Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-04-21

[Fo-the Kentuckian.

|
toric day with Texans, made so by
the fate of sThe Alamo" Soon after
this event another disaster to the
Texan army came, that caused terror
to every heart. On March 9th, 1896,
Palm Sunday, Fanuin and his brave
men were ali marched out and shot,
near Goiad-3S5 prisoners OF
war, butchered in cold blood.
Houston had been recently elected
Commander in-Chief Of the Texas
army, and arrived at Gonzales on
March 18th, and learned of the fall
OF The Alamo" Prior to leaving
Washington he had made up his
mind to fall back east of the Brazos
river. Gen. Houston realized some
thing of how unpopular this move
would be, crossing the Gaudaloupe,
the Colorado and Brazos rivers, leav'
ing large share of the most beautl-
full and fertile portion of Texas in the
ruthless hand Of the enemy. But
Houston loved Texas, and was en-
| dowed with powers and traits OF a
great Commander. He was branded
as coward and as a traitor. His pa
triotism helped him endure all these
| innuendoes. Soon after the army
arrived at Harrisburg Deaf Smith
brought into camp Mexican Courier
captured by him, and papers were
found on his person (dispatches) from
Filisola, who commanded a division
of the Mexican army, and this was
the first news the Texans had of the
presence of the Mexican president in
the field Houston marched from
Harrisburg across and down the San
Jacinto river to the mouth, and on
this march his combative nature was
tested, as we'll as his spirit of forbear-
anCe. Col. Sidney Sherman,who com
handed the Second Regiment, had
left no stone unturned during the
march from the Colorado river even
to the 10Th of April, the day before
the battle, to undermine and destroy
the power of Houston. At such
time when homes were being left to
the enemy, by this retreat of the
Commander, these moves were pop
ular and well received, because of the
| frenzied condition of the mind of the
people at the time against
Houston. You kind reader can I'M
derstand when you remember that
the Texas soldier was a citizen, and
the citizens home was being left to
an enemy void of all principles of
right and justice. A member also
of his staff was conspicuous in this
movement against the Commander.
This latter was ]. Fl. Perry, who af-
forwards was prominent during 1857
as a lecturer in New York and New
Jersey on this great battle, one of the
decisive battles of the world. During
his lecture course he was the Rev. }.
H. Perry, of the Methodist church.
| may say he tried in his lectures to
reflect upon the patriotism, courage
and manhood of Gen. Sam Houston.
In order to bring clearly before your
mind some of the great points IN
Gen. Houston's character, it will be
pardonable in me to tell you some
thing of j. H. Perry and Col. Sidney
Sherman: Perry came to the army
after it had crossed the Brazos river
with letters from President Burnett
to Gen. Houston, recommending
him as graduate CT West Point.
Houston Immediately appointed him
member of his staff. In his lecture
he claims his patriotism was the fac
tor that caused him to join the Texan
army. Perry came from New Orleans
to Texas. In that city he tried to sell
free Mulatto girl, whom he had
brought from the north, into slavery.
He was living also with woman sup
posed not to be his wife, in New Or
leans. Col. Burlerson refused to allow
him to drill his regiment, for the rea-
sons as above stated.
A few days before the battle of San
Jacinto Gen. Houston had ordered
that no letter be sent out of the camp
until inspected by him. An express
was about to leave with mail from
the army. In the mail was letter
from Maj. Perry sealed. Houston
opened the letter aad found that 1T
contained the grossest defamations OF
himself. Between Harrisburg and
San Jacinto, Perry was captured by
Capt Barnes, having deserted the
Texas army and doubtless communi-
Gated with the enemy, for he WAS dis
guised, and the caparison of his horse
also changed. If he was even repri-
manded by Houston we have no rec
ord of it.
Col. Sherman on the Goth of April
tried contrary to orders to bring on a
general engagement. He gained per
mission to dislodge'a small detach-
ment of the enemy in cluster OF
trees near the encampment of the ar
my, He conducted his movements
so badly he lost two of his men Sc
riously wounded.
On the morning of April 2lst Gen.
| Houston ordered two pole axes of