Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas Page: 31 of 372
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ENCYCLOPEDIA, P EZ)IA
27
.' ... . .. ED . .
them. A pealing volley fromn the Texan rifles from San Antonio, on the Solado, by the Texans
checked their march, and before Woll could with- under Hayes and Burleson, and without loss on
draw them, fourteen were slain outright and twenty- their own side, if we except the La Grange cornseven
wounded. Having placed his men under pany under Captain Dawson, which was surrounded
cover, General Woll brought up two six-pounder by the Mexican troops in the prairie, while on the
guns, and being well advised of the numerical march to rendezvous, and cut to pieces; seven
weakness of the Texans, made his disposition for only of the number escaping.
surrounding them and cutting off their escape. On On the 23d, Woll marched on his return to
the roof of the Dwyer House, on the south-east Mexico, carrying his fellow-prisoners with him.
corner of the Plaza, he posted thirty-five Cushatta On the way, one of the number, Mr. Cunningham,
Indians, who formed part of his force. Another died and was buried on the Leona. On their ardetatchment
crossed the river and took post near rival at Perote they were subjected to the most
the large Pecan tree, in front of the barracks. The humiliating and cruel treatment, being confined to
east bank was guarded by cavalry, also, and the cells, and frequently chained two together; Major
preparations of the Mexican commander being now Colquhoun being, if I mistake not, Mr. Maverick's
complete, lie sent an office. with a flag, to sum- companion in these bonds of adversity. Of these
morn the little band to surrender as honorable they were relieved, from time to timne, to work on
prisoners of war, adding, that if the conditions a stone quarry, or on the road which Santa Anna
offered were not accepted within ten minutes, he was constructing to his palace of Tacubaya. I
would advance with the bayonet. During the fire have seen the quondam prisoners smile grimly
of musketry and artillery to which they were ex- when allusion was made to the little work the
posed while Woll was posting his troops, it is sin- Mexicans got out of the Texan captives. While
gular that not one of the little band of Texans was they were here, many attempts were made to bribe
hit; they being partially covered by the low para- them with promises of office and favor, and Mr.
pet of tie flat-roofed ihouse. The only one of them Maverick, particularly, was approached, on account
who received any injury was Mr. Manclaca, who of 'his influence in Bexar; but he like his companwas
struck on the knee by a fragment of stone ions in captivity, had naught but scorn for their
detached by a round shot-from the effects of offers, which utterly failed to seduce them from
which he walks lame to this day. Resistance their faith and allegiance to Texas.
being evidently vain, the small band surrendered, By the intercession of Waddy Thompson, then
and were, on the retreat of Woll, marched to the American minister to Mexico, and a relative of Mr.
Castle of Perote, and there imprisoned, under cir- Maverick, the latter, with Judge William E. Jones
cumnstances of the greatest harshness and old Judge Hutchinson, were released in April,
General Woll has been generally and loudly de- 1843; others were released at the instance of the
nounced for breach of faith toward his prisoners; British minister, while others, of whom the leader
but it is not generally known that in sparing their was John Twohig, disdained to ask protection from
lives he disobeyed the express orders of President either power, and manfully dug their way out of
Santa Anna, to put to death every man taken the fortress, making good their escape to Texas,
witli arms in his hands as a rebel and a traitor. in the spring of 1844.
These orders were shown by 'Woll; in 1863, to an The following extract from a report of a speech
intimate friend of Mr. Maverick (now present)- made by General Waddy Thompson, at Greenville,
on whichl occasion he made maniy friendly inquiries South Carolina, in May 1844, sets the conduct and
for Maverick, Colquhoun, Twohig, and others, by character of Mr. Maverick during his captivity, in
name. When asked why he had not defenided his the most honorable light. "Among the many
course by the publication of these orders, Woll interesting incidents which General Thompson
replied that he himself owed, not only his life, mentioned, there was one particularly so, as it
under similar circumstance, to the intervention of related particularly to a gentleman born and eduSanta
but also his position in the Mexican cated in this neighborhood-Mr. Samuel A. Maverarmy,
and that he could inot, honorably, vindicate ick-which, in the language of General Thompson,
himself by the exposure of one to whom he owed was not only honorable to the man himself, but to
so much. human nature. Mr. Mayverick was a young man of
After the surrender of Maverick, Colquhoun, large fortune, with a young wife and three or fdur
Twohig, Hutchinson, and their companions, Woll, interesting children. When he arrived at his
was utterly defeated, with great loss, five miles prison, at Perote, lie wrote to General Thompson
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Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas (Book)
Biographical view of Texas and its history including narratives of the individuals who helped shape Texas history and information about important point in history including: the pioneer days of Texas, Texas' transition from a Mexican state to being part of the United States, and the wars in which Texas citizens took part.
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Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas, book, 1880; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5827/m1/31/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.