German Pioneers in Texas; A Brief History of Their Hardships, Struggles and Achievements Page: 63
3 p.l., 230 p. incl. plates, ports. 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
- 63
then he gives a description of a "review of the army" held
in San Antonio:
"At 4 p. m. we were all formed up in the Alamo Plaza
in San Antonio, the force comprising four infantry companies
and two of Partisan Rangers. The infantry was a
mixed lot, dressed in all sorts and varieties of uniforms, or
none at all. There were some queer specimens of humanity
on parade that day, but the queerest of all was our own
commander, who on foot resembled a bullfrog, and on horseback
resembled Sancho Panza. We formed in double line,
cavalry in front, and in the middle of the Plaza a wheezy
civilian band discoursed such music as it could. Presently
appeared our gallant general, surrounded by a heterogeneous
staff, as ignorant and pretentious as himself, and followed
by a small boy on a diminutive cow-pony, this boy
acting as the general's orderly. The chief duty of the staff,
aided by the small boy, seemed to be to keep back a crowd of
about three hundred people who lined the square and wanted
to fraternize with their friends in the ranks, while the performance
was going on. This was soon over, for the
general had ridden down the ranks, looking wise as he knew
how. We marched past him once and then were dismissed.
The whole thing was a farce, and I was thoroughly disgusted
with the humbug of it; for the so-called general knew no
more about soldiering than his boy orderly. He was a
storekeeper who had been promoted by some back-door influence."Speaking of a grand military expedition under Duff,
this expedition going into Medina, Gillespie and other counties,
the Captain says: "All we did was to bully and arrest
a few inoffensive Germans." And, "next, on June 26, five
of us were started off to catch seven armed niggers, supposed
to be driving stolen horses into Mexico, and who had
last been seen about 25 miles from our camp. I knew the
thing was a humbug, but orders had to be obeyed. Three
days we followed that will-o'-the-wisp, and then discovered
the seven niggers had dwindled to two, and they were
driving their master's horses.
"On July 19 the two companies of Partisan Rangers,
one under our own Duff and the other under Captain Freer,
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book 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 Book.
Biggers, Don Hampton, 1869-1957. German Pioneers in Texas; A Brief History of Their Hardships, Struggles and Achievements, book, 1925; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth29394/m1/69/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas at Arlington Library.