Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-11
THE FATHER OF GRANT POST.
"reminiscences of the Mexican War by an
Old Veteran.
THE CAPTURE OF GENERAL SANTA AANNA.
Thrilling Story OF Great Battle
Told in Mode Way by Partic.
ipant - Victorious Against
Great Odds


ters to the members OF the post, recalling old
times and reciting events in which he took
part many years ago DR.. r. M Stone has re-
ceived one of the letters, and has allowed ex-
tracts TO be made from it, MIR Kettler de-
Sired that correction be made to the hist
OF Grant post, which appeared in THE BEE
Several weeks ago. where it was stated that
MIR. Ketter had beer engaged in the Indian
wars Of the frontier.
After requesting the correction the letter
continues as follows:
81 served my adopted fatherland, arriving
In America May 3, 1884, in three wars but
neverenlisted Ia the regular army, and was
never in an Indian war on the frontier. |
am proud, my dear comrades, of my past life
In war as In peace, proud that / am one of
those who made Texas a free state, after
wards a state of the union; proud to be one
Of the $50 who defeated the 5000 Moxicans
ON April 81, lS36at San Jacinto, making Gen
eral san Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
prisoner. AS an old soldier Yourself Won
will undoubtedly read with pleasure the de-
scripton OF n battle fought nearly ffty-five
years ago, yet clear before my eyes.
Alamo and Golliad were taken few
weeks before the battle, its garrison cruelty
massacrcd aud shot. The Texas con
Sress put General Sam Houston at the
head of its forces, and he Immediately
organized an army of raw militia poorly
armed equipped and provsioned, but brave
and determined a few DAYS before the bat
Tie, Gene eral Houston retired behind the Buff
talo bayou, about twenty miles from where
the city of Houston now stands Santa
Anna, with his forces of about four thousand
men, occupied the little village of Harris
burg, on the south bank of the Buffalo BAYOU
"On April Is, Houston, having learned that
Santa Anna mad left the village and moved
toward Galveston bay crossed the bayou and
followed the enemy. The next day General
Houston addressed his army, his bows, in n
warm speech. saying that we should remem-
Der Alamo and GOlliad and give the Mexicans
HI and d--nation.'
"We marched about twelve miles in the
rear OF the Mexican army, and by fine
Btrageuc movement cut off Santa Anna
and his advance from the main BODY which
was coming up from the Brazos, and thereby
enclosed Santa Anna between Galveston bav.
the Buffalo bayou, and II small stream called
the VinCes bayou
"On the Goth our command encamped on n
fine spot on Buffalo bayou in sight of the en-
envy In our front was an eminence on the
right was Colonel Burleson, Colonel Sher-
man was on the left; the cavalry, commanded
by Mirabeau Lamar, was in the center. Our
artillery, consisting Of two pieces which we
called the Twin Sisters, was under com
mand of Colonel Neill.
Tue Mexican army, occupying the open
, prairie in front Of us, had thrown up breast.
lworks and in the evening fired several shots
Sit ns'which did no injury
1.-The 2lst Of April opened clear and bright,
no clouds being visible. AT noon a council of
war was held. Milard Sherman, Burleson,
Sommervile and Bennett were present II
was resolved to attack the army instanter
and the celebrated Deaf Smith was sent to
burn the bridge across Vinces bayou in the
rear of both armies.
The MeXcans, as was their custom were
enjoying their siesta and were not aware of
our approach.
General Houston formed his Texans into
line under cover of the forest so that the
Mexicans would not discover our movements
Moving to the front our artillery was under
command of Colonel Hockey; Colonels
Burleson and Sherman and Millard were in
command OF the infantry and Colonel Mira
beau Lamar of the cavalry. The Twin
Sisters opened on the Mexicans with Crane
and canister with the most deadly effect
and we footmen, charging at double-ouick
gave the Mexicans, as Houston had told us
h IL and d--nation,' clearing their breast
works and pouring u terrible volley in to their
ranks The battle was turned into n perfect
rout, the enemv's artillery captured, histen
and equipage ritled, while the Mexicans flew
IN all directions, into the timber over the
prairie and into the bayou where they
drowned.
Our loss was very small only about forty
being killed and wounded, while the enemy
lost about seven hundred killed three hun.
.dred wounded and eight hundred taken pris-
Oner.
"The flying Mexicans were pursued.
One squad discovered what they thought
was common soldier, who, upon
their approach. fell down in the grass, cover
ing himself with blanket. Our boys sus-
pected something as he had clean shirt on
made of fine material, and he was ordered to
arise. When questioned h c said he was an
aide on Santa Annals staff. He was escorted
to General Houston's tent, which was sur
Founded by Mexican prisoners. When our
rliC.N : I,,
leans, who had been lying in the grass, arose,
dohed their somoreros and shouted, 'E,l Presi-
denten
ut has often been said that Santa Anna
was severely wounded at this battle. but this
Is mist1ke, While he was president be-
tween the year 1896 and lS47, he visited the
fortress of San Juan d. Ulloa, near Vera Cruz,
and by the explosion of a cannon, lost his leg
When we defeated him at Buena Vista, Feb
ruhry %, lS4i, he deserted his carriage and
followed his army on horseback to San Louis
de Potosi but left his cork leg in the arriage.
IL is now in the memorial hall at Springfield,
ILL.,"
The letter then goes on 10 relate several
other incidents in the writer's personal expe-
rience. Among them is the following:
when we Were discharged, believe in June
or July, 1886, five us, two Germans and thre
Americans, concluded TO see little more of
Texas before we returned to the states. so we
mounted our mus stangs, which we had cap
tured in the battle of San Jacinto and started
out provided with plenty of aTunition and
other articles. To give history of our trip
would take up too much time Lost on the
big prairie, believe between the Rio Grande
and Colorado rivers often misled
and fooled by the 'fata morgana,,
no roads, nothing to shoot 10 water, nothing
TO eat except the craw-fishes which came out
OF the ground every morning, we and our
mustangs grew so weak that we concluded
20 surrender to the Indians, whom we had
seen Tor several days camping few miles
south of us. The Conan c hes, numbering
about eight hundred in all received us very
kindly. We lived with them about ten
months in Texas and Now Mexico, and dur
ing the winter months of 1867 in the noun
tain caves of Arizona, during which time we
killed about three hundred buffaloes. we
returned in the spring of 1887 to Texas, and
when about hundred miles from San An
tonic we left them, ran away in the night,
and arrived next day about 4 p. m at San
AntOnion
The site of the Old Aniersonville prison
has been purchased by the grand army post
OF Macon, Ga. About eighty acres are COM
prised IN the site, which contains the stock
ade, Notifications and rihe-pits OF the historic
prison. Early in the spring the work of con-
Nerting the place into national grand army
park will be begun. The entire area will be
surrounded by l00-foot driveway and a
wide avenue Will lead 10 the railroad sta
tioni walks, drives, fountains and beds of |