CHAPTER XVI.
A POLITICAL SKETCH.
Before proceeding further, we will say in a few words what was thepolitical situation of Texas at the moment when the story we haveundertaken to tell took place.
During the Spanish domination, the Texans claimed their liberty, arms inhand; but after various successes, they were definitively crushed at thebattle of Medina, on August 13th, 1815, a fatal date, by ColonelArredondo, commanding the regiment of Estremadura, who was joined by theMilitia of the State of Cohahuila. From that period up to the secondMexican Revolution, Texas remained bowed beneath the intolerable yoke ofthe military regime, and left defenceless to the incessant attacks ofthe Comanche Indians.
The United States had on many occasions raised claims to that country,declaring that the natural frontiers of Mexico and the Confederationwere the Rio Bravo; but compelled in 1819 to allow ostensibly thattheir claims were not founded, they employed roundabout means to seizeon this rich territory, and incorporate it in their borders.
It was at that time they displayed that astute and patientlyMachiavellian policy, which finally led to their triumph.
In 1821, the first American emigrants made their appearance, timidly,and almost incognito, on the brazos, clearing the land, colonizingsecretly, and becoming in a few years so powerful, that in 1824 they hadmade sufficient progress to form a compact mass of nearly 50,000individuals. The Mexicans, incessantly occupied in struggling oneagainst the other in their interminable civil wars, did not understandthe purport of the American immigration, which they encouraged at theoutset.
Hardly eight years had elapsed since the arrival of the first Americansin Texas, when they formed nearly the entire population.
The Washington Cabinet no longer concealed its intentions, and spokeopenly of buying from the Mexicans the territory of Texas, in which theSpanish element had almost entirely disappeared, to make room for thedaring and mercantile spirit of the Anglo-Saxons.
The Mexican Government, at last aroused from its long lethargy,understood the danger that threatened it from the double invasion of theinhabitants of Missouri and Texas into the State of Santa Fe. It triedto arrest the American emigration, but it was too late; the law passedby the Mexican Congress was powerless, and the colonization was notarrested, in spite of the Mexican military posts scattered along theborder, with orders to turn the immigrants back.
General Bustamante, President of the Republic, seeing that he wouldsoon have to fight with the Americans, silently prepared for theconflict, and sent under different pretexts to Red River and the Sabinavarious bodies of troops, which presently attained to the number of 1200men.
Still, everything remained quiet apparently; and nothing evidenced theperiod when the struggle would commence, which a perfidy on the part ofthe Governor of the Eastern provinces caused to break out at the momentwhen least expected.
The facts were as follow:--
The Commandant of Anahuac arrested and put in prison several Americancolonists, without any plausible grounds.
The Texans had hitherto patiently endured the innumerable vexationswhich the Mexican officers made them undergo, but at this last abuse offorce they rose as if by one accord, and went under arms to theCommandant, demanding with threats and angry shouts the immediateliberation of their fellow-citizens.
The Commandant, too weak to resist openly, feigned to grant what wasasked of him, but represented that he required two days to fulfilcertain formalities, and cover his own responsibility.
The insurgents granted this delay, by which the Commandant profited tosend in all haste to the Nacogdoches garrison to help him.
This garrison arrived at the moment when the insurgents, confiding onthe Governor's promise, were with-drawing.
Furious at having been so perfidiously deceived, the latter returned andmade such an energetic demonstration that the Mexican officer consideredhimself fortunate in escaping a fight by surrendering his prisoners.
At this period, a _pronunciamento_ in favour of Santa Anna hurledGeneral Bustamante from power to the cry of "Long live the Federation!"
Texas was extremely afraid of the system of centralization, from whichit would never have obtained the recognition of its independence as aseparate State, and hence the people were unanimous for Federalism.
The colonists rose, and joining the insurgents of Anahuac who were stillunder arms, marched resolutely on Fort Velasco, to which they laidsiege.
The rallying cry was still "Long live the Federation!" But this time itconcealed the cry of Independence, which the Texans were as yet too weakto raise.
Fort Velasco was defended by a small Mexican garrison, commanded by abrave officer of the name of Ugartechea.
During this extraordinary siege, in which the assailants only replied tothe cannon with rifle bullets, both Texans and Mexicans performedprodigies of valour and displayed extraordinary obstinacy.
