, 1884-08-08
nAfIsAS 5AdS1p. ]
How Santa Anna Was Captured and
Said Isl, G~enerale."
An Aged Texas Warriors Reminis-
- enees Of the War for In
dependence OF IA Lone
a star state. -
LISihehaati cqssaefrsassttsl

O.. .L IQlICulldLl 1puHItHNtAl 1-AltkltI|
The Commercial oazetn, had tho plsasars
the other day Of an Interview with an old
gentleman whose pminiscences OF the war
for the Independence Of the Lone Star state.
in which he was at active participant, are so
bright and vivid, and bold IN suchia bright
and sprightly style, that they are we'll worth
partial reproduction for the cnteftaiiment OF
our readers. with that due regard TO the
economy Of space that must necessarily do
prive them Of many points Of detail.
Mr., Lucien Hopson. now ~ years OF age,
aud spending a few days In this city, was
bonn and reared and educated In Geauga
county,. Ohio. Among his schoolmAtes
were David Tod. Calvin Peass and Sebury
Ford, all II whom became governors Of their
state. He lived some years in this city, and
in ISL went to Texas. He took part in the
struggle for n right % live there, earned the
right at the risk OF his life, and since then
has held IL When our representative met
Mr.. Hopsm yesterday he found him decor
Ated with a badge d the Texas Veterans, in
honor Of the day, and very willing 10 talk
about Il.
Having been identified with the city, Mr..
Hopson was ono 20 warmly welcome TO Texhs
the volunteers who went down there from
here, and he joined them They arrived in
Texas in fine form, splendidly armed and
uniformed, bearing a large and beautiful
banner Of silk that had beon presented by
ladies OF this city. 1t bore an embroidered
hgurB Or tie Goddess Of Liberty, lfe-size Of a
woman, and the legend, Victory or Death
When presented here, with great ceremony,
a lady made the speech Of presentation, and
placed her glove upon the fspear-end of the
staff aud the man who received il, lmeeling
p one knee, declared tina it should be de
Tended With knightly honor and courage.
IL was under his beautiful hanner
that Mr.. HopsoD, then "a years
Of age, a mar OF good size, powerful frame,
keen eyes, Injured 10 ~fatigue, and probably
full Of courage and enthusiasm, swore to aid
in driving the hated power Of Mexico out Of
Texas. He joined at Nagadoches, but most
Of his service was rendered as scout and SOY
on horseback. But he participated in he
battle Of Ban Jacinto. whore the tarribls
slaughter Of the Mexicans occurred, and after
that stood guard over Santa Anna. Gen.
Houston, by a feint at a retreat, had induced
Santa Anna 10 divide his powerful army OF
1900 men into three commands, in order 10
cut of the retreat Of the little band Of Amefi-
ans and slaughter them as at the Alamo.
The three divisions were thus widely separ-
ated, when, on the 2lst OF, April, is36 The
Americans, under Houston, only COO or 100
strong, came upon tho main body intrenched
under Santa Anna.
Mr.. Hopson puts tho strength OF tho
Americans at GT3. Gen. Houston, in his
speech before congress, placed II at 7s3.
But Mr.. Hopson explains that the general
didn't 60 into some details about the mum
bar who held back on account OF the appall-
ing odds Of the enemy behind breastworks.
II seenni that Gen. Rush, secretary Of war.
who was present., warned them OF the odds,
and gave those who chose 10 shirk "a chance
b do so. Some did back out, but most OF
them were made available as a reserve.
Tho grand aqsauit upon the cnemy's works
was niade at high noon, and was in tho ma
ture OF Il surprise, as the Mexicnns did not
think the Americans would dare to charge
against such odds. But charge they did and
over the breastworks they went and fearfully
slaughtered the enemy, with a loss to them
selves Of only eight killed md twenty-f four
wounded. IL seoma that tho first volloy OF
the Mexicans was Aired too high and tho
second too low, and by that time they we're
not in condition ~ shoot any more to speak
about, and the desperate 600 wore In their
midst shooting with rifles and pistols, slash
ing and stabbhg with swords. bayonets and
those terrible bowie knives. Tho Mexicans
were s~tampeded and slaughtered like sheep
Seven hundred were killed, and as many
more wounded and about US many escaped
When Santa Anna was captured the scene
around him was terrific. "Remember tho
Alamo was still tho cry, and the Mexican
chieftain's life was in desperate jeopardy. A
lot OF officers closed around him and pro
tected him at the risk OF their lives. These,
In turn, were completely surrounded by tho
men, some OF whom struck at Santa Anna
with their knives over the heads and shout
ders OF the officers. Ono officer had his cloth
ing and the skin OF an arm cut through.
AT last the men were quoted by
the statement that after Gen
Houston had inter yic.ved tho rrisoner they
could XIII him ohcs lin Tie presence Of
Houston, as n prisoner OF war, Santa Anna
was comparatively safe, for he Immediately
agreed 10 all terms.
Mr.. Hopson overheard the conversation
and gives an interesting account OF it. An
that Santa Anna bad to say was, eSi, gem
erale,' yes, general Said Houston:
do you acknowledge the Independence Of
Texasrn fIl laina
@Si. generae.p
"Do you acknowledge the Rio Grande as
the boundary between Texas and Mexicor'
"si, generate"
"Do you agree to pay all the damages and
EXPENSE Of the war;
81, generate"
DO you agree to leave all the 'plunder on
THIS side Of the Brnxosf7
1Si, genonle."
apo you agree to cause all your troops to
evacuate Texas immediately
Isl, generate.
"Will you send your orders by your Off
cers, accompanied by ours, to see that this Is
carried outf
Isl, generate. - rAa- "a "a
These orders were carried out, though not
before the divisions Ind effected "A junction
in such force us TO be too powerful for the
Americans still. some OF tho Mexican gen
erals were Indignant to the point Of disobedt
ence, but they were overruled.
Mr. HopSon describes the aplmder' 10.
ferred to as covering a hve-aere field as high
Us one could reach. II consisted OF all sorts
Of personal properties, bought in Mexico and
stolen in Texas. The Mexicans had come to
occupy he iand-to stay. Their plumber
did stay the only Mexicans who stayed