The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-08-09
BUENA VISTA BATTLEFIELD
REMAINS OF AMERICAN DEAD TO BE
BROUGHT TO SAN ANTONIO.
A Veteran of the Mexican War Just from
the Field Where He Aided IN Looat-
ing Graves OF Dead Heroes.
snn Antonio Exprcss.

san Antonio Express.
Irwin n. OBryan, one Of the oldest set
tiers In Texas and veteran of the Nix
I,an war, has hcen in the city for few
uays en- route TO his home In Waco. lie IS
just now returning from Mexico, where ne
went at the instance OF the United States
government for the purpose of assisting to
locate on the Bucna Vista battlefield the
graves Of American heroes who tell in the
two days conflict al that point He was
member OF the Third Texas cavalry. com
mandcd 10y Colonel Young, Two other vet
Grams We're with him. also ON the same
mission. James colt and john Eldrldge OF
Washington county, Texas Mr.. O'Briep Is
a. yeCrs of age.
he nrst came TO San Antonio in 1916,
just htty-hYe years ago. and had never
visited the city slnce tnat time. In front
of the Mcnger hotel SUNDAY afternoon
while In conversation with reporter for
the Express he said that San Antonio was
at thar time but small village and where
the Alamo plaza now Il there was but a
large plot OF grass ON the east side and a
row OF small one-story houses on the west
siGe. As far as he remembers Commerce
sutet was then but An ordinary road, To-
sembdng a country lane with houses en-
either side. The busiest portion of the
city, he said was where Military plaza
row is, and upon which NJ the time were
located the military barracks.
The Mexican portion Of the town pre-
sonted busy scenes those DAYS. sack ~
Alamo plaza there was practically nothing
hut prairie. Among other things. Mr.
@ Bryan stated that he very clearly re-
melr beers an underground tunnel lcGdiag QUE
o. tie Alamo. Whether L led 10 the mis-
siOLS or the San Fernando cathedral ne
was not positive, as he did not pay partic-
ular attention 10 the direction In which
u leo, lie Is, however, under the impress.
Sion that the tunnel connected the Alamo
cathedral at that time had much the ap-
iCarance as Il does now, only he believes
that some alterations have been made IN
The front elevation Of the ediice
The Third Texas cavalry 10 which he
belonged, was mohili7ed in San Antonio.
He came here originally 10 join some 9th +
regiment, but for some cause this WAS dis,
banded and the soldiers formed themselves
into the cavalry. After getting organized
the regiment Went 10 the nord n ana short
~ returned 10 san Antonio. The regiment
ms the border took part In number OF
hnttles. The greater part OF the sol ieIs
crossed over TO chihuahua. From that
point Mr. o'Bryan returned 90 the states,
A. the battle OF Suena Vista the American
troops We're under General Taylor, who
States, In that same fight We're Generals
Lee and Grant, although at that time
theA held subordinate positions,
General Worth, who died 10 san Antonio
drring the cholera eDidemlc IS well re-
membered by Mr.. OsBryan. On his recent
visit TO the Old battlefield he clsarl re-
incident had occurred. The graves OF The
American soldiers were all located. Th, Sc
men were buried In long trenches and lad
side by side, A railroad Is being built
through the battlefield ON which account
number OF the bodies are "a be removed.
In many instances OF the remalns only the
skull remains, the bones having mau'ded
away. Those soldiers buried Ia blankets
We're better preserved than the bodies Ouiy
buried IN uniforms. In tho disbursement
OF the bodies number OF huttOns OF the
unitorms were unenrthed
Last year gentleman residing at Sher.
man had occasion to visit Mexico aud had
heard that q Railroad was 70 bc eCnsuurted