Texas Almanac, 1859 Page: 58
[224] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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5t TEXAS ALMANAC.
the camino royal-the public highway-I met two of your soldiers, to whom I sur-
rendered myself, a prisoner of war." " Well," said Gen. Houston, " tell Gen. Santa
Anna, that so long as he shall remain in the boundaries I shall allot him, I will
be responsible for his life." On hearing this, Santa Anna's countenance brightened
up, saying: "Tell Gen. Houston that I am tired of blood and war, and have seen
enough of this country to know that the two people can not live under the same
laws, and I am willing to treat with him as to the boundaries of the two countries."
In reply Gen. Houston said: " Tell him, I can not treat with him; but the Cabinet
that is in Galveston, will make a treaty with him." By this time the crowd had
increased, till they pressed against Santa Anna and myself, as we were sitting to-
gether on the chest, bending us forward, and I had to request them to stand back,
when Gen. Houston directed Col. Hockley to order the guard to disperse the
crowd. But the eagerness of all was so great to see Santa Anna, that but few
withdrew until the music began to play, and the cry was heard calling to parade.
About this time Col. Hockley came leading in young Zavalla, to serve as inter-
preter in my place, as he spoke both languages well. Nearly all the officers were
permitted to enter the square, among whom I observed Col. Rusk, Capt. Allen,
Capt. Heard, Dr. Phelps, Col. Millard, and others. As Santa Anna had proposed
to treat for peace, Col. Rusk said: "Filosola, I learn, is coming and is near by, and
we will have to give him battle." "No," said Santa Anna, "I will order him to
return." "No," says Rusk, " order him to deliver up himself and army as prisoners
of war." "Ho! " said he, " he will not do it, he will not do it," (nodding his head
up and down as he repeats the words.) "You have whipped me, I am your pri-
soner; but Filisola is not whipped. He will not surrender as a prisoner of war. You
must whip him first. But if I give him orders to leave the limits of Texas, be will
do it, he will do it." It was then agreed, he should issue the order. It was sug-
gested, whether it would not be better to issue his order on official stamped paper.
He remarked: "It would be better." Houston then requested Hackley to have
the paper procured. Col. Almonte was soon brought in, when men were dispatched
to the battle-ground, to bring the marquee, chests, etc., belonging to him. Mean-
time, Santa Anna pays many compliments to Almonte, and flatters Houston in
rather extravagant terms. At last, finding things wear a rather favorable aspect,
he began to extend his look upon the crowd, which he had not before done. He
then inquired, if Cos had escaped. When told he was a prisoner, he then asked
after another, then another, and finally after Castrion. He is answered by Als-
bury : "Castrion lies dead 'n the field." He bowed his head, paused, and said no
more. By and by a remark was made as to the manner he had treated the defenders
of the Alamo. "It is," said he, "the fortune of war." Rusk said: "But how is
it about Fannin at Goliad ?" '" Fannin," said he, ." el vive-be is living, he is not
dead." At this time we had no certain knowledge of the fate of Fannin himself.
Turning to Maj. Allen, afterwards Mayor of Galveston, he said: "You look like a
Mexican." "No," said Allen, "I am not, I was in Tampico with Gen. Mexia."
"Hugh l" said Santa Anna, "Mexia was an grande stulto, a great fool." Then
turning towards Dr. Phelps, he said: "You look like aMexican." As Dr. P. lay
some claim to royal blood, the remark caused him to blush, and he said very
abruptly: "No, I never was-I am an American."
My duties now calling me away, I returned to my wounded, nearly all of whom
had been crossed over to Zavalla's, that place being used as the hospital.
SANTA ANNA'S DRESS.
The reason why Santa Anna was not at once recognized, was the disguise of his
dress. He had on a glazed leather cap, a striped jacket, (volunteer roundabout,)
country made, coarse cotton socks, soldier's coarse white linen pants, bespattered
with mud. His fine linen bosom shirt, and sharp-pointed shoes were all that did
not correspond with a common soldier's dress.
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Texas Almanac, 1859, book, 1859~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123765/m1/59/?rotate=270: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.