The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 8, July 1904 - April, 1905 Page: 157

De Witt's Colony.

The volunteers had by this time reached the number of three
hundred.1 Without waiting for Austin's answer, they held a
council of war and temporarily organized the troops. Arrange-
ments were made to secure as soon as possible supplies such as
beeves, wagons, teams, spades, shovels, axes, and hoes. A large
cornfield was secured from Eli Mitchell as a place of encampment.
On the same evening, information having been received of the
advance of the Mexicans upon Victoria, one hundred men were
despatched thither to help defend that place.
It was generally agreed that the best plan would be to attack
Bejar and thus to prevent the colony from becoming the battle
ground. Preparatory to such a campaign, however, a new and
permanent organization was necessary, and the first step was the
election of a commander-in-chief. On the morning of October
11, the board of war met and resolved that at four o'clock in the
afternoon the election should be held by companies. This an-
nouncement produced the greatest excitement in camp. The men
were mostly strangers to each other, and those from each section
had a candidate to suggest for the place. None of the factions
seemed willing to submit to the choice of any other, and many of
the volunteers threatened to return to their homes provided their
favorites were not elected. Feeling ran so high that it seemed for
a time that the troops might disband.
Just at this critical moment,2 Stephen F. Austin arrived. The
effect was remarkable. Factional wranglings at once ceased. All
parties rallied around the general favorite, and he was unani-
mously chosen as commander-in-chief of the army of Texas. He
saw that he alone could meet the exigency, and, although in feeble
health, he immediately assumed command.8 The same day he re-
organized the forces. On the morning of the 12th the troops began
manuscript copy of W. T. Austin's account of the campaign of 1835, in
the possession of the University of Texas.
1John H. Moore to San Felipe committee of safety, October 6, 1835.
Archives of Texas, D file 13, no. 1248.
2 October 8. He came at about one o'clock in the afternoon.
'All that is told above concerning the formation of the board of war
and the organization of the forces is based upon the account of the cam-
paign of 1835 by William T. Austin (A Comprehensive History of Teoas,
I, 538-540). The writer of this account was in Gonzales during this period.
He was secretary of one of the meetings held by the board of war.

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