Texas Rising

by Stephen L. Moore

  Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis, the Alamo commander. Reportedly drawn in 1835 by his friend Wiley Martin, this only likeness of Travis is questioned by many historians.

  David “Davy” Crockett, Tennessee politician and folk hero who went to Texas to fight in the revolution.

  Alamo survivor Susanna Dickinson, wife of Captain Almeron Dickinson.

  James Bowie, fabled knife fighter and co-commander of the Alamo, fell gravely ill before the Mexican assault on the fortress.

  Juan N. Seguín, in uniform in 1837 for a portrait while serving as lieutenant colonel of Texas Cavalry. Seguín was one of the last couriers from the Alamo and later commanded a tejano company at San Jacinto.

  Colonel James Walker Fannin, commander of the men at Goliad, failed to come to the aid of the Alamo defenders.

  Selection of the early weapons used by Texan settlers in the 1830s. At top is an 1820s-era .48-caliber Pennsylvania/Kentucky flintlock rifle, a type carried by many early frontiersmen. Above it is a .60-caliber flintlock pistol. Below the rifle are a Bowie knife and a nineteenth-century powder horn. Photo by Tom Knowles, courtesy of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.

  In an early action of the Texas Revolution, Andrew Briscoe was arrested in October 1835 by Mexican authorities in Anahuac. William Barret Travis led a Texan mob that stormed the jail and secured his release. Oil on canvas painting by Charles Shaw, San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston.

  The Texas Revolution opened with the battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835. Mexican troops advancing on the town were met at the Guadalupe River on September 29 by eighteen militiamen. They had one small cannon and a defiant flag printed with the phrase “Come and Take It.” “Battle of Gonzales” by Charles Shaw, San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston.

  Robert Jenkins Onderdonk painted The Fall of the Alamo in 1903. This depiction portrays Davy Crockett with an upraised rifle fighting off Mexican soldiers who have breached the walls of the mission on March 6, 1836.

  A modern view of the Alamo church in San Antonio.

  Texas prisoners are marched from the Mission La Bahía in Goliad on March 27, 1836, by order of General Santa Anna. Painting by Donald Yena.

  More than 300 Texans are executed in the so-called Goliad Massacre. “Remember Goliad” illustration by Norman Price, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

  News of the fall of the Alamo and the subsequent Goliad Massacre created chaos amongst Texas settlers. The mass exodus of citizens toward the east became known as the Runaway Scrape. “Runaway Scrape” by Charles Shaw, San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston.

  On April 16, 1836, Sam Houston’s army reached the pivotal fork in the road. One road led toward Nacogdoches and the United States, the other toward Harrisburg and San Jacinto. Oil on canvas painting by Charles Shaw, San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston.

  Sam Houston delivered a motivational speech to his soldiers from horseback prior to their crossing Buffalo Bayou on April 19. “General Sam Houston” equestrian portrait by Stephen Seymour Thomas, 1903, San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston.

  THE TEXAS ARMY AT SAN JACINTO

  Colonel Edward Burleson, commander, First Regiment of Texas Volunteers.

  Colonel Sidney Sherman, Second Regiment of Texas Volunteers commander.

  Captain Jesse Billingsley, Bastrop frontiersman and future Ranger commander.

  Captain Robert James Calder, Company K, First Regiment, at San Jacinto.

  Erastus “Deaf” Smith, favored scout of Sam Houston.

  Captain Henry Wax Karnes, cavalry leader at San Jacinto and later frontier leader.

  Colonel Thomas J. Rusk, Texas Secretary of War at San Jacinto.

  Colonel Alexander Horton, aide-de-camp to General Houston.

  Mirabeau B. Lamar was promoted to be commander of the Texas Cavalry.

  THE MEXICAN ARMY IN TEXAS

  President Antonio López de Santa Anna Pérez de Lebrón, leader of the Mexican forces that entered Texas.

  General Martín Perfecto de Cós, the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, brought reinforcements to the San Jacinto battleground.

  Colonel Juan Almonte, the English-speaking advisor to Santa Anna.

  General Vicente Filisola, the Italian-born second-in-command of the Mexican Army of Operations.

