Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-18
RECOLLECTIONS OF PIONEER
Have Been Crowded
markable A. c. Fulton.

vessels, and an encounter with them
was not desired by the unknown. To
obtain arms every good rifle for sale
in the city was donated or purchased,
then hOuse-to-house call for do
nation of rifles, muskets, navy pistols,
and ammunition was made by express
WAGONS in charge of officers, and
many first class weapons were do
mated. Several veterans with looks of
sorrow, parted with their rifles that
they had stood behind at the jackson
and Pakenham battle of New Orleans
in January in 1915.
The unknown was not pierced for
cannon and carried none. but her 400
men, including her crew, did not pro-
pose to be seized upon and shot to
death as pirates without a desperate
struggle. Death was sure to follow
capture; as we were bandit invaders,
we had no claim to quarter. Our pro-
gram was, if overhauled by Mexican
revenue cutter or cruiser. to immedi-
ately act on the offensive. First to
store our strength, the troops, out of
sight; then to run into or alongside
of the enemy, make fast to her and
then rush our $50 armed soldiers onto
her decks. With this intent, in adj
dition to our firearms, numbering
near 500 pieces, l had 100 common
boathooks ground sharp at my work
shop, to be used as boarding spikes,
and the volunteers had received,
whilst on shore. three days constant
drill for attacking and boarding an
enemy's ship, and very soon they
could move with the precision of a
Hoe printing press. y safe and quick
landing was made at the then obscure
port of Indianola. on the Bay of San
Antonio. Then came to the volun-
teers hardships and privations inn
possible to picture with pen and ink.
Whilst on drill within the Custom
house square at New Orleans, many
of the volunteers spoke and felt that
they could hew their way to the halls
of the Montezumas, but when march
ing from IndianoIa, hungry and thirs-
ty. they We're willing TO shorten the
distance to fame and Immortality,
even to the sacrifice of the coveted
prize. On the 18th of October. the
following day after the unknown set
sail Tor Mexico, the steamer AN
achitat" cleared from the port of
New Orleans with other volunteers
for Texas. the number unknown to
me. One fact l do know, that the
United States volunteers engaged on
the battlefields of Texas outnumber-
ed the home troops, both in the cam
paigns of 1855 and 1886. No doubt
files of journals of 1885 exist in New
Orleans to more fully give this event
full history of that day.
The most extraordinary fact in
connection with those volunteers and
the Texas campaign of 1885 was that,
within 60 days of the call to arms.
not one armed Mexican was quarter
ed within the state of Texas. Inc
campaign of 1885 was ended, but not
so with the campaign of 1886, which
possessed its horrors, but | was not
a witness of 1886. The Texas revolu-
ton was not a revolution for slavery,
and Mr.. Calhoun took no part in it.
True. wealthy citizens, many of
them Shareholders. contributed funds.
Mr.. Calhoun's state did not furnish
30 men (direct from the state) as
volunteers during the campaign of
1885, and a less number than Ohio in
nexing Texas to the United States
came before the authorities ut Wash
iHgton. Mr.. Calhoun, then secretary
of state. used every eNertion TO con-
summate the annexation.
The surrender of Gen. Cos force
caused a cessation of bostilities. and
the services of the United States vol
unteers were no longer required in
active war. Few of them possessed
funds: the wardrobe of all was scant;
they were strangers in a sparsely set
tied country distracted by war, and
no employment was to be had. Con-
sequently, about 40. to secure shelter
and rations, garrisoned the Alamo.
under the command of Col. W. II.
Travis, and n large number quartered
at Goliad and vicinity. At this period
the general opinion in Texas was that
the MexicaEs were vanquished or dis
heartened and would never invade
Texas territory again, but Sana Anna
surprised the unwary by appearing
before the Alamo with Il large army.
and after Il siege of several days he
made an assault on the morning of
March 6, 1886. and put every occupant
to the sword, save a DlacK BOY,
servant of Gen. Travis. One soldier
had. the evening previous, scaled the
walls, and unobserved made his es-
cape. Among the slain was the far
famed Col. David Crockett, who was
at that time a guest of Col. Travis.
The above facts. respecting the two
who escaped and the position of Col
Crockett, we personally obtained
from a citizen residing at the time
but few rods from the Alamo. No
doubt the boys color. and being a
non-cambatant. saved his life.
Many journals, in speaking of this
massacre, have placed Col Crockett
in command. The prevailing opinion
of Col. Crockett is that he was an un-
couth person. dressed as a hunter and