The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-12-13
fl STORY CORRECTED.
A Few Inaccuracies In the History
OF the
Mexican Invasion Set Right by One
Who Experienced.
The Hardships OF the Attack

DALLAS, Dec. 7.-[Editor HERALD.l-T
"Texian" newspaper of Austin is publish
ing historical lecture on the archive war
and events of 1912, by Judge Joseph Lee
an honorable citizen of Austin since Its
foundation as town In 1889, The lecture
was delivered before the Library associa-
ton several years since, but is now pub
lished for the first time. That judge Lee
is incapable of intentional misststement on
this or any other subject l am perfectly
sure, after an acquaintance covering all
these fot ty -four years. But his memory is
at fault in the following statements. lie
says; ,o,. Mia, ;,.5od
Texas, and on the 9th day of March, Gen
eral Vssouez, at THE head of 1900 regular
troops entered and sacked San Antonio
lust at the break OF day. The district
court being In session at that time he cap
tured Judge Andrew Hutchinson and
other officers of the court, together with
many prominent citizens OF Bexar county.
A gentleman by the name OF Genner; es-
capped from the city lat snnrise) and being
we'll mounted, reached Austin about dusk
the same day. That night the news spread
with photographic speed. Runners were
sent to every settlement, and by the morn.
ing of the 10th Austin contained 1900 orr ,OOO
citizen soldiers. But Notwithstanding the
promptness with which the citizens rushed
10 the defense of the capital, the executive
seemed TO be much alarmed, and in the
evening bills were posted in and about the
CITY advising families to retire, and an or
der was issued forbiddng the soldiers 10
leave the city. Notwithstanding the order
many left that night for the front, In the
meantime preparations were being made
fur the abandonment of the city by the
various departments, boxing up and stor-
inc the archives, and in some instances
bnryipg the most worthless. The next
morning, the executive with the heads OF
departments and officials rode out OF the
CITY for the lower country"
The first paragraph is wrong IN each state
m ant. General Vasquez did not surprise
san Antonio at daylight, but camped with
fires abIaze on the bluff of the Leon creek,
eight miles west during the preceding
night. The writer was one OF seven who
made the circuit of his encampment during
the night. He advanced next day, halted
and about 10 a. M, March 9Th mot the 9th
as stately sent in Colonel Cafasco, under
fl ,g, demanding the surrender OF the town.
An answer was promised at p; m, Prlor
IN that hour a council of our officers deter
mined 10 eyacuate the place, our force, I'M
der flags, being l07 men and boys, hastily
collected, while that of Vasquez was 400
infantry, cavalry and artillery. as we left
the town on the east Vasquez entered from
ths west. There was no hight
ING Inc nor captures either way. We
feil back to Flores Rancho, on the Guada-
lupe, and from that point Henry Clay IA
Wis bore the news to Austin. Before REIN
iorcements arrived and on the eighth day,
after partially sackiDg the place, Vasquez
retired into Mexico, but was not followed.
/ was participant in oil that happened
and was q youthful lieutenant under the
aallent CANAAN James Ii. Callahan, whose
name pertains TO the beautiful county
bearing u. -. H. ;,.iL
President Houston and his cabinet, Judge
Lee, an eye witness, is doubtless correct
The facts have always been 80 understood.
Rnt nrohabIy owing to an omission OF prrt
of his manuscript or transposition OF pages,
he ia made to fix the new seat OF govern
ment at once in Washington and thence to
disnatch the expedition for the removal
of The archives, which produced the Ar
chiye War" so-called, at Austin: Inc
fact is that tho president first March,
1912 established the governmental Hous'
ton, had called session OF congress mere
in June, and later in the season transferred
the government to Washington. From
there, in January, lS43, as nsrrated by
Judge Lee, the archive expedition took
place, The inaccuracy consists in stating
This affair as almost Immediately succeed
ing the abandonment of Austin, and omit
ting the temporary occupation Of Houston.
The daylight surprise of San Antonio,
and the capture of the district court, law
vers and citizens, transpired much as
Judge Lee says, but on the 18th Of Septem.
her 1912, not on the 9th OF March, as
stated by him, the Mexican commander
being General Adrian VOL, and not Vas.
ouez, as he says. The captured district
Judge was Anderson mot Andrew HUT
ccbinson. One of the first volunteers on
The ground, a lieutenant in the victorious
battle with VOL on the 18th, and in the
pursuit until the last sklrmish and final
return from the Arroyo Honda, the facts
remain vivid with the writer.