The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-12-31

fighting for cpcnGcncc from McXi-
O.. Ia the rangers he was prcscn. a,
several small skirmishcs with the
Mexican troops, but the first battle
of any Importance was that of San
Jacinto.
Sam Houston, hard pressed by the
Mexicans under Santa Anna, had re-
treated southwark from Gonzales,
Tex, and when near San Filipe,
Houston had turned 70 the east and
crossed the Brazos River at Grooe's 8
Ferry, marching down along the east
bank Of the Buffalo bayou.
Santa Anna, with his Mexican
troops, following in close pursuit, had
marched down the west bank Of Buff
falo bayou, reaching Harrisburg, the
temporary capital Of the State, a day in
advance Of Houston. Here Santa Anna
burned the city, with all the archives
Of the new State, and marched away,
after having rear guard action with
IIouston's men, who came up as Santa
Anna marched Oft.
Icrc one or lIouston'' spies cap
cured Mexican post rider and lIoua-
irn learned for the first timc that
:;.4'a Anna hal divided ..is arm. ir.;o
ihrcc parts one marching down ,he
west side Of the State, one do.vn IL
cast and the third, llndor Santa Anna.
marching down The ccn.ral part
The AIcxican post rider vas carry
Ing his mail in a pair OF saddle bags
on which was printed the name "Wil.
liam Travis Baird, who commanded
The Alamo. aud who with i6S mou,
including Bowie aud Crockett and
many Of the braycat men il Teas,
were murdered By tic Mcxi.aua.
There wns on ciTort made on tho part
Of The Texans to Kill the mail rider,
but Houston prevented this.
As soon IS he learned that Santa
Anna had divided up his army hc dc
tcrmincd to attack that part Of the
army which, under Santa Anna, after
having burned Harrisburg, had march
cd away few miles and lay camped at
San Jacinto. Santa Anna, fearin3
lest he was to be attacked, had order
Ell General Cos, his brothcr-in law,
who commanded the rear guard, to
bring up his men, so that Santa Anna
had about 1000 men, while Houston
had about 400. Houston, in his
narratives, stated that he had only a
few over 700, but Colonel Price states
that llouston undorestimatcs his force
to make the victory appear the greater.
I'VE were stationed about half a
mile away from the Mexican army
says Colonel Price. ''They had forti-
fed themselves at San Jacinto, and
thought they were safe from attack.
"On tho afternoon Of April go,
1886, Houston called his mcn out and
told them that he was ready to attack
the Mcxicans and badc us remember
the Alamo.
"At 230 O'Clock, while the Mcxi-
cans were taking their afternoon
sicsta, we were ordered to charge.
We had two iron Founders, which
the Texans had dubbed the Twin
Sisters, and the Mexicans had one
brass nine FOUNDER. The first shot of
the battle was fired by one of our can
non. The second shot from the Twin
Sisters exploded the powder chest Of
the Mexicans, and they were unable
to use their cannon NIL through the
battle. Wo charged, and the Mexi-
cans, awakening from their sleep,
stood ready to receive US.
"The Mexican troops fed with
their guns at their hips, ant. invaria-
bly, fired too high. In a few minutes
VIC were among the Mcxicans, and in
half an hour the battle, after waging
for time in handto- hand conflict,
was over. Eight hundred Mcxicans
lay on the field Of battle, and 9O6 more
had surrendered
Santa Anna was nowhere to be
found, but three days later three
young men, while walking in the out
skirts Of the camp, found man creep.
ing through the grass. They halted
him and he fell at their feet and kiss.
cd them. He had no insignia of off ce,
but he was taken before Houston, and
as he reached the American general he
fell on his knees, saying:
i am Don Antonio Lopez de San