The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-21
SAN JACINTO.

SAN JAOlNTO.
To-day. the 2lst, is the forty.hfth ami
versary Of the battle of San Jacinto, the de-
cisve battle in the war between Texas and
Mexico, indeed 1t was decisive battle in the
destiny OF the American union. 1t gave to
the world the republic of Texas and gave
Texas to tho American union. To-day the
surviving veterans Of that short and fierce
conflict, but few feeble. gray haired old men,
have met together to celebrate this anniver-
sary and as with trembling limbs they come
together for the last, last time for
some of them no doubt, they will
clasp hands in remembrance of
this day forty:Ave years ago, and with fal-
tering voices talk over the olden, olden time.
They will look abou! them, but the manly
form OF Houston, their leader, will not be
there; his flashing eye will Lol beam upon
them in Its kindline,s, his magnetic voice
Will not be heard. Rusk will be missed
and Sherman, and Deaf Smith, and Lamar,
and Hockey, and gallant Tom Green, who,
as boy, fought for Texas on that field, and
who, as man, laid down his life for Texas
in Louisiana, leading on her sons in fearful
contest, in hopeless struggle. None of
these grand paladins, whose voices rang
out over the field of San Jacinlo
will be there to bless these few remaining
comrades. They, with hundreds and hun.
dreds Of 1888 who went into the resistess
charge on that fateful day, have been gath
cred to their fathers. Theirs is "the bivousc
OF the dead" ION flames eternal camping
ground" On the morning of the Dist of
April, 1896, the little Texan army of patriots,
1888 strong, under the command of General
Sam Houston, found themselves in close
proximity to tho army OF General Santa
Anna, which was that morning reinforced by
five hundred choice troops under General
Oos' thus swelling its strength to
upwards of fifteen hundred mon.
After some maneuvcring during tho day, in
which time General Houston had sent Deaf
Smith back TO Vince's bayou, eight miles
away, and had him destroy tho bridge the
only avenue of escape for either army, at
half past three General Houston formed bis
army In line and advanced upon the enemy,
General Sherman flushing the game first.
The fight lasted but eighteen minutes, in
which space Of time tho Texans made tho
prairie and timber resound with the slogan
OF Remember the Alamo" had captured
Santa Anna's Notifications and cannon. had
routed his army, killing $50 of them, wound.
cd $50 and captured 1850 prisoners. Among
the killed were one general officer, four colo
nels, two lieutenant colonies, several captains
and twelve lieusenants. Among the wounded
we're five colonies. three lieutenant. colonels.
TWO second Lieutenant olonels, seven cap.
tians and one cadet. OF the prisoners there
were, besides Generals Santa Anna and
Cos neither of whom were captured during
tho battle, however, four colonies, six leu
nanteolonels and various captains and
iieulenants. Six hundred muskels, three
hundred sabres and two hundred prisoners
were gathered up after the fight, with several
hundred mules and horses and Sl2 900 IN
specie in tho money chsst. This was quick
work, terrible work, especially when we re.
member that only two Texans were killed,
'wen'y'three wounded, six Of them
MORALLY. General Houston was
himself painfully wounded in the foot.
What the achievement of this victory
has wrought, what 1t has tfec,ed in tho des
tiny Of tho American union, we can but
family begin now TO appreciate. We look
about us and SEQ an empire In domain with
every variety of soil, timber and natural pro.
duets necessary to mako ii an empire in It's
commercial strength. We SEQ ,ha, in these
forly'fve years Texas has grown In popula-
lion from less than $4,000 TO leo, 900, thirty
times rs much. We look abou. us and 500
moro than three thousand miles of railroad
and as much moro Of telegraph lines. Wa
soe ilousishng cities and towns fac colleges
and schools and church buildings. Our
seaports arc dotted with vessels and
tho white wings Of commerce arc
constantly bringing us tho product.
Of the world for which wc give In exchange
our cotton, sugar, ffuit corn, small grain.
vegetables, cattle, horses, wool, hide, lumbar
etc. We 500 our system Of railroads sradu.
ally nearing the Rio Grando, whore thew viii
connect with system now being developed
within The confines Of that Mexico, from
whose grasp Texan proves this day forty
five yeA's ego wrung our great Texaa No
longer 10 there bitterness and strife between
u, but instead there Il poaco and good will
and the prlncsly domain that was taken
from Mexican grasp, 10 Abou. 70 become The
means OF building up that republic, devcl
opins oil rs grand possibilities and proving
toh Of moro value than had Texas remained
American slaia These are q few Of N,
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