The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-14
HOW OUR GREAT SOUTH
WESTERN TERRITORY
WAS WON.
Graphic Account of the Fight
which Capture Texas.

conspiracy for conqIerin9 Texas from
the Mexicans.
He shows how the schsme origina-
Ted and how it was aided by the fact
that the people along the Mississippi
arose upon the gamblers and despera-
does who swarmed the river towns,
and by killing several hundred forced
The remainder to fly in some direction
50 they went to Texas. We have not
room for all the de ais, and we know
nothing about the charges which Green
makes against Grul Sam Houston:
though in truta, we have little admi-
ration for the latter. The final scene
in the foray is thus described.
Santa Anna began 20 realize in the
lightning OF 1856 mat the Americans,
disor.4nizrd, undi,ci lined and scat
tered a. the, were. meant business and
ie determined to inf1ict what he inten-
aed t. he = crushing blow-a defeat SO
signal that it would forever end the
cream of conquest by the invaders.
TOO .agacIous and cautious q general
not to fully appreciate the Americans
were still "a fJrmidal lie foe, he collec-
I'D the iJwer of the Mexican army and
ia the beginning of February gave or
dcrs to ADVANCE. At this time the
American forces were widely scattered
had no recognized plan of action nor
indeed any leader whose orders They
would all implicitly obey. They We're,
in point of fact, simply an aggregation
of guerilla bands, each acting under
The orders of its own chIef-when IL
chose. Houston, with "a body oftroOps
say six or seven hundred men-was
hack from the frontier at a place wher.
he could easily fall back on Gaines.
who with the United States army was
still watching events from camp on the
west sit of the Neches river.
In the meantime how was it With
the mel. in the gap-the men to WHOM
Sam Houston bad started out To give
such a half hearted supportI Among
Gheir leaders Wee such men as Cabler.
Harrington, teatherston, Gray, Ben
nett, Hoard and T,lly. These, with
rheir commands, made a folce of say
tive or SIX hundred men and were scat
tered around II considerable section,
Int generally on the banks OF the Bra
EOS.
DRUGGING THE Nj c LANCERS.
Whether the events which | am nov
about to describe we've ,art of IA precon
ccrted plan or were simply an Inspira-
ton born of necessity | cannot pre-
tend to say. but | do know that to one
man exclusi ely belongs the credit
That man Was DR.. Bennett. We were
wing on the western bank of the Bra
EOS waiting fur tidIngs oil scouting par
ties that had gone cu', wien suddenh
A, $500. - A,,r or -, a.,
iuIl speed, shouting, as he came:
The MeXicaus are coming The
man was tIom Hoard's detachment,
which was some twenty miles further
up the bank of the river. Ills report
was alarming enough. Their pickets
mad discovered a large bedy of Mexi-
i cavalry advancing down the river.
Even as he spoke Hoard's men APP
reared coming to join us. They seem
ed TO be in "a hurry. We made instant
Dreparations for defense and retreat.
1t was now about two o'clock in the
afternoon; before four the Mexican
and a few American settlers had begun
fleeing across the river, passing our
camp In their flight from Santa Annss
terrible l~anccrs. And now began the
first part Of Dr.. Benefits strategy-a
plan he had conceived TO defeat the
Mexican army 10y American whiskey.
Under his orders twenty-five barrels OF
liouor were carried acrOss the river to
the little Mexican hamlet opposite.
These were placed in the supply stores
and conctalrd-cJHrealed, however in
such a manner that they could easily
he discovered DIR. Bennett, in Il hur-
ried consultation, had detailed his plan,
lie had Judged that they would 90 in
to camp directly at the opposite side OF
the river. Ii would be dusk about the
time they arrived ;they could find wood.
water and supptic-, and Knowing thai
the Americans held the opposite bank
that they would hardly cross to the
night attack of an enemy Of whose
strength and position they knew no,h
ing. bennett hit it exactly.
Acting under Benefits orde's, the
the American force drew oack from the
bank eff the river, leaving, however, in
rplain view an encampment which would
show that only a small detachment
was present. The Mexican ~lanccrs he
gan to appear by SIX O'Clock and an
hour later they had began to encarap at
uhe very spot which Bennett had indi-
Gated that they would select. Dark
mess fell, and the lights in the camp be
gan to CLEAN. while from where | was
Iyino in the bushes on the opposite
side we could distinctly hear their
shouts and bugle calls, as we'll a.the
neiohing OF their horses. About nine
O'Clock the first barrel of liquor had
been found and we could imagine had
bepun to do its work. 1t was not,
however until nearly midnight that the
Wild randcmoneum which broke loose
gave uncrring indications that the en-
tire supply had been discovered and
was being rapidly consumed. 1t was
evident thea II at there Was not much
discipline left in that camp. Silently
and quickly the American forces were
ordered up, and in ter minutes the
great secret was known to every man
in command. Every barrel of the
liquor had been drugged. Alright at
tack was to be made upon the Mexi-
cans. who, stuPehed and demOrallzed
as they naturally would be, were in no
condition To repcl ii. If ever men
felt like cheering it was then, for it
meant that the salvation of the whole
command was practically assured If we
should do the work allotted to US. The
details were quickly made. One party
of 1870 men, under Harrington, went
up the liver about two miles. crossed
and silently awaited the signal for the
onslaught; another, under Cabler, went
down the stream about the same dis