The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 430
641 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 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
(one brass 6 pounder) artillery under Capt. Lewis.1o Captains Hough-
ton, Hudson, Sutton and Lewis were formerly officers in the Regular
army of Texas, and with them were also principally former Regulars,
in all 270 volunteer soldiers, besides about 50 men, inclusive of mer-
chants, commissioners and servants.
When we had to lay by for repairs, then Gen. McLeod drilled us,
a thing a frontiersman despises; he is hard to keep under discipline,
and believes in a free fight on his own hook, not in regular battle
order.
In the subsequent war with Mexico old General Zach Taylor not
being able to control them he often cursed them; but in battle, the
Texans knowing how to take advantage of the Mexicans, also being
excellent spies and first rate shots he bestowed for that all praise
to therm.
Having to pass through a country only inhabited by Indians, we
had out every night a picket guard, a cattle and horse guard as well
as camp guard.
The sentry never stood up or walked about to make a mark for
the wiley Indian, but sat on the ground watching diligently. Prairie
wolves might run round him in a circle and give their yelping night
vigil, but he did not shoot to betray his whereabouts to the Indian;
he was motionless at his post until relieved by the next sentinel.
Unfortunate as the expedition was and disastrous to many of our
men, eventually it ended in great results, for it kept alive the claim
of Texas to the boundary according to treaty with Santa Anna, giving
us the Rio Grande River for a boundary line. When Texas was
annexed to the U. S., the Mexican Government disputed that just
claim, and that caused the war of the U. S. with Mexico. The result
settled the claim of Texas and gave the United States California
for indemnity.
Texas then sold a portion of her territory (useless to Texas) to the
U. S. for ten million dollars; that sum liquidated the debt due to an
'0William P. Lewis, a Pennsylvanian, had lived in Santa Fe before serving in the
Texas Revolution. In a note attached to installment LVI Erhard wrote:
So far as the writer has been able to gain information of the traitor, Capt. Lewis,
it was rumored that he was despised by all Americans in Mexico, that from Santa
Fe he took his departure for Chihuahua, where most wealthy American merchants
and Mexicans resided, that he met no encouragement there, and it was supposed
that from thence he went to South America to avoid all intercourse with and to
meet none even of Englishmen, his own countrymen, in order to hide his shame,
disgrace, and treachery toward his intimate friends. I may be mistaken in the
rumors heard about him, but certain it is no clue of his further life could be
ascertained, that he left New Mexico after betraying us, only to save his life and
get a share of the goods the Texans had. That all his filthy gain by his betrayal
did him no good, is evident, for he did not tarry long in the Republic of Mexico
and none know his final fate, but I suppose it was not a good one. He lacked
even the courage of a Judas, the betrayer of Jesus Christ, to hang himself, but he
condemned himself an outcast from society.430
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 66, July 1962 - April, 1963, periodical, 1963; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101196/m1/464/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.