Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas Page: 73 of 372
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EN O C Y CLh P ED I. 1A.
63
RIobinson, before alluded to, and at once the fire "And the red field was won."
firing became general. It may be said here of
Robinson, who it seems was rather fond of the In the battle EIdwim Walir was wounded in the
*oleuimm f.imoenti, that his wife bitterly opposed his i, ad it is probably that his life was saved by
joining the volunteers, and in her irritation at his his having tied around l his brow a thikly twisted
obstinacy on his head she expressed the hope that hndkerchief, which turned or deadened tihe force
the Mexicans might shoot him. Strangely enough of the bullet, but the concussion gave him a painhe
was perhaps the first Texan killed on the o0cd ful bruise and a pair of " black eyes" for several
sion. The fight continued fiercely through the das atter. Among others killMd d wounded are
night, and nearly every ball fromn the fort perfo- remeibered several from Matagorda county, a
night, and O~~~~~~~dttavhment having joiniedi the Texanis fromi- that
rated the planks protecting the Texans, scattering tachment having i ed the lexans Rrom hat
,., r ,,1 ,. -, , .. , coiinty, organized by 'S,. B. Buckner and Robert 1.
many. Among others, Colonel, then Captain Robert W illims, the former of whom was killed and the
H. Williamis, of Mlatagorda, lost an eye from a later wounded, losing an eye, as already stated.
:sphnter. -i ~~~~~The garrison, after their surrertder, were allowed
:plBy daye lit many of to retain their side-arms and personal property, and
By dlayliglit inany of tlhe attackiii- party we-re ,
" '[i r 1 1 +i * ~~~~~~somi-e of thiemi were seint by water to Matainoras.
.disabled, the guns of many were clogged up, their some of them were sent by ater to 'atamoras.
aisauu.a, r but tn i The b(attle occuedie durimn th(,, supremacy of Busammunition
was failing, and, to use the expression Th battle oured uring the supremacy of Bus.
. to? (, , , , ,, ,tamnenta, wlho wvas succeede-d by b,Santa Anna, who,
of a brave participant, they were "right badly used tau , who was succeeded by Santa Ana, who,
up." Mo re than one of them, too, "limbered ti .soon after his accession to power, dispatched five
up. ^ lore tlian one of tlhemi, too, "lIimiberedI to) ,1 .1I*i-
, .,. , (. . -,. ,T i vessels (if wiar heavilv ladlei witli troops and
rear" for safety, without "standing on tIme order vessels of war heavily ladem with troops and
rear"to satywitoirt'stanuigonhe^o^^^^^n-iuiitionis, to retale the Fort of Velasco, aii,l to
-of his going." Colonel MNunson, the father of the munitions, to retake t he ot of Velasco, and to
present Judge Munson, of Brazoria, and Thomas exterminate the capturers thereof. This armament
Westall, had charge of the guard to "keep up with colors flyig, and with grand display, saile
-stragglers," and by their coolness and steadiness up and anchored off Vlsco, preparatory to disrendered
great service in the engagenient. emnbarking for the purpose of "tlthinning out" the
rendered great service in the engagement iibt.n.Tine,o cus,oorahd
inlhabita.nts. This iiews, of cour,se, sooii reaclied
The fort "flashed its red artillery' for a space, iile t of cou r use, soo rea
but the Texan riflemen soon silenced most of the the people of t he ntry, an cause d the wildest
guns. Their terrible precision so intimidatedcl the excitement. "Then there was hurrying to amid
.enemy that they dared not stand by their pieces, fro;" the people s ent runners with the tidings in
but sponged and loaded lying flat on their backs every direction, and a convention was called to
under the guns. E~ven this plan was finally aban- meet forthwith at Brazoria, to devise measures.to
under the guiis. Even tlhis plan was fiially aban- mee th isue Th convenitioi ivas lield accord.oned,
for the unerring marksmen shot them in meet the issue. The convention was held accordthe
hands and armis. The gallant war craft iny, and after deliberation, Colonel William. H.
' daway" with her two pieces, but was Wharton, as chairman of a committee, was sent
"'pounded away" with her two pieces, but wasailunable
to do perfect execution from the relative down to Vlaso, to confeedeavor wito stay the tireatened deanposition
of the combatants, and the fact that her thorities, and endeavor to stay te threatened de'principal
ammunition was "trace chains," which strui gentlean, so distigised in .is ays for
though generally useful, were not exactly suited to This gentleman, o distinguised in his days for
'that purpose. The work was principally done by sagacity and ility, adoted as the wisest diplo
small arms, and not noticeable in the garrison was niacy for the hour, the plan of tem'porizing with
a company commanded by a German, which. was the I i . enemy , and in the t e rw which he held
'posted in the ditch outside the fort. The detach- with the hostile chiefs, with all the eloquence for
ment did earnest work, and finally, being out of which li e was noted, set out the facts that the
ammunition, the officer ordered a detail into the Texans bad ever been loyal to the hexican govfort
for more. To this thld courage of his men was eminent, especiall y to Santa Anna; that the cap-ent"
unequal, as going into the fort they must neces- tare of Velasco was only a "party movement"
unequal, as ging into thefort they mut nece ainst Bustamenta, to show tlheir. deep devotion
sarily be exposed to the deadly fire of the rifles. against Bustameta, to show t heir deep devotion
Enraged at their cowardice, the officer made the to the cause of Santa Annai; anid that the whole
-attempt, but fell almost the instant lie exposed his affair originated in there admiration for him, andi
his body. This terrified his company, and they was but a pleasant way the Madoptedin to show their concommunicated
the countersign to the fort and then loyalty. He wlomed the exians to the ounamid
the wild huzzas of the patriots the whiteflag try, and besought the officers to come up to Brazofluttered
from the fort, ari and partake of the hospitality of its patriotic
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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/m1/73/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.