The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
: "REMINISCENCES
loN>1 OF the Guadaloupe
and San Antonio
Battle on the SaIado
L-chApIEP lie
H..

For The Houston Post.
AS we all had plenty to do along our own
line and our communication with the set
tlemeuts cut OF. we were not immediately
aware OF the approach OF Captain Nicolas
Dawsons command Of ftty-three men.
mostly from LaGrapse. who were on the
march to reinforce us. They rode UP
within hearing Of the conflict while the
fighting was going on. but the smoke OF
the battle was so dense they could Tot
see our position, and we ha. ing no couriers
out on the road to warn any Of our friends
that might be coming to our help, BEFORE
they were aware Of their danger they were
too near the Mexicaus 10 effect a retreat.
and being unable 10 accomplish junction
with US were intercepted ard surrounded
By the enerry.s cavairy. Dawson's meu,
partially sheltered BY few mesquite sap
lings. kept the cavalry at bay for awntle
with their rifles, but the Mexicans. with
drawing piece of artillery rom our fort,
brought i. 10 hsar uroa our Iricnds ana
aecsSsi;a;ei their surrender. AS is weif
known they we're nearly all mastered
However, two men escared. one of whom
vas Alsey Aiiler Of GonEaies, and Mr..
Wood.
Late III the afternoon, the enemy having
been unable TO drive US from our position
lef, US In possession o, the field and moved
OF TO san Antcnro. taking with them sew
ersl cart loads OF dead and wounded. al
though they left many mora lying too
neSr or lines for them 10 gather I'D. Thsse
iGEter aid not receive much attention until
our o-rn vounaed we're looked after. JUS
AZ twilight captain with some twenty
men from cur settlements reached Is, and
being too late 10 participate N the battle
and probably excited ~ q view as they
passed by The nanglei bodies OF our Daw-
son comrades, this man seized muskei,
rushed out upon tine plain where some o.
the WOUNDED MexIcaas were feebly i'm
plortng for water. seized one and ran him
through, exult.nsly showing his olooly
bzyune, as he came back. exela5rn.ng he
bad saved one o. the yellow skins" This
cruel act vas severely censured by those
who wsre d-are Ol 1t, and squads OF our
men scon Conveyed water 20 the suffering
wre'ehes. AID brought some Of them TO our
camps, wh--e .heir wounds could be dressed
and their wants attended to- Another
party with cur reverend Baptist Morrill,.
eho wss iniin.ateiy acquainted with the
LaGrsnee company aalcuy s-aom was one
OF his sons, vert out rs The place where
'as massacre occurred. carefully examined
among the dasa for relatives and friends
and gave such attention as they could.
Being almost certain OF the death BY
Indians of Sieve JouetT, his brother. s.att,
and friends Instituted search for him.
and nnoins his p1o- ntansied tcdv stripped
and scslped. brought IL in, and taking gar
'nelis for LIS grave clothes from the dead
chiet'zis. cord0yss buried It On the bank
~ the saisdo.
These Joustt boys had been soldiers In
the army 81 San Jscinto. and rsceiying land
cersilcates for military service had To-
Gated and established themselves near the
Medina river st THAI time unoceupied by
white men. They were IN constant danger
from r1bocr Mesicans and hostile Indians
and as early as 1888 they. with Arch Jones
and William X Hargis o. Gonzales. with
stood memorable attack OF the Co
menehes, who harassed them for seye, al
days Matt Joucit, with cid Captain ST.
NEON Bateman Of Gonzales, was murdered
several years later while travelling near
Virginia Point
Through John w. Smith. who at night
visited his friends in San Antonio. we WERE
soon apirised that the enemy In possession
did not expect rsinforeements and their
Eetions indicated al immediate retreat
All night long hammers, saws and ares
were heard as they sacked the town ana
boxed " their booty. while hurry ana
panic prevailed among some Of the INErer
Mexican families who had aided the enemy
on their raid.
We were much ehagrined at hearing
ths.s the principal citizens. with the Judge
and those in attendance at court. had an
been sent on 10 Mexico under a ctrong
guard We were also shocked at tbs =
citai OF some OF the incidents of the Daw-
son massacre and We resolved, few as We
We're In numbers TO push on and hsrasA the
reireating mcngrels
Miles s. Bennett. Cuero, Texas.
FORT NORTHEASTERN g. y. +. John
son. state representative OF the Transmits