by Drew McGunn
Burnet set his fork down, and glared back at Will, “You mean like you, Colonel Travis?”
Will reminded himself for what seemed like the hundredth time not to underestimate anyone that he talked to. Someone with a nineteenth century view of the world, like Burnet, was just as capable and intelligent as he was. And if he were honest with himself, as he glanced at Crockett, many were much smarter. Will sighed, “Mr. President, I have freed my man, Joe. It remains only to file in the courts here in Bexar when they resume. Hopefully soon.”
Despite feeling weary holding a conversation with Barnet, Will thought he saw a slight nod of what might be approval from the other man. Barnet replied, “Listen, Colonel, many of our biggest supporters both here and back east expect, no, they demand that we support slavery. Between the three of us, I think it noble you freed your slave. However, you fight them at your own peril. There’s a fine line between bravery, which you have a plenty, and stupidity. We cannot bite the hands that feed us, Colonel Travis, we have many bills to pay and they are the source of our money.”
Head still pounding, Will massaged his temple. This wasn’t going the way he imagined it would go. “Mr. President, I’m not blind to the reality of our situation. While I may not like these obligations, I do understand them. Even so, can we not take the reference to returning any slaves and inserting language for compensation in its place? I would imagine that our beloved slave masters would rather have gold than an unhappy and unruly servant. It’s not like there’ll be any claims.”
Burnet’s dour look faded into a wide smile as he laughed, “Don’t think that there won’t be a line of claimants, Colonel. Every planter who has had a slave hand run off since the start of the revolution will line up to press their claims. But I take your meaning and I think your argument valid enough that it will satisfy our benefactors.” He paused as he thought about Will’s suggestion. After a long moment he raised his hands in mock surrender, “Fine. We can insert the language that requires the Mexicans open up a consulate here in Texas to adjudicate any claims. Will that smooth your feathers, my young eagle?”
Will nodded. “It’s the best of available options, sir. How long before you figure Mexico will open that consulate?”
Burnet looked back and forth between him and Crockett and replied, “Sometime around the time that Gabriel blows his horn. But, listen, Colonel Travis. I can see like a recent convert, your passion burns bright against the South’s peculiar institution, but be careful you don’t get burned. As a native of New Jersey, I have long supported the suppression of the trade, and that’s probably why, when we’re done drafting the constitution I won’t have a chance standing for election. But Congressman Crockett here, as one of the heroes of the day, his chances are excellent. If you want to change things then you need to change the trajectory of Texas. To do that, it helps to win elections and set policies.”
***
Will stood on top of the Alamo’s gatehouse, watching as Santa Anna was escorted from the fort by a company of Will’s regular cavalry. They would escort him to the small port town of Copano, where a United States flagged ship was waiting to take him back to Mexico. He had been released and was taking the Mexican copy of the treaty with him. Will wasn’t sure the government back in Mexico City would even allow the dictator to set foot in Vera Cruz, let alone consider the terms of the treaty.
He glanced down at a copy of the current issue of the Telegraph and Texas Register, where the terms of the treaty were published. He leaned against the outer wall and reread the newspaper’s summary of the treaty;
T.R.Borden, publisher, San Antonio de Bexar, Republic of Texas
The treaty was entered on the 23rd March 1836 between his Excellency David G. Burnet, interim President of the Republic of Texas of the one part & His Excellency General Antonio López de Santa Anna President General in Chief of the other part.
The first Article
General Antonio López de Santa Anna agrees that he will not take up arms nor will he exercise his influence to cause them to be taken up against the People of the Republic of Texas during our war of Independence.
The second Article
All hostilities between Mexico and Texas and their troops will cease on both land and water.
The third Article
All Mexican troops will evacuate the territory of Texas passing to the other side of the Rio Grande del Norte, also known as Rio Bravo del Norte in Mexico.
The fourth Article
The Mexican Army shall not take the property of any person without his consent & just indemnification, using only such articles as may be necessary for its subsistence during its retreat. In any case when the owner may not be present notification shall be made to the Commander in Chief of the Army of Texas or to the Commissioners to be appointed for the adjustment of such matters an account of the value of the property consumed, if the name of the owner can be established.
The fifth Article
That all private property including cattle, horses, that may have been captured by any portion of the Mexican Army shall be restored to the Commander of the Texian Army or to such other persons as may be appointed by the Government of Texas to receive them. Any citizen of the Republic of Texas may file for recompense of claim for their negro slaves or indentured persons that may have been captured by any portion of the Mexican Army or may have taken refuge in the said army since the commencement of the late invasion. The Mexican government shall establish a consulate in the largest city of the republic where claims may be adjudicated.
The sixth Article
The troops of both armies will refrain from coming into contact with each other & to this end the Commander in Chief of the Army of Texas will be careful not to approach within a shorter distance of the Mexican Army than fifteen miles (five leagues).
The seventh Article
The Mexican Army shall not make any other delay on its march than that which is necessary to take up their hospitals baggage & cross the rivers - any delay not necessary to these purposes to be considered as an infraction of this agreement.