The colonists, skilful marksmen, hidden behind enormous barricades,fired as at a mark, and killed the Mexican gunners whenever they showedthemselves to load their guns. Matters reached such a point that theCommandant, seeing his bravest soldiers fall round him, devoted himselfand set to work as artilleryman. Struck by this heroic courage, theTexans, who could have killed the brave Commandant twenty times, ceasedtheir fire, and Ugartechea at length surrendered, giving up a defencewhich was henceforth impossible.
The success filled the colonists with joy, but Santa Anna was notdeceived as to the object of the Texan insurrection; he understood thatfederalism concealed a well-devised revolutionary movement, and farfrom trusting to the apparent devotion of the colonists, so soon as hispower was sufficiently strengthened to allow him to act energeticallyagainst them, he sent off Colonel Mexia with four hundred men, toreestablish in Texas the greatly shaken Mexican authority.
After many hesitations and diplomatic dodges, which had no possibleresult with parties, both of which employed perfidy as their chiefweapon, the war at length broke out furiously; a committee of publicsafety was organized at San Felipe, and the people were called upon totake part in the struggle.
The civil war, however, had not yet officially broken out, when the manat length appeared who was destined to decide the fate of Texas, and forwhom the glory of liberating it was reserved--we allude to SamuelHouston.
From this moment the timid and purposeless insurrection of Texas becamea revolution. Still the Mexican government remained apparently thelegitimate master of the colony, and the colonists were naturallydenominated insurgents, and treated as such, when they fell into thehands of their enemies; that is to say, they were without trial hung,drowned, or shot, according as the spot where they were captured suitedone of these three modes of death.
At the period when our story opens, the exasperation against theMexicans and the enthusiasm for the noble cause of Independence hadreached their acme.
About three weeks previously, a serious engagement had taken placebetween the garrison of Bejar and a detachment of Texan volunteers,commanded by Austin, one of the most renowned Chiefs of the insurgents;in spite of their inferiority in numbers and ignorance of militarytactics, the colonists fought so bravely, and worked their solitary gunso skilfully, that the Mexican troops, after undergoing serious losses,were compelled to retreat precipitately on Bejar.
This action was the first on the west of Texas after the capture of FortVelasco; it decided the revolutionary movement which ran through thecountry like a train of gunpowder.
On all sides the towns raised troops to join the army of liberation;resistance was organized on a grand scale and bold Guerilla Chiefs begantraversing the country in every direction, making war on their ownaccount, and serving after their fashion the cause they embraced andwhich they were supposed to be defending.
Captain Don Juan Melendez, surrounded by enemies the more dangerousbecause it was impossible for him to know their numbers or guess theirmovements; entrusted with an extreme delicate mission; having at eachstep a prescience of treachery incessantly menaci
ng, though ignorantwhere, when, or how it would burst on him; was compelled to employextreme precautions and a merciless severity, if he wished to get safehome the precious charge confided to him; hence he had not hesitatedbefore the necessity of instituting an example by roughly punishingPadre Antonio.
For a long time past, grave suspicions had been gathering over the monk;his ambiguous conduct had aroused distrust, and caused presumptions inno way favourable to his honesty.
Don Juan had determined to clear up his doubts at the first opportunitythat offered; we have stated in what way he had succeeded by springing acountermine, that is to say, by having the spy watched by others moreskilful than himself, and catching him almost red-handed.
Still, we must do the worthy monk the justice of declaring that hisconduct had not the slightest political motive; his thoughts were not soelevated as that; knowing that the Captain was entrusted with the chargeof a conducta de plata, he had only tried to draw him into a trap, forthe sake of having a share in the plunder, and making his fortune at astroke, in order that he might enjoy those indulgences he had hithertogone without; his ideas did not extend further, the worthy man wassimply a highway robber, but there was nothing of the politician abouthim.
We will leave him for the present to follow the two hunters to whom hewas indebted for the rude chastisement he received, and who quitted thecamp immediately after the execution of the sentence.
These two men went off at a great speed, and, after descending the hill,buried themselves in a thick wood, where two magnificent prairie horses,half-tamed Mustangs, with flashing eye and delicate limbs, were quietlybrowsing, while waiting for their riders; they were saddled in readinessfor mounting.
After unfastening the hobbles, the hunters put the bits in their mouths,mounted, and digging in their spurs, started at a sharp gallop.
They rode for a long distance, bent over their horses' necks, followingno regular path, but going straight on, caring little for the obstaclesthey met on their passage, and which they cleared with infinite skill;about an hour before sunrise they at length stopped.
