The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-15
AN AMERICAN KNIGHT.
mr. NON HIS SPURS UNDER GEN. An
DREW JdCksOk.
sam Houston Resigned Honor and once
for the Woman He Loved to go Into
the Wilderness.

at the Horseshoe Bend. The battle mad
waged nercely all day, had gone against
them. But there was one spot, los
house built across @ ravlne, Whlch 'ley
still held, and from which they poured
Failing fire iupon their enemies. Gen.
Jackson called for volunteers TO assault
the place. No one moved for moment
and then q young ensign sprang forward,
calling upon his men 10 follow. wound
received earlier !n the action ala not de-
ter him from the purpose 10 LEAD TINS uea-
pcrate charge. When within nVe yards
OF the log house he received two balis
i'm the right shoulder. He would still nave
gone forward, but being unsupported 10y
his comrades. he was obliged 10 aDah-
don his brave attempt Ana YET not
wholly I'm vain had 1t been made mas
much as IL revealed what manner OF spirit
dwelt in this young Tennesseean.
Fifteen years have passed. In these
wears many a conflict had the young
knight as he passed to and fro in the
land, and many victory did he WIN.
His fellow-men knowing the worth oil
him. promoted him from one place OF
trust to another. Twice ne was elected
TO Congress, and then his fame havA
extended through wider borders. he was
chosen 20 nll the high and honorable
position of Governor of the state
IN these fifteen years he had been, as
In the years preceding. a fighter Perhaps
he had never heard or read In all MS
life q VOW of knighthood. but God, some
time. had written one upon his soul. And
when the times of trial came, times OF
conflict. and they followed each other
ever in quick succession, he tried to de-
cipher the writing In his heart, ana took
counsel only of il. AT the end Of these
years a trial came far greater than any
he had yet been called upon TO endure.
oN. SAM HousIoN's ROMANCE.
Soon after entering upon the Office of
Governor. he was married 20 a beauti-
full woman. lie had won the lady Of his
choice. When men strive for honOrs II is
that they may lay them at the feet OF
some lovely woman. In the tumult OF
battle, amid the hardshlps of the forced
march or. IT may be, in the slow anguish
of the hospital, along with the sense Of
duty done. comes the image OF fair
face 10 doubly sanctify ana sWeelen the
soldiers sacrifice. So, too, In an the
walks of civil life. woman's smile De-
guiles tho upward way, and is the last
and sweetest recompense. \ strange
thing now happened 10 this youthful Gov
eruor of "A great State. His wife, WINE
vet the blushing graces of a bride were
on her. drew him aside and told MIN
that she had never loved him; that the
influence Of parents unduly used had loic-
ed her to marry him; that not only she
ala not love him. but-can no hear IL and
live?-she loved another.
In one short instant the laurel upon ms
brows had been withered as by are, the
sun i'm the heavens darkened, and IN the
dim Night that was left ne saw a dead
world living about him. Then he recoV-
cred himself, and, with a white face and
without a word, staggered from the wo-
mans presence. When alone, he set him-
self TO dccipher the writing in his heart
lie did not take counsel Of interested
friends. but sought only to read arlgnt
what the finger Of the all-chivalric had
written for his guidance. No one can
ever know the depth and bitterness or the
anguish that came 10 this man when he
AT length perceived all that the writing
required OF him.
Ne know only the result. The next
dav. 10 the CONSERVATION Of his friends
and without a word of explanation, ne
rosirned his high Office. Then. 10 COM
nlote the confusion of his friends. he I'M
mediately went away into scif-imposed
exile among the Indians I'm the Wilds OF
Western Arkansas. lie bad resolved thal
his wife should be free 10 marry the man
She loved. To bring this about ne must
desert her and so furnish cause Tor a de
,,orce This plan, which he deliberately
executed. involved the complete sacrifice
OF every worldly prospect and what Wa
far harder TO bean the alienation ana
afst,,ist Of many of those who had hth'r-
10 stood by him and had watched WIN
nride his honorable career. They could
,ot then understand how when ne was
eliminated he answered not again. now
his lips were sealed IN loyalty 10 the Wo-
man ne had loved. In an the annals of
,hivalrv / can well believe there was
never a VOW taken and pressed TO victory
more knightly than this Of thine gallant
sam Houston!
is rRTrDoM's CAUSE.
He who had thrown himself into the
breach AT the Horseshoe Bend could not
ms an exile among a different people, es-
came the command which had been laid
upon him TO fight. soon pcrcelFihs now
ne Indians were dcfrauded by the agents
of the government. he proceeded TO WASH
iueton and so champoned their cause be-
fore the President that i've OF the oliehu-
ing agents were removed and other steps
taken to remedy the evils he complained
Of.
Texas. then a province of McXico. Here
he found n handful of American colon-sia
eneaeed I'm q struggle with Mexico for
constitutional liberty. 1t was am Ola
epcctacle. that of the strong expressing
the weak. and one that stirred his heart
more than anything else could. lie
straightway Joined himself TO the small
[ body of would-be frecmen. And when D
length Texas was invaded by large
army led by the Mexican Dictator Santa
Anna. sam Houston was chosen TO lead
the Httle band who had gathered TO de-
fcnd their homes
I'm March 1896. two disasters occurred
which destroyed half the Texan army
and filed the hearts OF tine few who re-
maincd with gloom yet never with fear
These were tne massacre, after a most
heroic defence OF the lN men who had
held the Alamo. and the butchery of Col
/ Fannin's regiment at Goliah after 10 bad
surrendered. To oppose the eight or ten
| thousand Invaders there were now only
/ about 800 men, but they were Americans
and were commanded by one who knew
| when and how 10 strike.
Fortunately for the Texan cause Santa
Anna divided his force into three parts
which he intended should sweep across
| the State from west to east ia parallel
! columns, carrying death 10 every male
J inhabitant thereof, and so. he hoped. for
ever destroying all opposition TO Mexican
authority therein. IL so happened that
! the central division. led by himself, sue
ceeded in penetrating much further east
] I..If