Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-25
TEXAS RIFLEMEN.

ence the texans were men, Tor the
most part, from the southern and west
ern states. They we're unerring marks.
men, and were accustomed to handling
the rife from boyhood up.
When Gen. Cos, who was captured
at San Jacinto, was asked, when q
prisoner at Galveston, how he came to
surrender a fortress with 2, 500 regular
troops at San Antonio to less than 300
American civilians, without discipline,
and almost without officers. he replied:
why, sir, what could l do? We
could not even show finger but it
was shot off. My men could not stand
it any longer. They would have as
soon fought the devil himself, l had
to surrender
But of all the fights that ever l 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 swamy the glory
of my pet scrimmage.
The truth about the battle is this:
Burlison, with 500 mon, had taken
post on the San Antoine river some
distance below the town. and there he
lay waiting for re-inforcements before
he should attack place that, defend :
ed by as many Americans as 1t had
Mexioans, would have been imperg-
nable
1t is deemed advisable to advance
nearer upon the town, and accordingly
volunteers were called for to recon-
Motor the country about the enemy's
position, and to search for safe and
convenient spot for the army to ad,
vance and encamp upon.
Ninety-two men stepped forward,
and l among them. We were ordered
to proceed up the river 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 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 In
dian 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 symptom of danger. AS the
men, however, we're fairly 'frozo for a
fight there was little chance of their
orders being obeyed, if fortune should
send the Mexicans our way.
mot finding any within the prescrib.
ed distance, 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 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 pral-
rie rose like line of wall, SO as to
form perfect breastwors, and al
though the latter was not more than
four feet higher than the bottom, yet,
as it curved around on either side un-
til it met the river, better position
for infantry could hardly be conceived
of. Wood and water on the spot, the
river for our rear defence, and the
prairie wall for our front. no wonder
that we gave cheer when we found
it, and no wonder, either, that we de-
termined not to return to the main
body, but to send back two messen-
gers, and for ourselves to camp for the
night and await Burlison's 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 afterwards
that they gave our force as ninety two,
which it was at the time, although two
men were sent back to Burlison.
Night drew on. We made our fire,
cooked oursupper, ate, drank, smoked
and were merry. A guard was on the
set. and one by one the rest departed
for the land of Nod. Although camp.
ed on BOTTOM slept like a top.
Towards morning my nelghbor--I al
most said bed fellow, for our blankets
almost touched--grasped my leg gent
ly and woke me up.
'HistH he said, in a low voice.
What is it2' inquired l, in half
asleep and thoroughly cross tone.
Hush, for your litel' he replied, in
q whisper; listen, do you hear any
thing?'
Like Bottom, I was all ears in q
moment. Above the noise made by
rushing water at our feet, I heard q
mournful and dismal sound, as like