Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-17
AL ALBANIA MAN TELLS OF
BATTLE OF SAN JAClNTO


q MEXICAN most rider and Houston learn
ed for the first time that Santa Anna had
divided his army into three parts, one
marching down the west side OF the state,
one down the east and the third, under
Santa Anna, marching down the central
part.
The Mexican post rider was carrying
his mail In a pair of saddle bags on which
was printed the name william Travis
Baird" who commanded the Alamo, and
who. with 16S men, including Bowie and
Crockett and many of the bravest men
in Texas, were murdered by the Mexi-
cans There was an effort made on the
part of the Texans to kill the mail rider.
but Houston prevented this.
As soon as he learned that Santa Anna
had divided up his army he determined
to. attack that part of the army which.
under Santa Anna, after having burned
Harrisburg, had marched away few
miles and lay camped at San Jacinto. San
/ ia Anna, fearing lest he was to be attack
ed had ordered General Cos, his brother
fn-law, who commanded the rear guard.
| to bring up his men, so that Santa Anna
had about 600 men, while Houston had
about 400 Houston, in his narratives
stated that he had only a few over 100.
but Colonel Price states that Houston I'M
derestimated his force to make the vic
tory appear the greater.
I'VE are station about half a mile away
from the Mexican army, says Colonel
Price They had fortified themselves at
\ San Jacinto, and thought they were safa
| from attack.
ION the afternoon Of April 20, 1885, Hous-
7 ton called his men out and told them that
he was ready to attack the Mexicans ana
| babe us remember the Alamo.
AT 2:S0 o'clock, while the Mexicans
were taking their afternoon siesta, we
were ordered to charge. We had two iron
1t he Tcxonc had Arffx-
bed the Twin Sisters and the Mexicans
had one brass nine-pounder. The first shot
OF the battle was fred 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 at all during the battle. We
charge. and the Mexicans, awakening
| from their sleep, stood ready to receive
/ US
''The Mexican troops fired with their
! guns at their hips, and invariably fred too
/ high. In a few minutes we were among
the Mexicans. and in half an hour the
/ battle, after waging for q time In hand-to-
hand conflict, was over. Eight hundred
Mexicans lay on the field Of battle. and
500 more had surrendered.
Santa Anna was nowhere to be found.
but three days later three young men,
while walking in the outskirts Of the
camp. found a man creeping through the
/
| their feet and kissed them. He had no In
sigma OF office. but he was taken before
Houston, and as he reached the American
general he fell on his knees. saying:
"T am Don Antonio LoDez de Santa
| Anna, the great Spanish Napoleon. am
your prisoner of war and claim your
elemency. The brave are always gener-
! ous'
Houston asked him what he wished
! done with his dead soldiers, but the Mexl-
| can general. struggling his shoulders, re-
piled: They are dead. Let them stay
where they are.' And the dead Mexicana
were allowed to remain there and were
never buried.
"It has been often said that Santa Anna
had only one leg at the battle Of San
! Jacinto, but that is false He had two OF
| as good legs as ever saw, and be lost his
leg some time after this battle.
After the battle of San Jacinto all OF
| the things captured from the Mexicans
were sold. Santa Annals saddle sold for
$685.. and good Mexican ponchoes sold for
$50 apiece"