The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-10
NILES 5. BESxbs
"Reminiscences OF Fro..s- ;
the EARLY DaV. ns.~

Reminfscences Of Frn.4. Y
the EARLY Days orr
sailed from New Orleans 4 4. &
ship Columbia. Captain Pennos. h
at Galveston June 8, 1888 n
There were a few shan.ia.
Strand, among which was n. B
house, presided over by Csu.s. n
Baker, who greeted VS. with I 4.
approached. saying to my n,s'. 4.
major. see you have brouss,
rifle 10 Texas
Among other things on The Il,s.. !.
about two miles up on the hieh.. ].
wreck Of a schooner imbedded I, a. )
where she had apparently lain ~. |
Going to Houston on the 49,.
Houston. we found every one ~,
town was about one year old - A,
trees among which 1t is located ~ |
made into building material .,.'''
shanties and other better builAl... !
rapidly constructed.
The prairie from near the ~.
almost undisturbed save by Ak
herds Of horses brought from ~ NJ 9
sale. Kessler's round tent WA 49,
Divine services were gepersljs a.
Sunday In the Capitol, Rey. VA W
and other ministers OFFICIATING q
This being headquarters for n. y
many prominent citizens and - -
and small groups of friendly IpdI,s
frequently seen.
Among the notable Texans ~.
Sam Houston, General Felix Bu,t.s ).
eral Rusk, Colonel Hockey. csrsi.
II. Patton. Treasurer Asa Brieham 4.
troller Moody, Chief Clerk Chart. \
and many others recur to memor !
My father, Major V. Bennet. IA i.
been many years in Texas: VA ~
wounded at the battle of velasco I ,
1882, received a commission Al l,s-s
from General Stephen f. Austin \
zales. October. 1885. was ouart,,.s
general at the following siege Of Bsy,
served as an officer in the army n,
uouSly up TO THIS time.
He had been revisiting his old A..
Ohio on a short furlough, and ~
turning and reporting for duty. n \ !,
received instructions from Barnard /
quartermaster general, to proceed 4 /
Sam Houston, San Bernard. San Il;
and other encampments, report ther
dltion and take measures to collAs
preserve scattered army property.
Accordingly the major, taking ~
clerk, and gentleman named m
companion, having our camp eoupis
a pack horse, left Houston, golur 4
crossing the Brazos at DR.. Hunters
Richmond.
Six miles northwest of Columbia N |
kindly received by Mr.. Samuel M
with whom the major. while quarterl
at Velasco, had deposited some xs'
sion books, and the celebrated II
star" brand he had made for the al
horses.
Here we had the iii fortune to sx|
most of the bread and meat from. ou
] which occasional us much inconyets
as We saw no more good provisions al
lonely trip.
At Mr.. William Anders', on the 81 |
nard. we received drove OF cavalry ID
! which we sent to headquarters ]
| Texana we saw the old encampmens d
division OF the Mexican army III
vasion had been swamped In the md
signs were still visible where tho an
everything We're deeply mired.
Going to Captain McFarlandS tlvek1
toned on the Bernard, we found
sickness among them and mpch ~
| provisions and hospital stores nh|
/ tentive surgeon, DR.. Andersen ~
requisition. which we had filled y :
ton.
Around Texana and on the Lana
saw families that had been 10 w :
from the Mexicans as they advances
1896. known as the runaway ssriF|
anxious to return to their old nelgnle9
, on the Guadalupe, although thq
their houses had been burned ~
| farms desolated: these people N6s'
| acquaintance and among them
the widow OF the lamented Capua
Westover, ore Of the heroes Of the 4
In conversation this lady recuriN
much feeling to their terrible reliea
| Gonzales after the fall of the Alan0
dwellings and most of their conx'
| fire.
Quartermaster Bennet's COM
books and accounts of the siege
did not escape the flames.
These people were all glad 70 " /
from the seat Of government ".
prospect OF protection on their W.
they were apprehensive OF an0o
vance of Mexican invaders.
One hot day, after resting anu ~
coffee at noon, Mr.. Long. who's "
becoming faded, concluded y
pack mule. We had entered VA
RE, no shade near. when the mss
fright, pitched Mr.. Long of, dlsio
shoulder. The poor man coulo
and while / held an umbrens y