The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901 Page: 327
366 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The San Jacinto Campaign.
327
not recollect; * * *. As to guards, we had none; there was no
order or regularity in the retreat from there to Peach Creek, ten
miles east. The town of Gonzales was burnt; by whose order I do
not know, but believe it was by Gen. Houston's, for the reason that
it was generally talked of and believed so to be in camp. Captain
Bird Lockhart, who arrived in Gonzales on the morning of the
14th, when it was on fire, told me that the men who were setting
fire to the houses said they were left there by Gen. Houston, to burn
the town and gather up the horses. Some of the women and chil-
dren had started before we did; some started with us, and we left
others crying and screaming in the town. Some we passed on the
road that night between Gonzales and Peach Creek.
(Signed) "W. I.1 E. HEARD,
"ELI MERCER."
In a later communication, Major Heard says:
"I never heard one word about poisoned liquor of any kind (at
Gonzales)." * * *
The retreat from Gonzales was so hurried, that the picket guard
was left at its post without notice to withdraw. Two small pieces
of artillery were thrown into the river Guadalupe. * * *
Major Heard estimated the forces at Gonzales over four hundred
men; and says they all had their rifles with abundant ammunition,
and there was no want of provisions. After the arrival of Gen.
Houston, the brave Burleson was elected colonel, and Sherman
lieutenant-colonel. The volunteers were not without such "organi-
zation" as had achieved the most brilliant victories of Texas. * * *
The retreat from Gonzales was inevitable, an absolute necessity.
The grand error had consisted in choosing two feeble, isolated posi-
tions, Goliad and San Antonio, as the bases of defensive operations.
The retreat was continued in more order to Burnham's, on the
west side of the Colorado, where the army arrived on the 17th of
March. It remained there two days, then crossed the river and
descended its left bank to Beason's. Burnham's buildings were
destroyed soon after leaving them; it was generally understood in
camp by the order of Gen. Houston. The army tarried a considera-
ble time at Beason's in recuperative inactivity. * * * The
'This should be J.-E. C. B.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901, periodical, 1901; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101018/m1/359/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.