The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-18


furnish Deaf Smith with cie c. lore axes,
ana to have them at a certain place. AZ
the Same time he sent fJr Smith and di-
rccted him not TO 20 cut OF tho inc Of
sent'ncls that day without special permis-
SON. AZ ne had particular business for him
OF secret character. III
About ? o'clock that morning Il was dis
covered that considerable force. under
Vencral Cos, was advancing from the d.
rection Of Vince's bridge, toward tho
onemy's ramp. Az II was seen by the
Texans. y was believed to DO wniorce-
mont TO- Santa Anna. The commander In
chief, although his spies had brought In
formation OF the arrival OF tho rciuforcc-
ihcnt, not caring that II should be at that
time known. suggested that IL was n russo
OF the MeSicans; that they had marched
around from their left wing and were re-
.ufhinH Win view TO make tho iinircs-
| sion that they were reinforced
About noon or little before, the CONF
manacr IN chief was waited on by several
OF the ofhccrs. suggesting a council of war.
He assented to the proposition and II was
informally held Immediately. Consisting Of
Coionels Mrieson and sherman, Lsouteant
Colonies Willard. Somerville aud Bcnnett.
ans Major Wells. The question MRS laid
before them. whether they should attack
me enemy In this position or wal, an at
tack from him IN theirs." Tho two last-
| named officers were In favor of nm attack
on the enemy In his position; tie others
were III FAVOR OF awaiting al attack from
ma. inc reasons given for the later oil In
ion were that tho Texan ssn3 wrs admir-
nbIy situated for defense; that tho Noxicanu
were fortified IN their cncam,mant: that II
was defended by veterans we'll disciplined.
aud that m attack upon thnm through an
| open prairie. With undscipiiaed militia,
armed mostly with rifles. vas unart codont-
Cd, The council was then dismlsscd
| Ilruf Smith md a tn, h,,
had been directed In the morning to select.
were now sent for nOd secretly dispatched
with the axes TO cut down Vincc's bridge
aud burn 1.-THE commandcr n ohiot say
ing to Smith. as he departed that thu grass
which h. then behold before him so beAu-
TIM In the prairie wouli he crimsoncd be-
| fore Ills return unless he was speedy.
| Trays bayou runs into Buffalo bayou at.
| iiarrishurg, on the right bank Five miles
| farther down tho bay, IL vinces bridge.
| II was crossed by both armies on their
| downward march. and was the only path
way by land. especially at that season OF
| the year, TO the Iirayos. After tho main
| body OF the Mexican reinforcement, under
| General Coz, hal PASSED nray's bayou, aud
While the rear guard was passing over,
the wagoncrs and somo others OF the Texan
| camp guard, near Harrisburg, hearing tho
notsc, pnradei under the command Of wag-
onmaster Rhotcr. made n forced march to
| the bayou. and rave them II yolley. which
| 80 alarmed them that thcy turned and lied
| toward the Rrazor. scattering and lowing
| their baggage OH the road. The waggoners
thcieupon crossed over and gathered quito
| a supply.
| 1t 10 proper to stsie here that as soon an
| the reinforcement under Cos was seen TO
come In knrnes and Smith had been sent
| to thcir last place OF encampmcn, 10 asccr-
| tain from the number OF ra,up fires and
| other signs the probable nirongth cf tho
artillery force. They returned and report
cd privately. RS they had been directed.
| about $40 men.
| Shortly after the departure OF Smith and
| Reeves to destroy the bridge Lieutenant
| Colonel Bennett was nen' To the camp to
| ascertain the state Of .ocling among tho
| troops. He reported them all cnthusaatin
and In fine spirits. Il waA now nearly 7
O'clock in tho afternoon. The MMicanB
were dull and heavy, the higher class OF
| them enjoying their slestn. Santa Anna
admits that he himself WAS asloen. fious-
| ton. having formed his plan of battle, sub
\ mitird II TO tho secrciarv of war, who ap-
proved Of II. He then ordered Tho troops
| To parade, which they did With alaerity aud
| spirit. The locality of the Texan camp af-
| forded ample opportunity TO form In order
OF battle without being soen 10y the enemy.
| Burleson's regiment was nipcrd ~ the cen
| ter. ShermHns on the left wing. The ar
| tillerY. under Hockey. On the riRht of Bur
| Lesson. the infantry. under Milaid on tho
| right OF tho artillery. and oaW,;ry, under
| Lamar. whose gallant con iucl the day be-
| fore had won him this command, on the
| extreme right. The caoiny cavalry was
on his left wing; his ceuter which wns
fortified. was composed OF his infantry, with
his artillery In an opening Of the breast
work. lie had oxtenled his extreme right
TO the river so az TO occupy skirt oe
timber projecting out from H.
The Texan cavalry WAS iirKt utRDnt rhpI
to the front of the cnamy'g horse. to draw
their attention, while the remainder OF tho
army, which had advanced In column To tho
clrn,cr Of timber three or four hundred
yards IN front was depl0yin9 into line.
Tho evolution was quickly performed. and
The whole force advanced rapidly and In
good order, Tho secretary Of war. at tho
request o! the general In chief. took COM
rand of tho left wing. While the Texans
were thus advancing Deaf Smith rode at
the top NJ his horso's speed TO the front,
bud Informed Houston that Vince's bridge
was destroyed. Tbe general announced II
10 tho line. The Twin Sisters" now adj
yancea TO within two hundred yards Of the
MeSirau breistwork and opened ccstruct-
i've FIRE with grapa and canister. Shcrmans
regiment commenced the action upon tho
Texan left. The whole line, advancing In
double quick time. cried 'Remcmber tho
h!amo.' "Rcmelnbor Gollad!" And. while
approa aching the enemy's works. received
his irc, but withhold their own until With
In piatoi shot. The effect Of his IRE on
the enemy was terrible. But the Texans
made no haIt--on~ard they went. ON tho,
Ic.t they penetrated the woodland; tho
Meyicans fed. on the right the Texan cav
airy charged that Of the enemy; the latter
Ned. In the center the Texan artillery ad-
yanced 10 within seventy yards OF that OF
the Moxlcans, but ceased 10 flre for Burle-
sons regiment and Millards infantry had
siormod the Dreastwork. took the tnemy's
artillery and were driving them back
In fifteen minutes after the charge the
Mexicans gave way at all points, ana tho
p,l suit was general Some OF thcm ned 10
The river. sofne to the swamp In their roar,
others toward vince's bridge, but tue lnrg-
EST norton perhaps 20 a clump OF trees not
far 10 tho rear. where they surrendered.
such was their confederation and so sud
den their defeat that their cannon WAS LETT
loaded and their precious movablcs un-
touched; those that were asleep awohe only