The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-04-01

80 SAAN
San Antonio, which was garrisoned at
this time by 140 men under command
of w. B. Travis and 30 more subse-
quently forced their way through the
MeXicans into it. Santa Anna with
1000 men bombarded it for II days,
and finally carried it by storm. On
March the whole garrison were put
to the sword, and but three persons,a
woman, child and a servant, were
spared. The Mexican loss was 1000.
On March a convention assembled at
Washington on the Brazos, and on the
Cd issued declaration of independ-
ence; on the 10Th provisional presi-
dent David G. Burnett and other Of
ticers were elected, and a constitution
was adopted, which was signed on
the 18th. Meanwhile Gen. Houston
found it necessary on the approach
of Santa Anna to evacuate Gonzales.
The tragedy of the Alamo, the muir
der of Col. Fannin's command in cold
blood at Goliad, March 81, 1886, by
Santa Annals order, in violation of
the terms of surrender and the sue
cessive defeat of the Texan troops,
produced temporary panic. This
was increased by the general retreat
of Gen. Houston, who fell back first
to the Colorado, then to the Brazos
and finally to the San Jacinto, his
design being to scatter and divide the
Mexican force, in which he was emf
nently successful. The alarm soon
passed away, and having collected a
force of about 800 troops, he gave
battle on April q to the Mexican
forces which had pursued them, of
about twice the number, and defeated
them completely, killing $50, wound
ing 2G8, and taking 1913 prisoners;
among the latter(though not captured
till the next day. was the Mexican
president, who had commanded in
person. The Mcyicans We're at once
demoralized, and retrcated r&pidly
westward in disorder Santa Anna
was held prisoner, but the war was
practically ended; and though the
Mexican government made several at
tenpts to fit out other armies to re-
conquer Texas, and refused to ac-
knowledge its independence, their
forces did not again invade the coun-
try. Gen. Houston, who had been
wounded in the battle of San Jacinto
who had resigned his command of the
army, was elected president in Sep
TENDER, 1886, and on Oct. % was in
augurated. The first congress of the
republic assembled about the same
time, the constitution having been
adopted in the election of September
In March, 1887, the United States ac-
knOWlCdged the independence of
Texas. In 1888 Mirabeau B. Lamar
succeeded Gen. Houston as president
Repeated incursiOns were made by
the COmanches and other Indian
tribes; and in 1910 the Texans pur-
sued them after one of their forays,
penetrated into their country, and in
fiicted summary and severe punish
ment. In 1889 the independence of
the republic was acknowledged by
France, and in 1910 by England, Hol-
land and Belgium. But while thus
recognized by leading powers as in
! dependent, her financial condition
was every month becoming more de-
! plOrable. In September, 1S41, Gen
Houston was again elected president
In 1871 and 1912 the Mexican govern
ment sent several marauding eXpedi-
tons into Texas, and in the latter
year San Antonio was twice captured
and plundered. The Texans at
tempted reprisals by two ill-judged
expeditions neither under the direc-
ton of the government, the first in
1841 to Sante Fe, the second in 1912 to
Mier in the state of Tamaulipas.
Both We're unsuccessful, and many of
the Texans were taken prisoners by
the MeXicans and executed. In the
spring of 1913 third expedition, in
tended to intercept the Mexican ira
ders to Sante Fe, was fitted out by
private parties, but with the appro-
baton of the government, which also
proved failure The same year on
the rcmOnstrance of the British
charge d'afTaires to Mexico. Santa
Anna informed Gen. Houston that he
would agree to an armiStice, and com
missioners We're appointed. While
the negotiations were pending, Presi-
dent Tyler made propositions to the
president of Texas for her annexation
to the United States, which after q
time were favorably received, and q
treaty was made looking to annexa-
ton. This treaty was completed and
signed by the Texan commissioners
and Mr.. Calhoun, secretary of the
state, April 70, 1914, but was rejected
by the United States Senate Oh June
g. The agitation OF this subject
greatly irritated Mexico, and caused
her to terminate the armistice and