They had reached the entrance of a narrow gorge, flanked on both sidesby lofty wooded hills, the spurs of the mountains, whose denuded crestsseemed from their proximity to hang over the landscape. The huntersdismounted before entering the gorge, and after hobbling their horses,which they hid in a clump of floripondios, they began exploring theneighbourhood with the care and sagacity of Indian warriors seekingbooty on the war-trail.
Their researches remained for a long time sterile, which could easily beperceived from the exclamations of disappointment they every now andthen vented in a low voice: at length, after two hours, the first beamsof the sun dissipated the darkness, and they perceived some almostimperceptible traces which made them start with joy.
Probably feeling now liberated from the anxiety that tormented them,they returned to their horses, lay down on the ground, and afterfumbling in their alforjas, drew from them the materials for a modestbreakfast, to which they did honour with the formidable appetite of menwho have spent the whole night in the saddle, riding over mountains andvalleys.
Since their departure from the Mexican camp the hunters had notexchanged a syllable, apparently acting under the influence of a darkpreoccupation, which rendered any conversation unnecessary.
In fact, the silence of men accustomed to desert life is peculiar; theypass whole days without uttering a word, only speaking when necessityobliges them, and generally substituting for oral language that languageof signs which, in the first place, has the incontestable advantage ofnot betraying the presence of those who employ it to the ears ofinvisible enemies constantly on the watch, and ready to leap, like birdsof prey, on the imprudent persons who allow themselves to be surprised.
When the hunters' appetite was appeased, the one whom the Captain calledJohn lit his short pipe, placed it in the corner of his month, and,handed the tobacco-pouch to his comrade.
"Well, Sam," he said in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard, "Ifancy we have succeeded, eh?"
"I think so too, John," Sam replied with a nod of affirmation; "you aredeucedly clever, my boy."
"Nonsense," the other said disdainfully; "there is no merit in deceivingthose brutes of Spaniards; they are stupid as bustards."
"No matter, the Captain fell into the hole in a glorious way."
"Hum! it was not he I was afraid of; for he and I have been good friendsfor a long time; but it was the confounded monk."
"Eh, eh, if he had not arrived just in time, he would probably havespoiled our fun; what is your opinion, John?"
"I think you are right, Sam. By Jabers, I laughed at seeing him writheunder the chicote."
"It was certainly a glorious sight; but are you not afraid that he mayavenge himself? these monks are devilishly spiteful."
"Bah! what have we to fear from such vermin? He will never dare to lookus in the face."
"No matter, we had better be on our guard. Our trade is a queer one, asyou know, and it is very possible that some day or other this accursedanimal may play us an ugly trick."
"Don't bother about him; what we did was all fair in war. Be assuredthat, under similar circumstances, the monk would not have spared us."
"That is true; so let him go to the deuce; the more so as the prey wecovet could not be in a better situation for us. I should never pardonmyself if I let it escape."
"Shall we remain here in ambush?"
"That is the safest way; we shall have time to rejoin our comrades whenwe see the recua enter the plain; and, besides, have we not to meetsomebody here?"
"That is true, I forgot it."
"And stay, when you speak of the devil--here is our man."
The hunters rose quickly, seized their rifles, and hid themselves behinda rock, so as to be ready for any event.
The rapid gallop of a horse became audible, approaching nearer andnearer; ere long a rider emerged from the gorge, and pulled up calmlyand haughtily at about two paces from the hunters.
The latter rushed from their ambuscade, and advanced toward him, withthe right arm extended, and the palm of the hand open in sign of peace.
The horseman, who was an Indian warrior, responded to these pacificdemonstrations by letting his buffalo robe float out; then hedismounted, and without further ceremony, shook the hands offered him.
"You are welcome, Chief," John said; "we were awaiting you impatiently."
"My Pale brothers can look at the sun," the Indian answered; "Blue-foxis punctual."
"That is true, Chief; there is nothing to be said, for you areremarkably punctual."
"Time waits for no man; warriors are not women; Blue-fox would like tohold a council with his Pale brothers."
"Be it so," John went on: "your observation is just. Chief, so let usdeliberate; I am anxious to come to a definitive understanding withyou."
The Indian bowed gravely to the speaker, sat down, lit his pipe, and,began smoking with evident pleasure; the hunters took seats by his side,and, like him, remained silent during the whole period their tobaccolasted.
At length, the Chief shook the ashes out of the bowl on his thumbnail,and prepared to speak.
At the same instant a detonation was heard, and a bullet cut away abranch just over the Chiefs head.
The three men leaped to their feet, and seizing their arms, preparedbravely to repulse the enemies who attacked them so suddenly.
The Border Rifles: A Tale of the Texan War Page 16