Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers
Page 25
4. Coleman, Houston Displayed (1836; 1974), p. 18.
5. Bryan, “Reminiscences of M. A. Bryan,” p. 20.
6. Sam Houston to David Burnet, April 25, 1836.
7. Lester, The Life of Sam Houston, p. 111.
8. Santa Anna, “Manifesto” (1928), p. 75.
9. “Kuykendall’s Recollections of the Campaign,” in Barker, “The San Jacinto Campaign” (1901), pp. 303–4.
10. Labadie, “San Jacinto Campaign” (1967), p. 155.
11. Lester, The Life of Sam Houston, p. 114.
12. Colonel Alexander Somervell, quoted in Labadie, “San Jacinto Campaign” (1967), p. 155.
13. Patrick Usher, quoted in James, The Raven, p. 203.
14. Sam Houston to Henry Raguet, April 19, 1836.
15. Lester, The Life of Sam Houston, p. 113.
16. Sam Houston to David Burnet, April 25, 1836.
17. Delgado, “Delgado’s Account of the Battle,” in Barker, “The San Jacinto Campaign” (1901), p. 290.
18. Labadie, “San Jacinto Campaign” (1967), p. 158.
CHAPTER 15: “REMEMBER THE ALAMO!”
1. Lester, The Life of Sam Houston, pp. 122, 124.
2. Calder, “Recollections of the Campaign of 1836” (1861), p. 449.
3. Labadie, “San Jacinto Campaign” (1967), p. 161.
4. Later scholarship suggests that the actual number in Houston’s command was more likely in the range of 925 men.
5. Labadie, “San Jacinto Campaign” (1967), p. 162. See also Lester, The Life of Sam Houston, pp. 125–26.
6. Winters, “An Account of the Battle of San Jacinto” (1902), pp. 141–42.
7. Fowler, Santa Anna of Mexico (2007), p. 172.
8. Sam Houston to David Burnet, April 25, 1836.
9. Benjamin Franklin, quoted in Moore, Eighteen Minutes (2004), p. 269.
10. James, The Raven (1929), p. 251.
11. Foote, Texas and the Texians (1841), p. 311. See also Tolbert, The Day of San Jacinto (1959), pp. 111–12.
12. John Menifee, quoted in Tolbert, The Day of San Jacinto (1959), p. 141.
13. Labadie, “San Jacinto Campaign” (1967), p. 163.
14. Thomas Rusk, quoted in Foote, Texas and the Texians (1841), p. 309.
15. Taylor, “The Battle of San Jacinto” (1935).
16. Foote, Texas and the Texians (1841), pp. 310–11.
17. “A Bewildered and Panic Stricken Herd” from Delgado, “Delgado’s Account of the Battle” in Barker, “The San Jacinto Campaign” (1901), p. 291.
18. Ibid.
19. Filisola, Memoirs for the History of the War in Texas, vol. 2 (1848; 1985), p. 225.
20. Thomas Rusk to David Burnet, April 22, 1836.
21. Houston, Texas Independence (1938), p. 228.
22. Hunter, The Narrative of Robert Hancock Hunter (1966), p. 16.
23. W. C. Swearingen to his brother, April 22, 1836.
24. Bryan, “Reminiscences of M. A. Bryan,” p. 24.
25. Lester, The Life of Sam Houston, p. 133.
26. Pedro Delgado, quoted in Tolbert, The Day of San Jacinto (1959), p. 170.
27. Sam Houston to David Burnet, April 25, 1836.
CHAPTER 16: OLD SAN JACINTO
1. Among the various renderings of Santa Anna’s capture—no two identical—are those of Dr. Labadie, Joel Robinson, and Sion Bostick, as well as James Sylvester’s, of December 7, 1872, at https://sonsofdewittcolony.org.
2. As with Santa Anna’s capture, numerous tellings of the tale survive. The primary sources here are Houston himself (Lester, The Life of Sam Houston, pp. 146–51) and Moses Austin Bryan (“Reminiscences of M. A. Bryan,” p. 25ff), but other useful versions appear in James, The Raven (1929), p. 254ff; Labadie, “San Jacinto Campaign” (1967), p. 167ff; and Major John Forbes (see Haley, Sam Houston [2002], p. 153ff); and Santa Anna himself (The Eagle: The Autobiography of Santa Anna [1967]). Stephen Moore’s Eighteen Minutes (2004) offers a quite complete compilation of the miscellaneous firsthand accounts. See also Brown, History of Texas, 1685 to 1892 (1892), pp. 42–43.
3. Taylor, “The March, the Siege and the Battle for Bexar” (1900).
4. H. P. Brewster in Foote, Texas and the Texians (1841), pp. 314–15.
5. Santa Anna to Vicente Filisola, April 22, 1836.
CHAPTER 17: PRESIDENT SAM HOUSTON
1. “Address to the Army of the Republic of Texas,” May 5, 1836.
