Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-01-15
BATTLE or SAN IIr,sn

How Santa Anna was capsu,.s
isoencss OK the war for q.
encs Of Texas. neql
Cincinnati Commercial dasetN
The Commercial Gazetss !.
pleasure the other day Of a. sa.I
with an old gentleman whoss,
cences Of the war for the ins.s.s,
of the Lone Sta- state, in wbiaI
an active participant, are SO b,;ss.
vivid, and told in such a .briaI,
sprightly style, that they ans vsl,
partial reproduction for The a..
naent OF our readers, with thai 4.
gard to the economy Of space ~,
necessarily deprive them Of msnv !,
of detail.
Luclen Horson, now eighty-tvoI
of age, and spending a few da,,
city, was born and reared and eda,
n Geauga County, Ohio Anon,
schoolmates were David Tod. a
Pease and Sebury Ford, all d
became governors of their state.
+ lived some years in this city.
1884 went to Texas. He took ~
the struggle for u right to live
earned the right at the risk Of ii.
aud since then has held it. Whm
representative met Mr.. Housr
found him decorated with a M
the Texas Veterans, in honor oftIs
and very willing TO talk about h
Having been identified with n.
Mr.. Hopson was one to warmlrk
come to Texas the volunteers wbs
down there from here, and he
them. They arrived in Texas
form, splendidly armed and umit1
bearing a large and beautiful ban,
silk that had been presented by
OF this city. 1t bore an embre
figure of the Goddess Of Liberty]
size of a woman, and the legend.
tory or Death" When presented
with great ceremony, q lady MAJ
speech OF presentation, and plaoe
glove upon the spear-end OF The !
and the man who received it, kps
upon one knee, declared that il
be defended with knightly honOr
courage. Ii was under this bead
banner Nh. Hopson, then "a we'd
age, q man ofgood size, powerful M
keen eyes, INJURED to fatigue, and !
ably full of courage and enthuS1
swore to aid in driving the hated \
err OF Mexico out of Texas. lie
at Nagadoches, but most Of bis n
was rendered as scout and spy on
back. But he participated IN the
tie of San Jacinto, where thetei
: slaughter of the Mexicans occurred
after that stood guard over Santa a
General Houston, by afeint at \
treat, had induced Santa Anna 4
vide his powerful army OF 14,0Oel
into three commands, In order to 4
the retreat of the little band Of Al
ans and slaughter them as s|
Alamo. The three divisions wers|
widely separated, when, on the ~
April, 1886, the Americans, d
Houston, only GOO or 700 strong, |
upon the main body intrenched d
Santa Anna.
Mr.. Hopson puts the strength Of
Americans at 673. General Hon.
in his speech before congress, plsa
at 1888. But Mr.. Hopson explains
the general didn't go into details
the number who held back on as
Of the appalling odds of the enemy
hind breasts works. Itseems that
eral Rush secretary OF war, who
present, warned them of the odds
gave those who chose to shirk a q
to do so. Some did back out, but
of them We're made available as |
serve. The grand assault upon
enemy's works was made at high !
and was in the nature of a surprs
the Mexicans did not think the Al
cans would dare TO charge against
odds. But charge they did
over the breastworks they went
fearfully Slaughtered the enemy :
loss to themselves Of only eight
and twenty four wounded. 1T I
that the first yolley OF the Mexican
1red too high and the second to'
and by that time they were not i
dition to shoot any moreto speak
and the desperate 600 were in the
shooting with rifles and pistols,
ing, stabbing with swords, bayonei
those terrible bowie knives. The
! cans were stampeded and slaugl
like sheep. Seven hundred were /
and as taany more wounded Z
many escaped. When Santa Ann
captured the scene around him wa
rife. Remember the Alamo" wa
the cry, and the Mexican chief
life was in desperate jeop
A lot of officers closed around
and protected him at the risk OF
lives. These, In turn, were comp,
surrounded by the men, some Of
stuck ct Santa Anna With their 1
over the heads and shoulders OF CHI
GERS. One officer had his clothing
the skin Of his arm cut through
last the men we're quoted by the
ment that after General Houstou
interviewed the prisoner they coul
him. Once in the presence Of Hou
as a prisoner Of war, Santa Anna
comparatively safe, for he immedi
agreed to all terms.
Mr.. Hopson overheard the conf
ton and gives an interesting accon
it. All that Santa Anna had ID
was, Isl. generate" "Yes gene
Said Houston: ''Do you acknowl
the independence OF TexasT'
OIL Sthtfait. y
DO you agree to pay all the dan
and expenses of the warp
Isl, generate" 3
DO you agree'to leave all the !
der onsthis sideof the Bfazos?R
Isl, generale.'
dc yon agree to cause all your Y
to evacuate Texas immediately
Isl, generate"
Will you send yonr orders BY
officers, accompanied by oursb q
that this is carried outesa Ae2
Isl, generate"
These orders were carried out, "
not before the divisions had effec
junction in such q force as to be
powerful for the Americans
Some of the Mexican generals wa
dlgnant TO the point 81 5isobedb
but theygwere oycrruled. G 4
Mr.. Hopson describes the "pluI
referred to as covering q five-acrel
as high as one could reach. 1t 90
ted OF All sorts Of personal propel
bought IN Mexico and stolen In y
The Mexicans had come TO occupy
land--to stay. Their plumber did