Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1882-06-01
Santa Annals Captor.
STORY OF AN IMPORTANT AND sTRIK-
ING EVENT IN texas HISTORY,

The Galveston Nee1s, commem
rating the anniversary of the natal
day OF Texas independence, April
2l, 1885 published a number of
historical statement. gathered from
various sources, and. not to be
| found. in the ordinary records of
Texas history. Among these is a.
personal narrative by the late C.pt.
James A. Sylvester who recently
died, in New Orleans, of the special
| incidents of the capture by him of
| Gen. Santa AEna, after the battle
Of San Jacinto. 1t is here present
ed: d
On the morning Of the 22d Of
April, 1863, news came to camp
that some of our cavalry had sur
rounded Gen. Santa Anna and
portion of his officers i'll mette of
timber, and called for reinforce,
nents in order to capture them.
Col. Ed. Burleson, commanding
the First regiment, called for vol
unteers, when number of soldiers,
forming the different commands,
immediately y vol lunte teere d, and
mounting sucL horses rs were under
their control, Set OF in search Of the
Mexican chef. After marching
from the camp near Lynch's Ferry
to Vince's Bayou, where the bridge
burnt recently by Deaf Smith i'm
I peded our further progress, and,
besides not knowing where our
services were required, Col. Burl-
eson called a halt Some of the
party were anxious to proceed by
tording or swimming the bayou,
while others thought It useless to
proceed further alter an ignus fat
seas, when Gel. b. ordered me to
take charge Of such as were dispos-
ed to return tc camp, and tie 9th
ers proceeded toward the Brazos
in search of Mexican soldiers. The
squad under my command, pro-
ceeding back to camp, left the
main road and took down the bay
ou. We had not proceeded far be-
fore some of them proposed &c skirt
the timber in search of game. /
\ took the straight direction, prom
). ising to await their arrival at IA GER
tain point. Leaving the party,
pursuing my course alone, [ sud-
denly saw an object coming toward
me near ravine. | Immediately
turned and made an effort to at
tract their attention When ]
looked for the object again it had
. vanished. Riding in the direction
.. whence it was seen l rode nesrly
on the figure ofseme thing cover
ed with Mexican blanket, which
proved to be Mexican. ! order
ed him to get up, which he cid
: very reluctantly, and he immedi-
| ately caught hold of my hand and
: kissed it several times, and asked
!, for Gen. Houston and inquired if
he had been killed. | replied that
, he was only slightly wounded. and
was in camp. l then asked who
he. was, and he replied that he was
q common soldier. / remarked the
/ fneness Of his shirt, although he
tried to conceal it, and told him he
:. was no common soldier If SO, he
must be thies. He then stated
n that he was an aid Of Gen. Don
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anira. To
affirm his assertion, he drew from,
his pocket an official note from
; Gen. Urea, dated on the Braz IS
informing Santa Anna that he
t wo lld be able to form junction a
or near Galveston, and should im-
|, mediatcly take MP line of march tc
Valasco. / was satisfied at the
time that in his official capacity O
aid such pape. might have been
!. retained by him. AT that time +:
portion of the squad came up, am
. as near as I CAT. irecollect, consisted
of Messrs. Miles, Verlnil1fon ane
: planning very much of fatigue, ASK
ed to ride part II the way.
o think Mr.. Miles proposed to dis
mount and walk to point of tim
: ber, while we with Santa Ann
Ie mounted on his horsel went rount
the ncdu Oh inc TtSlne. V-ueu w
!, again formed a junction Mr.: Mile
! requested him to dismount, whic
n he did very reluctantly. | the
took him behind me, and we a
h proceeded TO- camp, where / lei
= him with the camp guard. Il
. was immediately recognized by hi
10 own soldiers, who were prisoner
,r in the camp, and sent to Ger
= Houston's headquarters. When
returned to camp (being sent fe
it by Gen. Heuston) [ was ordered
ie report to Gen. Houston in ,persol
1 proceeded to the place "a wide
spreading oak-and on presentin
40 myself to the General (Houston
ss. Gen. Santa Anna Immediately roG
a and came forward and embrace
at inc, and tuning to Gen. Houste
al and officers, returned me than.
v Tor my Kindness and told me l W;
10 his savior.
nd - HI
- TESTIMONY OF SAM HOUSTON.
-. 49, ~