  General José Urrea, commander of one of the divisions of the Mexican Army.

  Deaf Smith and his volunteers, unable to burn the bridge over Vince’s Bayou, destroy the remnants on the morning of April 21 to prevent Mexican reinforcements from reaching the San Jacinto battleground. “Destroying Vince’s Bridge,” by Charles Shaw, courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston.

  Walter Paye Lane survived San Jacinto and later served with the Texas Rangers in the 1840s. Lane rose to the rank of brigadier general during the Civil War.

  Private Walter Lane is rescued on April 20 by Captain Henry Karnes while Mirabeau Lamar, future Texas president, holds off Mexican soldiers. “Sherman’s First Skirmish,” oil painting by Charles Shaw, courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston.

  Henry Arthur McArdle’s 1895 painting Battle of San Jacinto. The original artwork hangs in the senate chambers of the Texas State Capitol.

  Colonel Sidney Sherman’s Kentucky Volunteers carried this “Liberty or Death” battle flag at San Jacinto.

  These photos—taken during the annual San Jacinto reenactment ceremonies—depict Texans charging the Mexican breastworks, the Mexican Guerrero Battalion firing back, and Texan artillery crews preparing to fire the Twin Sisters cannon. Courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston, and author’s collection.

  After being routed in a mere eighteen minutes, Mexican soldiers fled into the boggy grounds and the bay called Peggy’s Lake. Vengeful Texans cut them down until order could be restored to the troops. “Massacre at Peggy’s Lake” by Charles Shaw, courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston.

  Taken in the late 1800s, this photo shows the large post oak tree in the Texan camp where Sam Houston was lying when Santa Anna surrendered. Buffalo Bayou lies in the background. This early Kodak was sent to San Jacinto artist Henry McArdle.

  Sam Houston—and his long rifle—accept Santa Anna’s surrender. Library of Congress

  This Donald M. Yena painting of the Neches River battle shows Cherokee Chief Bowles being shot down on July 16, 1839. The Cherokee War of Texas drove most of the surviving people of Bowles from the republic.

  Chief Bowles, known in his native tongue as Duwali, was the leader of the Cherokees who came to settle in Texas in 1819.

  “Battle of Plum Creek.” More than five hundred Comanches, sporting war paint and stolen clothing, are met in battle by Texan forces on August 12, 1840.

  John Coffee Hays, the most respected Texas Ranger of the 1840s. He was known to his foes as “Captain Jack” or “Devil Jack.”

  Ben McCulloch was first lieutenant of Captain Hays’s Rangers in 1844. He helped man the Twin Sisters cannon at San Jacinto.

  CAPTAIN JACK HAYS AND HIS RANGERS

  Cicero Rufus “Rufe” Perry joined the Texas Rangers in 1836 and fought Comanches with Jack Hays in the 1840s. Perry was severely wounded in an 1844 Comanche ambush on his Ranger camp.

  Pasqual Leo Buquor, later the mayor of San Antonio, rode with Captain Hays in 1841 and 1844.

  Samuel Hamilton Walker, survived the Mier Expedition and rode with Hays in 1844.

  Jack Hays sat for this oil painting in later years in California. It depicts his famous solo stand against Comanches in late 1841 atop Enchanted Rock in present Llano County. Gift of Mrs. Roblay McMullins, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.

  William Alexander Anderson “Bigfoot” Wallace, famous Texas Ranger and survivor of the Mier executions.

  Early firearms of the Texas frontier used during the 1840s. Shown left to right are: an 1838 model .52-caliber revolving carbine (often used by cavalrymen); a .36-caliber Patent No. 5 “Texas” model Colt revolving pistol; and an 1837 mod
el ring-lever action .52-caliber revolving rifle. Photo by Tom Knowles, courtesy of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.

