San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-10
TEXAS RIFLEMEN.

|
handling the rifle from boyhood up.
When Gen Cos, who was captured at San
Jacinto, was asked. when prisoner at Gal
weston, how he came to surrender fortress
with $500 regular troops at San Antonio to
less than 800 American civilians, without
discipline, and almost without officers, he re-
piled:
..Whv. sir, what could l do' We could
not even show finger but it was shot off.
Ny men could not stand it any longer. They
would have as soon fought the devil himself.
| had to surrender"
But of all the fights that ever | was in,
| give me the battle of Conception or, as it
was better known at the time, the battle of
the Horseshoe" 1t seems now to be quite
| forgotten at home, and was never known
abroad. The capture of the Alamo made so
much noise as TO completely swamp the glory
of my pet scrimmage.
The truth about the battle is this: Burlison,
with 500 men, had taken post on the San
Antoine river, some distance below the town,
and there lie lay waiting for re-enfOrcements
before he should attack a place that, de-
Tended by as many Americans as it had
MexicanS, would have been impreGnable.
1t was deemed advisable to advance nearer
upon the town, and accordingly volunteers
were called for to reconnoiter the country
about the enemy's position, and to search for
a safe and convenient spot for the army to
advance and encamp upon.
Ninety-two men stepped forward, and
among them. We were ordered to proceed
up the river until within six or seven miles
of San Antoine, and after selecting proper
spot to return before night. The army was
to march and take up their new position on
the next day. So off we started, every man
upon his own hook for although we had
those among us who afterwards distinguished
themselves as officers, yet with the exception
of an old Indian fighting general no one
assumed any particular command We had
special orders to avoid any collision with the
enemy, and to retreat upon the least symp-
tom of dvnger. As the men, however, were
fairly "froze for a fight" there was little
chance of their orders being Obeyed, if fort
une should send the Mexicans our way.
Not finding any within the prescribed dis
lance, we determined to advance nearer upon
the town, and pushed on until we found, near
the old Mission Conception, and three miles
below Bexar, as lovely a camp ground as
ever fell to the lot of weary soldiers. A bend
in the river, known as the Horseshoe" had
upon its shore piece of bottom land, above
which the prairie rose like a line of wall, oas to
form a perfect breastwork, and although the
latter was not more than four feet higher
than the bottom, yet, as it curved around on
either side until it met the river, better
position for infantry could hardly be conceived
Of Wood and water on the spot, the river
for our rear defense, and the prairie wall for
our front, no wonder that we gave a cheer
when we found it, and no wonder, either,
that we determined not to return to the main
badly, but to send back two messengers, and
for ourselves to camp for the night and await
Burlisons arrival
All notion of fighting passed away, and we
foolishly imagined that our present situation
was unknown to the enemy We were about
as wise as the silly bird that hides her head
in the bush, and thinks herself perfectly safe
until "a fire in the rear" convinces her too
late of her error We had not been at our
new camp more than an hour before Mexican
women began to come in, with their different
articles for sale. We bought of their wares,
and they Immediately after leaving camp
went up to Bexar and reported our exact
number found afterward that they gave
our force as ninety-twO, which it was at
the time, although two men were sent back
to Burlisou.
Night drew on. We made our fire, cooked
our supper, ate, drank, smoked and were
merry. A guard was set, and one by one the
rest departed for the land of Nod Although
camped on a bottom" slept like a top.
Towards morning my neighbor-I almost
said bed fellow, for our blankets almost
toUched-grasped my leg gently and woke
me up.
Hist" he said, in low voice.
What is itr' inquired l, in half asleep
and thoroughly cross tone.
Hush, for your ifeI" he replied, in q
whisper; listen, do you hear anything~
Like Bottom, was all ears in q moment
Above the noise made by the rushing waters
at our feet, heard mournful and dismal
sound, as like the low moan of a dog as any
thing could compare it to.
"Pshaw!" said l, ''its nothing but wolf
or hound"
YES" replied my companion, who was no
other than the noted Col. Bowie. Yes, you
are right; there are wolves about, but that
sound you hear is the creak of artillery
wheels"
Let us alarm our men instantly" said l.
mo such thing" he answered; keep still
those rascals are upon the opposite side of the
river, and they expect to surprise us. Let
them think so, if possible, until they make
the attack. That wheel has saved US You
do not hear it again, and you will not, for if
they have no means of quieting it, they'll
send back for grease. III bet that those
wheels are bound round with straw or rags
and that the horses feet are covered with
cloth or buckskin, 70 prevent any sound from