Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 223 of 894

INDIN IVARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

201

E. M. PEASE,
AUSTIN.

We have selected for the subject of this memoir
lion. Elislsa Marshall Pease, a man who, in his day
an(l generation, moved as a colossal figure upon
the stage of action in Texas.
His career covered the most momentous epochs
in the history of the State, the Texas revolution,
the (lays of the Republic, annexation, the war
between the States, and the era of reconstruction.
A sufficient period of time has now elapsed since
the happening of those events for the formation of
a true estimate of his character and services, and
to enable the historian, by a dispassionate consideration
of the circumstances that surrounded
him, to obtain an insight into tile motives that
l)rompted his pul)lic acts.
He was born at Enfield, Conn., January 3, 1812,
and enjoyed such educational 'advantages as were
afforded by the schools of his native town and a
short attendance at an academy at Westfield,
Mass. His parents were Lorain Thompson, and
Sarah (Marshall), Pease.
At the age of fourteen he was placed in a country
store where he remained three years. From
that time until 1834, he was a clerk at the post
office at Hartford.
The greater part of the year 1834 was spent in
traveling in the Northwestern States, and in the
fall he went to New Orleans. In that city he met
many persons from Texas, and, allured by the glowing
accounts which they gave of the character and
prospects of the country beyond the Sabine, determined
to seek a home and fortune within its
confines. Accordingly, in the month of January,
1835, he took passage on a sailing vessel, landed at
the port of Velasco, and from thence made ilis way
to the frontier settlements on the Colorado, and
located at Mina, now tlie town of Bastrop, where
he began the study of law in the office of Col. I).
C. Barrett, who had but recently entered upon the
practice of the profession.
The times were not such, however, that a highspirited
and mettlesome young man could sit
q,lietly in an office and pore over the musty pages
of the law and, while he applied himself with such
assiduity as was possible under the circumstance3,
his studies were interrupted and he made little
progress therein until later and less stormy days.
The people of Texas were smarting under a long
train of injustices and oppressions inflicted upon

them by the Mexican government and were threatene(l
with thie entire overthrow of their liberties.
The affairs at Anahuac and Velasco, in 1832, which
hal resulted in the expulsion of Bradburn from the
country, were fresh in memory and tle capture of
Anahuac by Travis an(l a few fearless followers was
near at hand, conventions had been held at San
Felipe in 1832 and 1833, asking for reforms in many
directions and the reforms had been denied and the
complaints of the petitioners treated with haughty
and indignant contempt. The remnant of the once
powerful Liberal party in Mexico, that in time
past had responded to tlie clarion calls of Hidalgo
and Morelos, had made its last stand for the
constituti,n and been irretrievably defeated upon
the blood-soaked plains of Guadalupe and Zacatecas
by the minions of Santa Anna, whose baleful star
was then rising towards its zenith. A strong central
despotism, inimical to the Anglo-American settlers
of Texas. was no longer a danger threatened by
the future, but an accomplished fact. To the
dullest ear was distinctly audlible the rumblings
of the approaching revolution. A crisis
was upon the country. It was a time to try the
stoutest hearts
for patriots to stand firm, counsel
resistance, and prepare for the impending
struggle. and for the timid to talk in bated
whispers and prate of compromise and peace,
when tlere could be no compromise and peace without
the (lislionor of virtual slavery. On the one
hand was arrayed ttie powerful Mexican nation,
numbering several millions of inhabitants and
possessing an army and navy, well equipped and
well officered ; on the other a small band of pioneers,
possessed of no resources and widely scattered
over a vast expanse of hill and valley, plain
and forest, and with no facilities for bringing about
speedy concentration and concert of action. Such
was the l)rospect that confronted the people of
Texas. It was gloomy indeed. But there were
those among the pioneers (and not a.few) who had
inbibed with their mother's milk detestation of inju3tice
and tyranny in all its forms and that love of
liberty and tliose manly sentiments that in all ages
have taught the brave to count danger and death as
nothing wlien their rights, liberties or honor were
invaded and could only be maintained by a
resort to the sword. Descended from a race
whose sons were among the first to respond