The eighth Article
By Express to be immediately dispatched, this agreement shall be sent to Gen'l Filisola & to Gen'l Samuel Houston, Commander of the Texian Army in order that they may be apprised of its stipulations & to this they will exchange engagements to comply with the same.
The ninth Article
That all Texian prisoners now in possession of the Mexican Army be forthwith released & furnished with free passports to return to their homes in consideration of which a corresponding number of rank & file now in possession of the Government of Texas shall be immediately released -- The remainder of the Mexican prisoners that continue in possession of the Government of Texas to be treated with due humanity any extraordinary comforts that may be furnished them to be at the charge of the Government of Mexico.
The tenth Article
Gen’l Antonio López de Santa Anna will be sent to Vera Cruz as soon as it shall be deemed proper --
This treaty was signed in San Antonio de Bexar this 23rd day of March 1836 by David G. Burnet and Antonio López de Santa Anna
Chapter 15
17th March 1836
From the small confessional room, to the side of the Chapel’s nave, Will listened to Santa Anna’s footsteps in the sacristy, next door, where the dictator paced back and forth. He felt more than heard Crockett come up behind him, as he stood staring at stacks of woven baskets filled with cornmeal and wheat flour along the walls of the little room. From behind, Will heard, “Buck, I heard tell that Houston’s got some more wagons coming from Columbus with more food in the next few days. I reckon we’re well supplied with vittles.”
Will looked behind him and saw Crockett standing just in the doorframe of the confessional. “Ah, just the man I was looking for. Close the door and join me.” After closing the door to the room, Crockett stepped over next to Will. Behind a row of baskets, there was a narrow space. Laying in the cavity, on the floor, w
as a lockbox.
Crockett’s eyebrows raised in surprise. His voice was low when he asked, “Now, Buck, what have you got there?”
From around his neck, Will drew a cord from which dangled a brass key. The light from a narrow window reflected off its polished surface. With the key in hand, Will knelt in front of the box. After inserting it into the lock and turning, he heard a satisfying click and the box was unlocked. Will flipped the lid back, opening the box. A sizable pile of gold coins gleamed in the weak light from the narrow window.
Crockett whistled appreciatively. “Bless my soul, Buck. My, how you have kept your powder dry, boy.”
Will quietly chuckled, as the image of Santa Anna pacing in the room next door came briefly to mind. “Well, I noticed this little footstool in Santa Anna’s headquarters tent, and well, his Excellency didn’t have any need for the tent anymore, I was pretty sure he didn’t have any use for this little footstool either.”
Crockett helped Will drag the box from its hidden nook. He knelt beside Will and picked up a coin. It was a gold Spanish doubloon. “Any idea how much is here?”
Will nodded. “There’s about seventeen thousand dollars in gold and another eighteen thousand dollars in silver, below the gold.”
Crockett tunelessly whistled as he picked up a few coins and examined them. He stopped whistling as he bit a golden coin. He nodded, “Those are no fakes, Buck. But why, pray tell, haven’t you told our august and noble President Burnet about this here find, or even General Houston?”
Will dramatically sighed, and with an air of theatrics said, “I was saving this news to tell the next president. You know the one, the one we’ll be electing after we nail down our constitution.” Will paused, letting the tension build until he continued, “But seeing as I figure that he’s right here beside me, I thought I would go ahead and tell him now.”
The Tennessean shook his head, chuckling. “Buck, don’t be counting those chickens before they’re hatched. I dare say that if our illustrious army commander has anything to say about it, I’ll be sitting on my porch, in a rocking chair, smoking a pipe while waiting for the Almighty to come and take me home.”
Shrugging, Will replied, “Maybe so, David. But he’s not the hero of the Battle of the Rio Grande or of the Nueces, either. That, my coonskin-cap-wearing-friend, is you.”
Crocket lowered the lid and Will locked the chest. As they pushed it back behind the baskets, the Tennessean replied, “That’s mighty Christian of you, sharing all of that glory with me, Buck. But if I recall correctly, I wasn’t the onlyiest one there.”
Will gave his companion a lopsided grin as he replied, “While that may be true, I’m a long way away from thirty-five years of age. I doubt I’ll be eligible once we’re done putting a constitution together. If I’m lucky the only plum that I’ll be able to pluck from the tree is command of the regular army.”
Locking the door as they exited from the confessional room, Will nodded to the guard standing watch over the sacristy. When they exited the chapel Crockett finally replied, “Buck, if I decide to run against Sam for the presidency, I suspect that I know exactly who’ll be my first choice to command the army. Now, you haven’t kept this quiet for no reason, what have you been scheming about with all this gold?”
Will’s eyes gleamed as he said, “Guns, David. I’ve been thinking that between the Mexicans to our south and Comanches to our west and north, we need the best guns that this money can buy. I recall hearing about an inventor back east, by the name of Colt. As I understand it, he’s invented a revolving pistol that can fire several rounds before it needs to be reloaded. If we can get these pistols into the hands of our ranging companies and cavalry troops, it could help tip the balance back in our favor against the Comanche, if we can’t get them to stop raiding our settlements by diplomatic means.”
