The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-04-28

wagons, in cars, or on foot; suffer-
ing from exposure, from delays.
from hunger, from loss of rcla
lions, friends and protectors. pre-
sented scenes of suffering which
have rarely had parallel.
In the meantime, President Bur
net and his cabinet, and Gen. Hous-
ton and his officers and men, aud
conspicuously Gen. Rusll, then Sec
retary of War, while our army was
retreating before the enemy, were
doing all they could TO allay the
panic, TO rally our men, and TO gel
them into the army, and TO procure
supplies and munitions of war; aud
thus 10 be in'rcadincss at tic proper
time TO check and defeat thcir
naughty and relentless pursuers:
''To strike for parent, child ndwifo,
For Texas, liberty and itc."
IL would be too much of trespaf
on your patience Tor me 10 aitcmp'
TO describe the movements of ii.
opposing armies in their marcho
from the Guadalupe 90 the Colora-
do, to the BraZOs, aud 10 the plains
of Buffalo Bayou and san Jaeinto.
With these you are familiar.
Santa Anna, with his advance coll
umn, had passed the Texas army.
moved down the south side of Buff
falo Bayou. and crossed Nincc's
Bayou AT Nince's Bridge, arriving at
Harrisburg on the 10Th of April.
On the 10Th, Gen. Houston with his
army also crossed 10 the south side
of Buffalo Bayou in pursuit Of Santa
Anna. On the 20th, the two armies
confronted each other on the plains
of San Jacinto. On this day aud du-
ring the next morning some skir-
mishing occurred. On the morning
Of the Dist, the Mexican force was
strengthened by the coming up Of
Gen. Cos with over five hundred
men. On that morning Gen. lIous-
ton sent Deaf Smith and another TO
cut down and burn Nince's
Bridge, the only means of es-
cape for either army in case OF de-
feat. The battle was then to he
fought. The Mexican force was
about sixteen hundred. under their
President-Dictator, an experienced
and skillful general, the scli-Styied
Napoleon of the West. The Texan
force was seven hundred and thirty
three, commanded by skillful and
heroic leader. The McXicans fight
ing for the success of n dcspot, aspir-
ing to imperial honors and power,
for the overthrow Of constitutional
government and civil liberty; and
to drive the people of Texas from
their homes, and desolatc this fair
land. The Texans fighting for their
homes, for the protection Of their
wives, children and property; for
civil and religious liberty; and for
the rights of constitutional and local
self-goyernment; fighting in the
fresh remembrance of the butchery
of their comrades at the Alamo and
at Goliad. prepared, desperatelypre-
pared.
''To strike till the last armed foe expires,
To strike for their nltars and their fires -"
The men, as well as the officers,
felt that all was staked on the result
of this battle. Victory promised
them their homes, liberty, honor,
happiness. Defeat was TO make
that field their burial places to
drive their families in misery and
sorrow from their homes aud coun-
try. Brave, earnest men, with such
surroundings, each became hero,
and all maintained the grandeur of
that title. About o'clock in the
afternoon the Texans formed and
moved out for battle. Steadily,
silently, solemnly, they moved the
attack of the enemy behind his
breastworks. On coming sufficiently
near, they charged under the battle
cry "Remembey' the AlamoI Remem-
Der Golidd!' to the music Of the clear
cracking rifle, Of the ringing sabre,
and roar of cannon. The victory
was quickly won. The Mexicans
lost six hundred and thirty killed,
two hundred and eighty wounded,
and seven hundred and thirty pris-
oners, with their arms. mules,
horses, camp equipage and military
chest. The Texans loss eight killed
and twenty wounded