2. Tolbert, The Day of San Jacinto (1959), p. 222.
3. Telegraph and Texas Register, August 30, 1836.
4. Thomas Green, quoted in Yoakum, History of Texas, vol. 2 (1935), p. 171.
5. “The Trial of Santa Anna,” quoted in Yoakum, History of Texas, vol. 2 (1935), p. 179.
6. Santa Anna to Andrew Jackson, July 4, 1836.
7. Andrew Jackson to Sam Houston, September 4, 1836.
8. Foote, Texas and the Texians (1841), p. 318.
9. Santa Anna to Sam Houston, November 5, 1836.
10. Santa Anna, The Eagle (1967), p. 57.
11. Callcott, Santa Anna (1936), pp. 146–47.
12. Santa Anna, The Eagle (1967), p. 57.
13. William Wharton to J. Pinckney Henderson, March 15, 1837.
EPILOGUE: THE FOUNDING AND THE FOUNDERS OF TEXAS
1. Houston, Directive of December 27, 1836.
2. That officer was José Enrique de la Peña; the book, With Santa Anna in Texas (1975).
3. E. H. Winfield, quoted in James, The Raven (1929), p. 331.
4. Houston speech of April 19, 1861.
5. Bruce, Life of General Houston (1891), p. 217.
6. Coleman, Houston Displayed (1837).
7. Sam Houston quoted in Haley, Sam Houston (2002), p. 154.
IMAGE CREDITS
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14. Prints and Photographs Collection, di_02195, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
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22. Painting, March to The Massacre by Andrew Jackson Houston. Courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History
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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
INDEX
The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. The link provided will take you to the beginning of that print page. You may need to scroll forward from that location to find the corresponding reference on your e-reader.
Adams, John Quincy
and annexation of Texas, 229
Jackson’s hatred of, 7–8
as secretary of state, 8
Texas relinquished by, 8–9
Alabama Red Rovers, 149–50
Alamo, 109
battle at (see Battle of the Alamo)
Houston’s orders to destroy, 91–93
Mexican Army’s occupation of, 63, 64
mission history of, 63–64, 94, 95
strategic importance of, 64
Alavez, Francita, 159
Allen, Eliza, 6–7, 13
Almonte, Juan, 180, 190, 209–10, 213
Amador, Juan, 128
American Revolution, 3, 5, 174
Andrews, Richard, 59, 61
Arkansas Territory, 13
Army of Texas (regular army)
and armistice, 214–15
arrival of new recruits, 167, 177
artillery and ammunition of, 178, 193, 196, 197, 198, 204, 207–8
blacksmiths/gunsmiths of, 178–79
crossing the Colorado River, 162–63
departures of soldiers, 168, 171
destruction of potential aids to Mexican Army, 161, 163
discipline of, 167–68
disheveled appearance of, 204–5
established by Consultation, 69
and Groce’s Landing encampment, 174–75, 176, 177
and Houston’s call to battle, “remember the Alamo!,” 192, 206
and Houston’s requests for supplies and men, 176–77
ill soldiers, 175
leadership of, 69, 70 (see also Houston, Sam)
leadership of Houston questioned by, 164, 172–73, 174, 178, 181–82, 230
and Mann’s oxen, 183–84
march on Lynchburg, 191, 195
march to Harrisburg, 182–83, 185
Mexican courier intercepted by, 188
Mexican scout captured by, 164
motives of soldiers in, 205
recruiting men for, 73–74, 85
retreating from Mexican Army, 160–66, 167, 171, 172–74, 181–82, 230
Santa Anna held prisoner by, 211–15
scouts and scouting missions of, 177, 187–88
size of forces, 161, 162, 167, 171, 177, 188, 202
and spring rains, 185
training and organization of, 176, 189
Which-Way Tree at Cypress City, 230
See also Battle of San Jacinto
Army of the People, Volunteer
arrival of recruits/reinforcements, 42–43, 45, 46, 64, 75, 115–17, 118
Austin’s concerns about, 44, 67, 70
and Battle of Concepción, 56, 56–59, 60, 61–62
and Bowie’s incapacitation, 108, 116, 121, 128
casualties in, 81–82, 85
and Consultation, 49–52, 69
dead burned in funeral pyres, 138–39
and death of Milam, 81–82, 85
and death of Travis, 124, 128
defense of liberty, 110–11, 119, 143, 232
departures of soldiers, 87
discipline issues, 44, 66–67, 70
and Grass Fight, 71–73
lack of uniforms, 44
leadership of, 43, 67, 69, 70–71, 108 (see also Austin, Stephen F.; Bowie, James; Burleson, Edward; Travis, William Barret)
march to San Antonio, 44, 45, 46, 47–48, 52
and Matamoros plan, 87–89
optimism of, 46
pleas for reinforcements, 103, 107–9, 110, 112
pledge to fight, 108
and San Antonio assault, 75–84, 79
and San Antonio siege, 47–52, 63–64, 65, 65–66, 69, 70, 74–76
scouts and scouting missions of, 44, 48–49, 65–66, 71–72, 102–3
size of forces, 64, 100, 117
and supplies, 47–48, 64, 68
Tejanos serving in, 40, 52
Travis’s final address to, 121–22
weapons of, 44, 47–48, 61, 64, 65, 126
See also Battle of the Alamo
Arredondo, José Joaquín de, 23, 24
Austin, Moses, 19
Austin, Stephen F.
