The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1909-07-31

pendent commands, they chafed un
der any semblance Of restraint or
military order. They were more adapt.
ed for the frontier style Of guerilla
skirmishing than for regular warfare.
To Houston success seemed possible
only through weakening Santa Anna
by drawing him further aud further
away from his base. To retreat, re.
treat and still retreat was his plan of
campaign.
As Santa Anna, flushed with the
victory Of Golisd, hurtied eastward,
Houston began TO retreat from Con.
zales. Across river after river Hous
ton led the way. Part of his force
was panic stricken, part Of 1t openly
insubordinate. Marauding parties Of
MeSicans robbed and murdered all
the defenceless inhabitants Of the
district through which they passed.
Farm houses and villages we're destroy.
ed and the country laid waste. Still
Houston retreated. How a man Of
his imperious spirit withstood the
charges Of cowardice that some Of his
subordinates made 10 hard TO under
stand, but as day followed day, and
his force lessened through desertion,
the Mexican force lersened far more
through spreading out owe u wider
and a wider field and through the
dropping OF Of stragglcrs. And at
this time up In Washington a soldier
Of many eampaings, who had a map Of
Texas before him, put up a finger on
a spot near the San Jacinto (St.
Hyaeinth) River, and said: III
Houston knows his business there IL
where he will make his stand. ;"
Such was the opinion Of Andrew Jack.
son.
Queer prophecy, but II was true. On
the banks Of the San Jacinto Sam
Houston did make his stand. What
did II matter TO him IL Santa Anna
diverging TO the north, burned Har.
risburg, where the Texas Government,
on the jump since the war began, had
made its headquarters for a time on.
ly to seek a safer haven In Galvestoni
lie had chosen his battle-ground and
there Santa Anna must Engage him.
IL eve a general deliberately plan.
ned q slauRhtering Sam Houston did
at san JacintO. Into II cul-de-sac he
led his own men and then drew the
Mexicans after him. After he got the
Mexicans he secretly sent Deaf Smith
and tome companions around 20 the
rear, and they with axes destroyed
Vince's bridge, practically the only
route of escape for either army. Buff
falo Bayou, which skirted the battle.
field ON one side, was in food. San
Jacinto Bay, which bordered IL on an.
other side was broad and deep. To
the south and partly to the west was
u morass. When Santa Anna aud
Houston met on April 81, 1886, the
Mexican army numbered 100 and the
Texan 700. The invading force was
worn by long marches and had no
idea the Texans would hazard u gener
al engagement. As for the Texans,
they had to conquer then and there or
be butehered. But Houston had no
doubt Of the result. That morning
when he awoke and saw the blazing
sun be said, 1.-THE sun Of Austerlitz
I Ia. vtuau - AuA "a hal
As u battle San Jacinto stands un.
ique. The Texans charged once. IRE.
member the Alamol Remember the
Goliadi" was their battle cry. In If.
teen minutes the Mexican army was
routed. OF the whole 1900 more than
700 were slain, $50 wounded or taken
prisoners, and only n few escaped. The
Texans lost o killed and 80 wounded,
Houston was shot through the ankle
and his horse, after being wounded
ten times, dropped dead.
An empire had been wont
Santa Anna, In the uniform Of u
common soldier, was captured the fol
lowing day. lie WIS on the bank Of
the bayou trying to escape. IL was
not until he was brough, into camp
and the prisoners shouted "El resi-.
dente,' that his identity was diseoy.
cred.
But for Houston Santa Anna would
have been killed. But, wise man that
he was, he knew that Santa Anna
alive was invaluable to Texas, while
his assassination would bring upon the
young republic the condemnation Of
the world. Only the will of Houston
saved Santa Anna that day and in the
later days of his captivity when he