The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901 Page: 36

36 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
service of the cause, were placed on board a vessel which cruised out
after war was declared, as one of the first men of war of the Texas
navy, but never returned again to report her deeds. Neither ship,
'crew nor cannons were ever heard ,of .again, and their fate is
unknown.
This occurrence was really the detonating spark which fired ,-he
train of revolution; this was the capstone to the arch of national
feeling which had been gradually growing in the minds of the Amer-
'can settlers; this was., in fact, the bud of the 'Texas revolution, as
Boston had been before of the revolt--the secession from England.
The desire to resist Mexican authority was here aroused by the
belief that it could be done successfully. "The first gun" sounded
when young Jack fired and wounded the Mexican soldier.
Soon after this, a meeting of citizens was held -at Brazoria, with
'Col. Wm. H. Wharton as chairman, and he earnestly advised decided
-measures, arguing that the spirit of strife had already been aroused;
that Colonel Bradburn had confined American citizens unjustly at
Anahuac; that the citizens, headed by Col. Frank Johnson, who had
gone thither to demand their release, had failed to, obtain it, and had
met an unfriendly reception; that 'Spencer Jack had shot a regular
soldier ,of the Mexican army, while in the discharge of his duty;
that the people on both sides were excited; and that it would be bet-
,ter for them (the citizensi, by a bold move to, swoop down at once
upon Velasco .and storm and capture the fort and garrison, and so
rid the section of Mexican authority. There was considerable debate
upon this proposition, and the meeting finally agreed that the chair-
'man should appoint a committee of five, a majority of whom should
-decide the issue of war ,or inaction. Oolonel Wharton appointed as
that committee Edwin Waller, W. J. Russell, 'Thos. Westall, J. W.
'Cloud (a clergyman), -and - McNeil. These retired to deliberate
.on their verdict, and their first ballot showed Waller and Russell for
'war and the other three opposed it. Waller and Russell at length
converted the clergyman -to their faith and finally the committee
became unanimous and announced to, the people that their "voice
was for open 'war." 'The forces then assembled with Col. John
Austin in command, and Henry Brown, a gallant officer and the
father of the present John Henry Brown, as second in command,
'and this embryo "army of the republic" took up their line of march,
,about one hundred and twenty strong.