The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 27, July 1923 - April, 1924 Page: 46
344 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
morning the firing increased. Two men, one on foot and one on
horseback, came into camp. They had not been together during
the night, and neither could give much information. One de-
scribed the Mexican force as very large.
We watered and fed the horses; there were over three hundred
captured ones to be looked after, but corn was plentiful.
About ten o'clock I and George Hancock, late a resident of
Austin, went to a high bluff up the river about half a mile from
camp. We could see the smoke of firearms and masses of Mexicans
,outside of the town moving about, but nothing more definite. The
rain was less and the clouds higher. For some ten minutes about
twelve we heard exceedingly heavy firing, the rifles predominating.
The Mexicans then seemed to cease firing, and in a little while
there was no more on either side. A considerable smoke arose.
We imagined our side had perhaps carried the day, went back to
camp to report, and there waited till three o'clock for news. Then
we two went down the river to a higher bluff still nearer town,
but could see nothing, and returned to camp. The outlook was
gloomy.
Buckman, a lieutenant with whom I had been frequently asso-
ciated in frontier service, was captain of the guard. He urged
me to take command, but I refused as the guard was a mixture
from companies of men from all over the Republic and unknown
to me. When he next asked my advice, I said to remain in camp
till after night, move off in the dark a mile or so, but return in
the morning. They would perhaps have followed this advice, but
Captain Bonnell, who had been more or less in Texas service but
-who at this time had no command, was one of those who could
not believe that disaster really might overtake Texans; he declared
that he thought there could be no dainger in remaining, that our
men were not whipped but only delayed by some accident. How-
ever, all except Bonnell and four or five with him prepared to
leave at a moment's notice.
The rain had ceased and, although it was a cloudy night, the
moon gave a little light. Some time after dark we distinctly
heard the words "Bring over the boat, bring over the boat!" com-
ing from over the river. Buckman and several of us ran down
to the river, but no reply came to our challenge. Some said
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 27, July 1923 - April, 1924, periodical, 1924; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101086/m1/52/?rotate=270: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.