The image of a Ranger standing his ground, firing round after round at charging Comanches put smiles on both their faces. They walked across the fort’s plaza and watched an engineer surveying the ground for a new wall to replace the crumbling northern wall. Will had obtained permission from Houston for the Alamo’s expansion. Watching the engineer set up a ranging pole, Crockett said, “Buck, build up a little support among the delegates then send that letter to Mr. Colt.” He fell silent as they watched the engineer work. A moment later, he continued, “There’s someone else to whom you should also write. Back when I was in Congress, during the last session, I recall an appropriation bill for a gun that was being manufactured at Harper’s Ferry. It was designed for a regiment of dragoons that the US government was recruiting for frontier service. If I recall correctly, the inventor’s name is Hall. I believe that he’s the ordnance officer at Harper’s Ferry.”
Will’s curiosity was piqued, “What makes the gun special?”
“The gun’s a breechloader. It’s faster by a country mile to load than my ol’ Betsy, and just as accurate if Hall’s reports were true. Imagine what you could do with a rifle like that.”
Will was speechless. He hadn’t realized breechloaders were being made by the US military prior to the Civil War. He found his voice and replied, “David, with a gun like that on the Rio Grande, we wouldn’t have needed to have two loaders for every marksman! It would be a real force multiplier.”
Crockett nodded, “Force multiplier, hmm, that’s a pretty turn of a phrase. We’d have a real leg up against Mexico and the Comanche. You should write Mr. Hall a letter too, while you’re at it. I don’t want to presume much, but should I win, I’ll give you cover for the gold and silver if it ever came out that you have it.”
18th of April 1836
To the honorable Samuel Colt,
Principal of Patent Arms Manufacturing,
Recently I heard of your trip to England where I understand you patented a revolving pistol, that you now seek to patent in the United States. Your design has garnered much attention in the army of the Republic of Texas, given its multiple firing capacity. In our ongoing war with the fierce and determined warriors of the Comanche nation, on our western frontier, we have paid a heavy price in both dead and captured because of the common limitation of our single shot muzzle loading rifles. I am writing to you directly, to request a purchase of pistols for our mounted ranger patrols, and have been authorized by the Government of the Republic of Texas for an initial purchase of 200 of your excellent pistols, as well as to inquire about licensing costs associated with locally manufacturing replacement parts. Please forward with all haste, the price of procurement of these pistols and related licensing costs and we will make payment once the order is ready for shipment to the Port of Galveston, Republic of Texas.
Your Servant,
Colonel William Barret Travis, commanding, Alamo, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas.
***
Will observed the brass eighteen-pounder artillery piece, situated on the bastion atop the southwest corner of the fort. It was well polished and brilliantly reflected the noonday sun. Captain Carey sat on a stool, reading a book, while Joe, Travis’ former slave, stepped back from the cannon, admiring his work. Walking up the incline to the bastion, it crossed Will’s mind that in nearly every way, more than two months since he found himself in William B. Travis’ body, he considered himself and Travis to be one and the same. It was easier on his mind to accept the different, conflicting memories without dwelling much on it anymore. Except in one area. When Will thought of Joe, it was always ‘Travis’ slave’, and never ‘my slave’. No matter how many times he examined Travis’ memories, when it came to slavery there was simply too great a disconnect for his twenty-first century mind to accept.
Will considered himself pragmatic and knew he wasn’t going to change things writ large today, but now that the city government was functioning again, he could do something about Joe. When Captain Carey saw him walking up the ramp he closed his book, stood and saluted Will. “Colonel Travis, sir.”
Will returned the salute and replied, “The gun looks good, Captain.” He glanced
down on the stool and saw the title on the book, it was “A Treatise on the Science of War and Fortifications.” Will’s observation of Carey during the previous campaign was that he was a serious student of his duties, and he was pleased to see the officer reading a book which would deepen that knowledge. Will pointed to Joe and said, “I’ve some business in town and I need Joe to accompany me. How has he performed his duties?”
Carey looked at the polished barrel and replied, “I confess, Colonel Travis, that I was surprised when Colonel Neill told me you planned to manumit your property after the campaign and asked that I find a place for him in my battery. But he has been diligent in the duties to which he has been assigned, Colonel. I have found no fault with him.”
Will nodded then said to Joe, “We’ve got business to attend to. Are you finished?”
Joe nodded, and dropped the rag into a small bucket by the gun before joining him at the ramp. Will turned back to Carey and said, “I commend you on your choice of reading material, Captain.”
Carey smiled and replied, “Thank you, Colonel Travis. Not being a West Point graduate, I am doing what I can to learn the science of war.”
After leaving the bastion, Will mounted his horse and handed the reins of a borrowed mount to Joe. The former slave ventured a question, “Where we going, Marse William?”
“To town. We’ve got business to conduct, and please, stop calling me Master. You’re a free man, Joe. Today, we’re going to make it official.”
As they crossed the half mile between the Alamo and the main plaza in San Antonio, Will asked, “Did Captain Carey treat you fairly, Joe?”
“I reckon so,” Joe said, “He didn’t beat me or yell at me or anything like that.”
“What did he have you do, while you were assigned to his battery?”
