The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-26
"REMINISCENCES
OF the GUADALUPE
AND SAN ANTONIO
FRONTIER IN IS4s.

Is AND SAN ANTONIO !
liz FRONTIER IN IS4s. 4
| k>rAN~<.~>N~~<~~~~~N~N~2
For the Houston Post.
In the summer the people Of Texas were
glsddened BY the news Of the release IL
Mexico Of the Santa Fe prisoners. although
they could but be solicitous about theiI
! health. a. thcy were to embark In the hot
sickly weather at Vera Cruz where the yell
low fever was prevailing Coming via New
| Orleans, Galveston and Houston. their Inn
| mediate pressing wants were attended ia
and they were received with open doors and
made comfortable while staying in and
passing through those cities; yet many Of
the men, especially those from the West,
were far from home. on foot and unarmed.
The writer OF this article having father
associated with them, went from the Quad
alupe to meet him In Houston. While there
the men Of the expedition whose homes
were In the West were all eager to inquire
about Its condition and means OF defense,
for they were confident that there would
be another advance OF armies from Mexico,
and although they well knew that II again
captured with arms in their hands they
would receive no quarter, they were gem
orally DESTROYS to repair to the frontier and
be in readiness for the expected strife.
knew many Of these men and still recollect
George W. Grover and Thomas w. Hunt.
the latter of whom, with some OF his COM
panions, was sent to Houston by steamer by
citizens Of Galveston. Hunt walked 10 his
home beyond Gonzales. arriving in time to
rest up and join the volunteers and do good
service In resisting the advance of the
Mexicans at the battle OF the Salado.
found Major Bennett at Houston, comforts
a Ity rod f<r ~ 49,
grim, who with sister gave us cordial
welcome.
The citizens held public meeting and
made provision for the comfort OF the Santa
Fe men, furnished them with clothing, es-
tablished an encampment at the market
house and opened their doors generally for
their entertainment.
Providentially the pecan crop on the
western streams was unusually promising
and would when matured, afford the means
OF subsistence to all who would gather
them. There were a few men who now
really had no home and were attached to
comrades with whom they had endured so
much hardship and were eager to set off for
the West to again breathe it's pure air,
drink Of its streams and partake OF the hos.
pitaiity so general among its people. Con-
slderlng themselves as yet soldiers OF
Texas, ready for duty, they prevailed upon
their old quartermaster, Bennett, to apply at
the war department, at that time in Hous.
ton. for few muskets and ammunition,
but were much chagrined at the failure to
supply them. However, many OF them left
the kind citizens OF Houston in small
squads to work their way on foot to the
west. Finding among others OF our towns
men Captain Matthew Caldwell and his son
without transportation, Major Bennett and
myself agreed to assist them home all rid
ing our two horses time about and walking
by turns. Curtis Caldwell was young lad,
who accompanied his father in the Santa Fe
expedition, and upon their arrival in the
City of Mexico had been offered the guard
ianship and patronage of Santa Anna, but
ne preferred returning home with the
others.
Captain Caldwell was one Of the sIguers
OF the Declaration Of Texas Independence,
ana mad not failed to participate in her bat
ties. He was a skillful frontiersman. a no.
ted Indian fighter. Among other important
actions he was efficiently engaged and Sc
vereiy wounded in hand TO- hand encoun-
Ter with the Comanche chieftains in the
old Court House, conflict celebrated
In the history OF San Antonio His percep
tions were so acute that while hunting with
MIN his companions often declared they be-
lieved that "Old Paint" could smell Indians
when in their vicinity: yet withal he was
courteous and genial In his demeanor, ana
especially considerable ITO the young rhe
weather was hot and the road dusty hut
upon our arrival near the Brazos the can
tain was enabled to barter gone clothing
Tor pony and at Columbus Curtis also
was similarly provided for by some OF its
citizens, who warmly expressed sympathy
and their Joy at our return
The first house that we came TO on the
Guadalupe below Gonzales was that OF
Judge William u. Jones, who was absent dit
the time holding his court at San Antonio.
Whilc we were there his family received a
letter from him stating the rumor of an adj
vance OF Mexican troops, but coupled with
the opinion that 1t was only sensational
report gotten up to prevent the converting
OF the court.
Proceeding TO Gonzales we were all glad
ly received by our old neighbors, but had
no time to rest or to attend TO our personal
business, for couriers continued to bring
news OF the certain advance OF the enemy |
ana OF their investment of San Antonio. |
they having cut out an entirely new road.
and approached by route on which they
Were undiscovered. even by the vigilant |
HAYS and his scouts, who were on the look |
out, until they surprised the town. Thus |
on September II, San Antonio was again IN |
possession Of the enemy. fifty-three OF it's |
principal citizens. the district court and |
those In attendance all prisoners AS we |
knew the further advance OF the Mexicans |
must. II possible. be Immediately checked,
the town OF Seguin was named as the rem
dezvous. and the promptitude with which |
our men repaired to 1t was commendable. |
Henry e. McCulloch had great influence In
railying the men from the upper settle
menus; small companies gathered under the
lead OF such men as Captain James Bird.
Lieutenant John R. King Captain Callahan
and others. while the noted Evan Cameron
and his well tried followers came up from
Victoria.
AS subsistence must be provided. Major
bennett assisted by his old Santa Fe com
rades, established commhsvarat. obtain-
Ing from the citizens little corn to he
ground upon steel mills for bread, and a
rev beeyes, which We're carefully dressed
ana regularly issued, portion being bar
becued and reserved to exc out the scantv
fare OF late Corners who had no time to Sc
cure provisions. In consequence Of the diff
nculties OF the previous spring corn was
scarce and valuable. but at Seguip the VOL
anteers were invited to go into the farms
and supply themselves with all they couIj
Ii