  14

  SLAUGHTER AT SAN JACINTO

  ONE MILE AWAY FROM the Mexican Army on the cattle ranch of Peggy McCormick, the Texian camp was stirring first. At 4 A.M. on April 21, 1836, a former slave from New Orleans named Dick tapped reveille on his drum in the brisk morning air while Sam Houston slept soundly. Some wondered aloud if their commander in chief would sleep all day.1

  Colonel Robert Coleman could hear the reveille of Santa Anna’s army an hour later. General Houston, who had never slept more than three straight hours since the start of the campaign, snored soundly for another two hours while his troops stood under arms. Santa Anna, on the other hand, had been awake since long before sunrise studying the Texan camp with his spyglass. His Golden Standard cannon was held in readiness on the left side of camp, protected by his cavalry and a column of companies under command of acting Lieutenant Colonel Santiago Luelmo. On the right of His Excellency’s camp were three companies of men to guard the woods while the permanent Matamoros Battalion held battle formation in the center.2

  Santa Anna was awaiting the arrival of his brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos, with five hundred reinforcement troops. In the meantime, Colonel Pedro Delgado discussed with General Manuel Castrillón his displeasure of their leader’s chosen campground location. The young soldados were busily constructing a defensive breastworks with boxes, grain bags, and pack saddles, but Delgado feared it would not be nearly enough. The Texians would be able to advance through some wooded cover and had ample space for retreat to their rear and to their right side. Santa Anna’s troops, in contrast, were backed by marshes and bay shores that offered no opportunity for easy flight if they were overpowered. “The camping ground of His Excellency’s selection was, in all respects, against military rules,” Delgado felt. “Any youngster would have done better.”3

  The late spring sun soon warmed the pasturelands as the opposing armies sat idle. General Houston soon sent his trusty spy Deaf Smith and Captain Henry Karnes to ascertain the enemy’s strength. While Smith was rumored to have a passion for alcohol, he was also a master of espionage. Texas folklore has it that the dark-skinned spy wandered aimlessly into the Mexican camp barefoot, wearing a large sombrero and ragged pants and shirt. When confronted by armed soldiers, Smith pretended to be a simple-minded Mexican worker. He played stupid or only mumbled brief Spanish answers to his interrogators. The Mexican soldiers reportedly tired of quizzing the fool and Smith later stumbled away from their encampment. Karnes met him out of sight, offered Deaf his horse, and away they rode to enlighten old Sam as to their enemy’s strength.4

  Santa Anna enjoyed a bright moment around 9 A.M. when General Cos finally arrived with his reinforcements. His joy was short-lived, however, as he found that 20 percent of Cos’s five hundred troops had been delayed in their march due to heavy pack loads. While Santa Anna had ordered select infantrymen, his brother-in-law arrived with what he considered to be “raw recruits.” Even worse, the soldiers had been subjected to a forced march that had not allowed them to eat or sleep for more than twenty-four hours.5

  Sam Houston dressed for the day in his Cherokee coat, buckskin vest, and silver-spurred riding boots. He wore a broad cap and from his pistol belt dangled his ceremonial Cherokee sword. As the morning hours whittled away with inactivity, the Texians who were already disgusted with Houston’s perceived lack of desire to fight became more vocal. By noon he was informed that some of his officers were anxious to hold a council of war.6

  General Houston pulled together his senior officers: Colonel Burleson and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Somervell of the First Regiment; Lieutenant Colonel Henry Millard of the regulars; and Colonel Sidney Sherman, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Bennett, and Major Lysander Wells of the Second Regiment. There was some discussion about building a floating bridge across Buffalo Bayou, to be used for retreat if necessary. As word of this idea filtered back to the battle-eager troops, some were appalled. Captain Amasa Turner said that his men despised such a plan, saying, “We will go out and whip the Mexicans while Old Sam builds his bridge.”7

  The bridge idea was dismissed and a vote was finally put before the very officers who had long criticized Houston’s every move. “Should we attack the enemy in their position, or shall we await his attack?” That was the question. Surprisingly, two-thirds of the officers voted in favor of waiting on Santa Anna to make the first move. Should the Mexican Army fail to advance on the Texian camp by late afternoon, however, the officers were in favor of initiating the action. With that, Houston announced, “Gentlemen, you are adjourned.”8

  The Texian officers moved back to their respective commands to spread the word: the mind-numbing waiting game was to continue.

  SANTA ANNA DID NOT press an offensive. The Texians were not completely idle during those next hours, however.

