The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-04-21
APRIL Qlst, 1885,


and established itns y freq and independent
Republic. From q population OF not quite
forty thouAand at that time, tho redeemed
land, though long bosct with Mexican iur'
moils and raids, and to this dry annoyed BY
hostile sayages, has Increased to u thriving
Intelligent strength oflwo millions OF souls
Takcn altogether, tho history of Texas from
Tho IpceptIon Of American colonization In
1871 70 the present day, 10 ono OF tho anomo'
lios Of history, and Ia rs bright obaplel NJ
was evor interviewer In the crown 81 clylli'
saiion. Tho battle Of San Jacinlo
was marvel In tho annal'
of war. After the utter defeat and capture
of all the Mexican soldIcry in Texas, 10 tho
autumn Of 1886, md their masnanimous
parchment of tho Mexican colonial troops,
Santa Anna Invaded the country NJ tho head
often thousand troops, under tho black Dag
Of determination. The Alamo, under Travis,
with ono hundred and oighty-two mon, after
siege Of twelve days was otormod and
every man slain. Not ono was left, rs ut
Thormopyle, 10 bear tho tidings, That sad
mission was lett " n young mother, whose
first and last babe was born during tho siege,
aud faithful negro servant Of Travis A
little lator Fannin, with Ave hundred men,
oaptnlated noar Gollad 10 DO taken out a
week later and murdered as brutos.
Between these events Gen. Sam Houston,
Immediately after aflxing his name TO tho
Declaration of Independence At Washington,
on tho Druzos, rode night and day to Cones
les, on tho Guadalupe, whore, by the twice
repeated and unanimous voice Of bis country
he assumed command Of all the forces in
Texas But alas these forces after the
fall OF the Alamo, tho massacre Of Fannln
and his Ave. hundred, consisted only of n
fsw hundred men assembled At Gonzales
II custom saw AZ u glance the only road to
salvation. lilo directed Fannin to rotreat
eastward, an order executed when too late.
With the forlorn' hope Of Texas he slowly
fell back to tho Colorado, then TO tho Bra
zos and finally to the plains of San Jacinto,
meantime sending couriers TO every house
h,ld IN the land, advising the people to
leave their homes and move east OF the Trim.
ity. All followed tho wise aud timely nd.
vice--mon, women and children, black and
whlte--solno in wagons, some in carts, some
on wooden trucks, some on horseback and
many on foot Notan American soul, except
Houston and his band, remained west of the
Brazos. But almost every man of that i'm
mortal band, in the slow and stubborn re-
treat before the advancing Mexican hosts,
felt that in his front fleeing rs from a iiend,
was, a mother, a wife, a sister or daughter,
and united under the lead of patriot and
long approved hero, was resolved on victory
or death. - q
Santa Anna divided his forces and, conf
dentof success and glory, commanded the
advance column in person on the plains of
San Jsclnto, htc on the 10th Of April with
but slight cavalry sklrmish. In the night
and next forenoon Santa Anna threw up
bresst-works At3p. M on the 2lst, this
day forty-four years ago, Houston formed
his line ofbatae, Burleson Oh ths right
Sherman on the left the artillery Id the
centres He rode along the
limos !. and in, words that found
4 response incyery, hcart,... reminded his men
81 the massacres Of the Alamo and GoGsd,
and Of their families and kindred, those
refugees but few miles away, and
closed by telling them that Vince's bridge
their only means Of retreat had been burned
by bis order, and hence the issue was victory
Or death, His magnetic address was hailed
by ia universal shout Of 'Leadsus on. y And
10 did lead them on. Like awhirlwiud, like
tigers defsndiag their young, like enrassd
brothers ayengiug insults to mother md
sister they rushed upon the bresst.works Of
ne foe and, ,hMdts hand, eagsged them.
ride, shotgun, nasket bowio-knite|
l-all played Z patsia tho haryest,os death
aud vengeance. The hero chief Was speedily
and painfully woundod,' while leading and
cheering his fellows, and was Compelled to.
halt, bu. his spirit went forward
ia every heart, *lnside of forty