Book Read Free

Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers

Page 25

by Brian Kilmeade


  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

  1. Prints and Photographs Collection, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 102–280

  2. FineArt / Alamy Stock Photo

  3. GL Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

  4. World History Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

  5. Science History Images / Alamy Stock Photo

  6. Bettemann / Contributor

  7. By William Howard, James Perry Bryan Papers, di_04428, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin

  8. Everett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo

  9. FLHC / Alamy Stock Photo

  10. Public domain

  11. Prints and Photographs Collection, di_11688, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin

  12. The Picture Art Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

  13. Public domain

  14. Prints and Photographs Collection, di_02195, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin

  15. The Picture Art Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

  16. Chronicle / Alamy Stock Photo

  17. World History Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

  18. Public domain

  19. Science History Images / Alamy Stock Photo

  20. North Wind Picture Archives / Alamy Stock Photo

  21. Public domain

  22. Painting, March to The Massacre by Andrew Jackson Houston. Courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History

  23. Niday Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo

  24. World History Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

  25. Science History Images / Alamy Stock Photo

  26. The Picture Art Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

  27. The History Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

  28. Bygone Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

  29. Historical / Contributor

  30. Public domain

  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

 

‹ Prev