The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918 Page: 46

The Southwestern Historical Quarterly

in similar circumstances, more than one felt himself born to com-
mand.
There can be no doubt that Huston would have eagerly ac-
cepted the chief command, had not circumstances at the begin-
ning forced him into the r81e rather of umpire, while the claims of
others were being passed upon. Matters reached a crisis in July
when Colonel M. B. Lamar went to assume command of the army,
he having been appointed major-general by the Texan govern-
ment. Opposition manifesting itself among the men to Lamar's
appointment, HI-uston was requested to act as chairman of a, com-
mittee of officers to draft resolutions to be drawn, at Huston's
instance, as favorable as possible to Lamar. General Lamar,
hcwever, insisted upon laying the question of his reception be-
fore the army. Then men were also addressed by Generals Green
and Rusk. According to Huston's account, a few of the soldiers
shouted "Lamar !" a number "Rusk !" and a large number "Hus-
ton !" Upon the question of the reception of Lamar being put
to the army, 179 votes were cast in his favor, with some 1500
opposed.30 On July 13, R. R. Royal had written Lamar that the
meeting which drew up resolutions in regard to his taking com-
Mnand of the army was composed of a few officers only, the staff
mostly, and he affirmed that a large majority preferred him to
General Rusk.31 A few days after the incident just described we
find Lamar writing to President Burnet of "the dreadful state of
affairs in the army-everything is in threatened confusion and
rebellion." He had wanted to address the soldiers, but declared
that Huston, Rusk, and Green carried the popular current against
him. If Huston and Green persisted in their rebellious attitude,
Lamar was in favor of punishing them by court-martial, if pos-
sible; if not, they should be reported to Congress.32 Writing from
Vicksburg in November to Lamar, Memucan Hunt stated that
General Chambers would not serve under Felix Huston. "I have
a very high regard for General Felix Huston, but I should ex-
ceedingly regret to see any discord in the army on account of the
appointment of the chief command." Upon the appointment of
0Yoakum, History of Texas, II, 183-188.
31 MS. Lamar Papers.
321bid.
3Ibid.