  Deaf Smith conferred with Sam Houston on a plan to use a pair of axes to chop down or set afire Vince’s Bridge. Any reinforcements for Santa Anna traveling down the main wagon road between Harrisburg and Lynchburg would thus be greatly slowed in reaching the battlefield while circumnavigating the rain-flooded Vince’s Bayou. Smith and six other cavalrymen raced the eight-mile distance on horseback while Karnes, Captain William Smith, and their comrades created a brief diversion. Deaf Smith’s party found the wood of the bridge would not burn sufficiently so they chopped and broke it apart.9

  “Deef” Smith could not resist having fun with his young recruits during the return trip. About three-quarters of a mile from the Texas camp, he halted them in a deep, dry hollow. He said that he would ride ahead to check for Mexican troops. Moments later, Smith came racing back, shouting that the prairie ahead was filled with newly arrived Mexican cavalrymen.

  “My orders are to return to camp,” announced Smith. “I will do it or die!”

  He told his men to prepare their guns and follow him Indian file through the dry hollow to where it joined Buffalo Bayou. Smith took off, with his men close in tow. Once he broke into the open prairie, he whipped his horse on and raced ahead, howling with laughter. Perry Alsbury and the other anxious cavalrymen realized their nerves had been put to the test by old Deef: not a single Mexican horseman was in sight on the prairie.10

  Santa Anna returned from his reconnaissance of Sam Houston’s forces around 2 P.M. Corporal Juan Reyes of the permanent Matamoros Battalion noted that His Excellency allowed the cavalry’s horses to be unsaddled and watered while the infantrymen proceeded to eat their meals. Toribio Reyes, a private of the Grenadier Company of the Matamoros Battalion, stated that Santa Anna “ordered a pound of flour per garrison to make tortillas and take mess.” Santa Anna then retired to his fancy campaign tent.11

  By 3 P.M., Colonel Ed Burleson galloped up to where George Erath was surveying the distant Mexican camp. “George,” called Burleson. “Run down and tell your captain and the captains on the right to come up here instantly and meet me.” Erath gathered the captains and some of the lieutenants of Burleson’s First Regiment for a conference with their leader. Burleson told them the Mexican Army appeared to be reinforcing itself with no intention of commencing battle. Another vote was taken: should the Texians attack immediately or wait until just before daybreak?12

  Captains Moseley Baker and Bob Calder preferred a 4 A.M. assault, but most desired to commence the action right away. Lieutenant Colonel Bennett similarly called together Sidney Sherman’s Second Regiment. Their company commanders also voted in favor of an immediate attack. Bennett soon reported that the men were ready to fight, so Houston passed the word at 3:30 P.M., “Parade your companies.”13

  “The announcement of the decision to fight acted like electricity,” wrote Erath. George Brown and Dick, the former slave, called the men together with a gentle tapping of their drums to signal general parade. Sam Houston’s four divisions of men fanned out in front of the mossy hardwood grove where they had camped over
night. The Texian general, mounted on his fine grayish mare, Saracen, made a final inspection of his troops. By best count, he had some 930 men present on the battlefield.14

  Only two of General Houston’s officers, Colonels John Wharton and Sidney Sherman, wore proper military uniforms. Captain William Wood’s Kentucky Riflemen, financed by Sherman, was the only Texian company sporting uniforms. Every other foot soldier, artilleryman, or cavalryman wore their citizen’s clothing. In the case of most humble frontiersmen, this consisted of buckskin pants, moccasins, fur caps, and homespun shirts. Deaf Smith and a few others sported Mexican sombreros. Captain Alfred Wyly’s fourteen-man company from Harrisburg was the smallest unit while Captain Moseley Baker’s San Felipe company was the largest present with fifty-nine men. The median age of Houston’s troops was twenty-eight. Sixty percent were single men and the majority of them were Caucasian.

  The Texas Army did have at least five blacks and twenty-nine tejanos either present on the battlefield or guarding the baggage at Harrisburg. The majority of the tejanos were members of Captain Juan Seguín’s twenty-four-man company. One of the black men who fought for Texas was Hendrick Arnold, an efficient member of Deaf Smith’s spy company who had previously helped guide the Texas Army into San Antonio during its December 1835 assault to oust General Cos.