San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-08-15
TEXAN HEROlSM
AS DISPLAYED AT G0LlAD
AND AT SAN JACINT0.
The Murfreesborough, CTenn.) Mon
itor Gives a Contemperaneous
and Exciting Account of
the Memorable Events
of 1886.

ing the readers of the LIGHT a con-
temporaneOus account OF the siege
and fall of the Alamo, as published
in the MurfreesbOrougi (Tennes-
see) Monitor, in 1886, in which
there are some material differences
with the account that is given in
the published histories of Texas.
In this article | propose to give,
from the same authority, what it
tells of the massacre at Goliad, and
of the great battle of San JacintO,
which Overcame the Mexican rule,
and made Texas a free and indie
pendent state.
OF the Goliad massacre the Mon
itor is very vague and misleading.
All it says is that there is a rumOr
of the tragedy but there are rea-
sons to discredit it, and it hopes
that it is not true. This was on
April 26, 1886, and it evidently did
not know that on March 21th pre-
vious Fannin and his troops, hav-
ing surrendered as prisoners of
war and entitled to honorable pro-
lection, were taken out and shot
down like dogs. This is Surpris-
ing, but perhaps the news of San
Jacinto's victory may have come
almost simultaneously and the
lesser item was lost in the greater
event.
The next reference to the Texas
campaign is a letter from General
Sam Houston dated March 81,
1886 in which he details his move
mepts, showing that he is in pur-
suit of Santa Anna. To this letter
he adds a characteristic postscript
as follows:
any spies have just returned
and report the enemy in a few
miles of San Felippe,s 800 or 1900
men, and so cavalry. We will
whip them soon. S. H.
Sam Houston meant what he
said and what is more he did it
and did it most effectually, for in
that whipping the power of Next
co over Texas was entirely lost,
and the Napoleon of,the West, San
ia Anna, himself lay a suppliant
for life and liberty to the Texan
hero.
The Monitor of May Is, 1886 has
vague news of San Jacinto battle
as gathered from the Nashville
banner, but it adds this proclama-
ton that gives the key note of
victory.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE I
ARMY April 23rd 1886.
To the people toward Nacogdoches ;
We meu santa Anna on the 2Ist.
inst. We attacked him with 600
men. We had 100 infantry and
two howitzers. We entirely rout-
ed his whole force, killed half his
men and took the rest prisoners.
Santa Anna and his principal Off
GERS are prisoners.
The history of war does not fur
nish parallel to the battle. We
had six killed and twenty wound
ed. | have not time to send full
report Il will do that in the
course of tomorrow.
/ again call upon my fell
low citizens to come to the
field. Let us fall on and
conquer the remaining troops and
our country free. Turn out at once
and let us finish the work.
II. J. RUsK, Secretary of War"
81 certify the above to be a true
copy of the express just received
from the Secretary of War who
was himself in the battle.
A. H. HOUSTON.
To j. r. DUNN.
The Nashville Banner of MAY Is,
1886, published a letter from
General Gaines to Governor Can
non OF Tennessee, giving similar
particulars and all is reprinted by
the Monitor. In this letter Gener-
al Gaines says:
"The advance corps consisting
of eleven hundred men, were
half, or nearly half of them
killed and the remaining hall
were taken prisoners, includ-
ing the president himself (Santa
Anna with his staff and most OIL
his principal officers, and that he
Santa Anna has declared himself
ready and willing instantly to &C,
knowledge the independence o.
Texas"
This authoritative and definite
news was the cause of great reioic
ing in Tennessee. A paper is gen
orally the reflex of popular senti
ment, and some idea of public feel
ing existing may be found in tn,