The Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, Volume 21, Number 1, November 1985 Page: 83
106 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SKETCH OF THE TEXIAN REVOLUTION (1835)
west side of the San Jacinto river. Immediately, General Houston, at the
head of about seven hundred effective men, took up the line of march and
arrived in sight of the enemy on the morning of the twentieth. The day was
spent in reconnoitering the enemy, and exchanging a few shots between the
artillery without much effect on either side. But the particulars of this bat-
tle and glorious victory, which resulted in the
CAPTURE OF SANTA ANNA,
and the entire division under his command, we shall give in the words of
a number of individuals who were in the contest.
On the morning of the twenty-first, the enemy commenced maneuver-
ing, and we expected to be attacked in our camp, as they had received a
re-inforcement of five hundred men, which made them twelve hundred
strong; but they settled down and continued throwing up a breast work,
which they had commenced at the first news of our approach. We com-
menced the attack upon them at half past four o'clock P.M. by a hot fire
from our artillery, consisting of two ordinary four pounders. The enemy
returned our fire with a long brass nine pounder. The contest was a regular
battle. The Texians, notwithstanding the great disparity of force, posi-
tively demanded of Gen. Houston to fight. Consequently, he ordered an
advanced guard against the Mexicans; yet enjoined them not to attack, but
retreat, to bring the enemy into a defile. This being accomplished, Houston
immediately flanked and attacked him in front and on both sides - open-
ing first with artillery, which, on the second fire, dispersed to atoms the
powder boxes of the Mexicans; and then with rifles. The Texians then rushed
in from their ambuscade, with pistols, knives and hatchets, and completed
the work of destruction. The fight lasted about fifteen minutes, when
Santa Anna ordered a retreat. The Mexican soldiers theni threw down their
arms, most of them without firing, and begged for quarters [sic]. The of-
ficers broke and endeavored to escape. The mounted riflemen, however,
soon overtook all but one, who distanced the rest; him they ran fifteen miles,
when his horse bogged down in the prairie near the Brassos [sic] timber;
he then made for the timber on foot. His pursuers in the eagerness of the
chase, dashed into the same bog, and continued the pursuit on foot, following
the trail of the fugitive, which was very plain, owing to the recent rains,
until they reached the timber, where it was lost. The pursuers then spread
themselves and searched the woods for a long time in vain, when it occur-
red to an old Hunter that the chase might, like a hard-pressed bear, have
taken a tree. The tree tops were then examined, when lo, the game was
discovered snugly ensconced in the fork of a large live oak. The captors
did not know who the prisoner was, until they reached the camp, when theNov. 1985]
83
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue 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 Periodical.
Texas Gulf Historical Society. The Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, Volume 21, Number 1, November 1985, periodical, November 1985; Beaumont, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1433656/m1/85/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Gulf Historical Society.