arrested for sedition, 27
and Battle of Concepción, 56, 60, 61–62
and Bowie’s men at Mission Concepción, 55
call for organization of local government, 26
colony established in Texas, 19–20
and Committee of Safety, 30
and Consultation, 51–52, 68–69
death of, 225
as emissary to the U.S., 69
as general of army, 43, 68–69, 70–71 (see also Army of the People, Volunteer)
hopes for alliance with Santa Anna, 27, 28, 29
and horses of Mexican Army, 66
Houston’s trip to meet, 19, 20–21, 22
on independence, 27, 86
and intelligence gathering, 48–49
march to San Antonio, 45, 47
and Mexican Army’s occupation of San Antonio, 43–44, 63–64, 70
Mexican statehood sought by, 26, 29
on necessity of self-reliance, 26
and new recruits, 52
poor health of, 43, 51, 68
and presidential election, 219
reluctance to rebel, 29
return from Mexico, 30
and Santa Anna’s postwar imprisonment, 220
as secretary of state, 219
supplies requested by, 47, 68
Texas capital named for, 225
war proclamation of, 30
Baker, Moseley
background of, 172
defensive post at the Brazos, 173, 176, 179
detachments under command of, 177
leadership of Houston questioned by, 172–73, 182, 230
postwar life of, 225
San Felipe de Austin burned down by, 176
Barnard, Joseph, 153, 226
Battle of Concepción, 56, 56–59, 60–62
Battle of Goliad, 41–42
Battle of Gonzalez
battle, 36–38
battle flag of, 34, 246n7
delay tactics of Texians, 34–35
preparations for, 32, 33–34, 36
and reinforcements, 32, 34, 35, 36
Battle of Horseshoe Bend, 1–3, 14, 89, 162
Battle of Medina, 24
Battle of New Orleans, 5
Battle of San Jacinto, 196, 201
advance of Army of Texas on Mexican Army, 205–7
Alamo and Goliad avenged at, 208–9, 231
attempt to capture of Mexican Army’s cannon, 198–99
battle, 206–10
battle cries of, 206–7
battle plan of Houston, 204
casualties in, 208, 210
and council of war, 202
and destruction of Vince’s Bayou’s bridge, 202, 225
first skirmish of, 197–99
Houston’s accounts of victory at, 230
Houston’s horses killed in, 206, 207
Houston’s injury in, 207, 208, 209, 216
improbable victory of Texas in, 230
and independence of Texas, 211, 230, 231, 232
Mexican Army’s arrival at, 197
and Mexican Army’s reinforcements, 200
motives of soldiers in, 205
and
Santa Anna’s tactical errors, 228
and size of forces, 202
strategic ground secured by Army of Texas, 195–96
surrender of Mexican soldiers at, 209–10
Battle of Tampico, 24
Battle of the Alamo, 123–33, 129
avenged at Battle of San Jacinto, 208–9, 231
breaching of Alamo’s walls and gates, 128–29, 130–31
cannon fire of, 124, 125
casualties in, 134–35, 136, 138–39
commencement of, 123–24
death of Bowie, 132
death of Travis, 124, 128
execution of survivors following, 135
final room-by-room battles in, 130, 131–32
first wave of assault, 124–26, 127
fortification of the Alamo, 96, 100, 101, 109, 114–15
guns of Texians captured, 131
leadership in, 100–101, 124, 128 (see also Bowie, James; Travis, William Barret)
news of, 140, 142, 143, 146–47, 165
and orders for no quarter, 107, 126–27, 133, 135
pleas for reinforcements, 107–9, 110, 112–13, 116, 117–18, 119, 140, 146
and provisions, 106
revenge for, sought by Houston, 189, 192
Santa Anna’s report on, 136
second wave of assault, 127, 128–31, 129
siege preceding, 108–12, 113, 115–16, 118–19
size of forces, 100
slaughter of Texians fleeing from, 133
surrender of remaining Texians, 133, 135
in Texas’ history, 227
women and children spared in, 133, 136–38
Battle of the Prairie, 150–56
battle, 150–55
massacre of prisoners at Goliad, 157–59, 213–14
surrender of Fannin’s troops, 154–56, 165–66
Bowie, James
background of, 21, 46–47
and Battle of Concepción, 56–59, 60, 61–62
and campsite near San Antonio, 52–55
command of volunteer militia, 101, 108
death of, 132
family of, 46–47, 106
and Grass Fight, 71–73
height of, 21
and Houston, 21–22
identification of body, 135
incapacitated by illness, 108, 116, 121, 128
and intelligence gathering, 48–49
knife of, 21–22
land acquired by, 22
legendary status of, 226