The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-21
NOW OUR GREAT SOUTH
WESTERN TERRITORY
WAS WON.
Graphic Account Of the Fight.
which Conquered Texas.

which Conquered Texas.
concluded from lost ucek.)
THE MIXICANs SURPRISED AND U II
PIECES.
There was no enemy to contend witt
after the hrst five minutes. Meeting
The unexpected assault from Cabler':
forces the Mexicans turned to fly, but
we're confronted and cut down by
dozens by Harrington. Then the riv-
or. Ne use Bennett had his fcrc,s
we'll on land and the panic stricken,
broken and shattered remnants OF VIII Al
had beer but a few hours before IA splen
did command were dri,enn hIther and
ehither by enemies that seemed t.
spring from the very ground under
their feet. Warfarea Well, not much
BUT neither was the butchery at the
Alme nor the massacre of Tanning
Well the victory was won. We drov,
back nearly 400 head of Mexican hors
es which, after the first stampede, had
headed for the river. We brought
away more arms and ammunition than
we could have used for a month and
we had broken the enemy's strongest
arm-the arm that but for the'
fight would have cut us down Def re
We could have fallen back to a
place of safety. There was no time for
rejoicing over the victory. Eleven If
enr men We knew had fallen. The mum
Der Of Mrxicans that persisted will
never be known. / don't like som--
times TO think Of it myself. Orde 8
were given TO begin the retreat al once.
And SO at daybreak on that memoir
able moreing the Americans, taking a
last lsok n the scene which was even
then Illuminated by the flames that had
net subsidized, turned their faces east
ward to escape the vengeance Of the
army OF Santa Anna. 1t was none to
soon. Santa Anna, with his entire
command, reached the spot on the fol
lowing day at neon, and realizing the
full strength Of the blow that had de
privsd him of the famous lancers he
hastily buried his dead, swore anew an
cath Of vengeance and giving orders
for forced marches crossed the river In
pursuit.
The weather and the roads were &C
trocious. Heavy rains had swollen
the streams. making it difficult to and
fsrds without dangerous delay. There
was enc cause for thankfulne.s. The
rains were impeding Santa Annals ar
Bay more than our irregular cavalry.
Three days later we learned that
Santa Alma raj gaining on US and
heard that his force was not less than
rs, 900 men, including 1000 cavalry
and a well-served artillery. Unmista-
kable signs were seen of the approach
of the enemy, and straggle's knew that
to fall behind meant certain destruc-
ton. All our necessary stock WAS
abandoned and we pushed on. Within
q distaKcs Of fifty miles from the San
.~Jacinto river and about. l should say,
the same distance from the Gulf, ouI
advance guard came upon the outposts
of the main force Of Americans They
were about 3 900 strong and Hou-ton
himself WAS in command. The meet
ing between the forces can be imagined.
Houston himself was in all his glory,
and expressed his intention to remain
right where he was and annihilate all
the force that Santa Anna and Ill Nix
leo could bring against him. Then he
heard that Santa Anna had a force of
%, 900 men. Five minutes later be
had issued a general order to fall
back with all haste, and the retreat
WAS begun. Sam Houston had recon
sidered He explained to his officer.
that he intended to await attack on
the San Jacinto near the bayou, but 1t
was generally believed that he inten-
ded 10 fall back on Gaines and allow
the latter to be attacked. 1t must be
understood that at this time Houston
had made the people very generally be
lieve that he was the accredited, Sc
cret agent Of Jackson, and that he had
the whole American nation at hi. back.
His principal officers were General
Kusk General Felix Houston, his cous
in, Major Wharton and Major Arson.
Jones, Lamar and Austin, The retreat
had continued over one week when
the Lancer., in advance of Santa An
mas army, could be seen in our rear,
and 1t was evident that we were bound
to be overtaken long before Gaines
could be reached. By dark we had
reached the high hills, which at that
point overlook the San Jacinto river.
1t was impossible eros. the entire COM
maBd, as before this could be effected
SAINTS Anna would come up and cut
eur rear to pieces. And so because it
could not be helped the army went
into camp or the western bank Of the
river. We were in a position that is
best expressed by an old saying root,
hog or die" We rooted right there.
THE BATTLE.
This was condition of affairs on the
night of April q, 1886. Houston, |
should have stated before, had no
artillery. while we knew that the Mex
leans had already covered u. with
thsir artillery. Harrington had with
him perhaps 400 meD Cabler a few
more, perhaps. Hou.ton's entire fore.
Including these, we estimated at from
5.0O0ts 5000. During the night we
began to realize that in the morning,
when the enemy opened on US with ar
tillsry and subsequently, charged with
cavalry, supported by a large body OF
infantry We were likely to be in a bad
way. 1t WAS at this time that the Incl
- SNNoiiSu Nv CpSLeu TIC Udll
and gave Us the victory. Cabler, re-
a%li1ins that his command could get a
more advantageous position a little |
further north, where there was some
timber that would prevent cavalry OPP
erations. ordered a change of base. In
accomplishing this movement his csm
mand, in the darkness, ran right square
against a battery Of the enemy's hight
artillery. The alarm was given they
fired, and We returned the compliment.
both armies became aroused and the
battle at las. had begun.