National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-22
THE ANNIVERSARY
OF THE BATTLE OF SAN JAoiNro,
Which Resulted in the Independence Of TexAs--AB
Interesting Account Of the Battle by Vet
eran Who Participated--The Day
After the Battle.

Just forty-six years ago yesterday was fought
the battle OF san Jacinto, which resulted IN the
achievement of Texan independence, the declara-
ton Of which had been promulgated by convcn-
tion Of the people on the ID Of March preceding
few yeas later, July L. 1916, Texas was annexed
and became one of the United States, which event
eliminated in the war with Mexico and tho &C.
ccssion to our territory of New Mexico and Cali
fornia. In view of the anniversary Of the first
great battle Of the series that finally won such
vast md rich cxpanse OF country, the following
account, from the New orleans Picdyine, Of the
death OF one of the veterans who participated in
II may be Of interest:
ON SUNDAY, APRIL9,
In this city there passed to his last rest man,
poor in this worlds goods and humble as to the
place he occupied in It's afiairs but who, never
theless, had an honorable connection with some
of the most notable events and distinguished per-
Sonsges Of the century; This man was Captain
Independence and the captor OF the celebrated
santa Anna, the dictator Of Mexico, who styled
himself the Napoleon of the West The Texas
war for liberty and the magnificent victory aud
final triumph gained BY tie Texans over the most
distinguished chief Mexico probably ever bad
make up some Of the most romantic and thrilling
chapters Of the Now World and need be only here
alluded to-
IN 1896 TEXAS, THEN A MEXICAN PROVINCE
was engaged in desperate struggle for indercnd-
ence and was then .resorted to BY many bold and
adventurous meu from the several States of the
Union, bent on helping the Texans in their fight
for liberty. Among these were some of the most
daring and heroic spirits whose names are found
in American annals, and with them was found
James Sylvester II is not precisely known Just
the Texas army in its desperate and brilliant cam
paign OF 1856 taking part in the battle of San ia
cinto on the 2lst of April of that year, when the
power of Mexico was completely crushed and the
Independence OF Texas as free and sovereign re-
public achieved
IN THAT BATrIR, ALMOST MIRACULOUS
Iat.
near the shores OfGalveston Bay, on bright April
day just forty six years ago less than eigpt hun
dred Texas met and defeated double their number
of the flower Of 1.-THE Mexican troops, commanded
in person by the President of their republic The
Texans lost only killed and % wounded while
208 wounded, and $50 prisoners, including the
COMMANDMENT chief, President Santa Anna, With
the capture of this distinguished prisoner Captain
Sylvester Is credited, not merely in common tradi
| ton, but In authentic history. Yoakum, in his
history of Texas, standard work on the subject
makes the following statement;
| THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE RATTLE
some of Colonel Burleson's men were out hunt
| ing the flglives, when one of the men saw II deer
on the prairie, looking intenty at some object in
| the tall grass. The man approached tho spot ana
| found lying In the grass u Mexican in common
sarh, but showing gold buttons In his finely en-
hroldered shirt. He took him to his companions,
| who conducted the captive back to the camp
| having no idea Of the rank Of their prisoner. The
prisoner complained Of his feet hurting him, and
| was permitted to get ON behind Joel Robinson
and ride into camp AS the company passed I'm
the Mexican prisoners exclaimed: II hesidcnie
| Inquiry was made of General Almonte, also a
| prisoner who announced that the one Just
| brought In was no less parsonage than
| SANTA ANNA HIMSELF.
| He was conducted to General Houston's camp and
| his own officers allowed To remain with him and
| his personal baggage restored The company who
| found him were James A. Sylvester Ia printer,
| who hud been taken II prisoner at Harrisburg
when the town was entered by the Mexicans, but
who, being detailed to drive cart drove into the
| Texan camp on the morning of the Goth; Joel W.
Robinson, A. II. Miles, and David Cole" James
Sylvester, after this decisive battle, continued to
serve IN tho Texas army, and was promoted to the
rank of captain for his services. He was in the
celebrated Mier expedition, In which a small
force of Texans, not 2i0 strong, in the winter
of 1912 and 1913 invaded Mexico, and were at
tackled and overcome Mt the town of Mier by Gen
eral Ampudia, with 1900 men.
THE TEXANS WERE SURROUNDED
and mostly captured, and moved toward the City
of Mexico. Oh the morning Of the 18th of Feb
| when they attempted to overpower the guards and
| make dash for freedom. Being entirely I'M
armed, the prisoners were soon recaptured, but not
until after number were killed and wounded.
The commander of the guard then resolved TO in
timidate the prisoners from further attempts to es-
| cape by shooting every tenth man. There were
| l76 Texans formed In line, and mug containing
l59 white beans and IT. black ones was passed
along the line, when each prisoner drew from II
life or death. Those who had drawn the seven
teen black beans were marched to little distance
from their comrades and shot TO death with mus
kerry, In the presence of their countrymen The
subsequent history Of these prisoners Oils an in
teresting chapter IN the chronicles Of Texas but
which can find no place In this brief sketch.