action. In the
afternoon n heavy cavalry fight occur
red In full view of both armies, in
which the reckless daring of Colonel
MIrabeau b. Lamar, then u recent
emigrant from Georgia, won such nd
miration that, in the decisive battle
next day, he was called to command
the cavalry. On this occasion, too, the
late lamented Colonel Sidney Sher-
man, native of Massachusetts, butan
adopted son of Kentucky, first won the
laurels which ever after encircled his
brow. The championship of this first
contest abided with the hungry, ragged
and illy-armed Texans. But forty-live
days before the Alamo had fallen and
only twenty-four days had elapsed since
fannin and his command had been
brutally massa cred ut Goliad. Hous.
toms men, to q large extent, knew that
their families were exiles in the swamps
of southeast Texas, and that defeat
meant irretrievable ruin to them and
the beautiful country they had re-
claimed from savage wilderness.
They were wrought up to the highest
pitch.of desperation and preferred death
to defeat.
General Houston at once retreated
to and crossed the Colorado, where n
short stay was made, in which Cen
eral Sienna, commanding large Mex
lean division, appeared on the west
bank. General Houston, after some
skirmishing, retreated and crossed the
Brazos, sending east for achievements.
After some time spent on the east side
of the Brazos, few miles above where
Hampstead now is; he broke up camp
and moved southeast towards Buffalo
bayou.
During the night of the Goth, Santa
Anna was reinforced by his brother
in-law, General Cos, with five hundred
men.
The decisive day arrived, and its
hours rolled slowly along till two
o'clock in the afternoon arrived. Each
party, In close proximity, stood in bat
tie array, the Texans impatiently
awaiting the word to advance. Many,
In their zeal, had doubted General
Houston's intention to fight on that
field, but in due time he delivered them
soul stirring address, announcing
that the only bridge Offering means
of retreat had been destroyed, and,
therefore, it was victory or destruction.
AT the word, like bloodhounds, the
little band advanced in the open plain
falling TO the ground at the flash of
each Mexican battery Ito dodge the
leaden stormy, then rushing forward
with the wild cries Of Remember the
Alamo" till within fifteen minutes
they occupied the feeble breastworks
of the enemy and had killed so
many that Santa Annals chosen ia
vorites We're in wild confusion
and retreat. Half of his command
were killed on the ground, and in the
pursuit that day and the next all Of the
remainder We're captured, sixteen
hundred in all. Santa Anna was cap
tured next day, some miles away, and
carried into camp by James A. Sylves-
ter, young printer, native of Baltl-
more, but last from Cincinnati Whose
headlight, $40 acres, adjoins the lands
Of the city of Dallas on the upper side.
Two others, Joel w. Robinson aud an
other, were present at the capture of