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Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers

Page 26

by Brian Kilmeade


  and march to San Antonio, 46

  marriage of, 22

  as officer in Texian Army, 48

  and orders to destroy Alamo, 90–93

  pleas for Fannin’s assistance, 107–8

  provisions secured by, 106

  and San Antonio siege, 69, 74

  in Santa Anna’s report, 136

  scouting missions of, 71–72

  temper of, 21–22

  Texas county named for, 224

  and Travis’s final address to troops, 121–22

  willingness to fight, 47

  Bowie, James, Jr., 47

  Bowie, Maria Elva, 46–47

  Bowie, Ursula, 46

  Brazos River, 20, 172–73, 176, 179, 181

  Brooks, John Sowers, 113

  Bryan, Moses Austin, 71, 188, 204

  Buffalo Bayou, 193–94

  Burleson, Edward

  background of, 71

  as general of militia, 71

  and Grass Fight, 71, 72, 73

  and San Antonio siege/assault, 74, 80, 82

  and White Mill reserve force, 75

  Burnet, David G.

  demanding Houston fight, 177

  disdain for Houston, 216–17

  on elections, 219

  evading Mexican Army, 190

  on Houston’s leadership, 167

  as president of Texas, 165

  Texas county named for, 224

  as vice president to Lamar, 225

  Butler, Anthony, 9, 12, 16

  Caesar, Julius, 1

  Carey, William R., 84

  Carroll, William, 5, 7

  Castañeda, Francisco de, 34–36, 37–38

  Castrillón, Fernández, 133, 135, 203, 207

  Cherokee

  and Houston’s marriage to Tianh, 13

  Houston’s peacemaking mission, 90

  Houston’s years with, 5–6, 7, 13

  represented by Houston in Washington, D.C., 12, 13

  Choctaw, 13

  cholera epidemic, 47

  Civil War, U.S., 229–30

  Clay, Henry, 8, 229

  Collinsworth, George M., 40, 225–26

  Collinsworth’s militia, 40, 41–42

  Colorado River, crossing, 162–63, 176

  Comanche, 22, 25

  Consultation, 49–52, 68–69

  Cos, Martín Perfecto de

  and Battle of San Jacinto, 200, 203

  and Battle of the Alamo, 125

  confidence in superiority of army, 45

  fortification of the Alamo, 96

  occupation of San Antonio, 63, 64

  orders to squash resistance, 28–29, 43–44

  and reinforcements for Mexican Army, 188

  retreat from San Antonio, 85

  size of forces in San Antonio, 48

  surrender order issued by, 83–84, 105

  Texians’ siege/assault on San Antonio, 45, 48, 63, 64, 79, 105

  Council of Texas, 50–52

  Creek, 13

  Crockett, David

  arrival at Alamo, 97, 99–100

  background of, 97–99

  and Battle of the Alamo, 115, 131, 133, 135

  death of, 135, 137

  fiddle playing of, 100, 116, 137, 252n17

  legendary status of, 226

  and Santa Anna, 135, 136

  Travis on leadership of, 112

  Curtis, Jimmy, 205

  Cypress City, 182

  declaration of independence, 86, 118, 187

  Delgado, Pedro, 227

  Dickinson, Almeron

  and Battle of Gonzalez, 37, 38

  and Battle of the Alamo, 125, 130, 133

  cannon repaired by, 33

  death of, 133

  evacuation of wife and child, 32–33, 106

  farewell to wife and child, 130

  and fortification of Alamo, 100

  and Houston’s orders to destroy Alamo, 92

  responsibility for artillery, 44

  Travis on gallantry of, 112

  Dickinson, Angelina Elizabeth

  escorted from San Antonio, 139

  evacuation of, 32–33

  father’s farewell to, 130

  postwar life of, 227

  retreat into Alamo, 106

  and ring of Travis, 122

  and Santa Anna, 136–38

  Dickinson, Susanna

  battle recounted to Houston, 143

  escorted from San Antonio, 139

  evacuation of, 32–33

  husband’s farewell to, 130

  post-war life of, 227

  retreat into Alamo, 106

  and ring of Travis, 122

  and Santa Anna, 136–38

  on threat of Mexican Army, 144, 160

  on Travis’s final address to troops, 253n22

  Earl, Ralph E., 223

  East Texas

  army recruits from, 167

  Houston’s requests for supplies and men from, 176–77

  Santa Anna’s threats against, 169–70

  Ehrenberg, Herman, 226, 250n11

  Esparza, Enrique, 107, 129, 226

  Ewing, Alexander, 209, 216

  Fannin, James

  and Battle of Concepción, 60, 145

  and Battle of the Prairie, 150–56

  battle wounds of, 153

  and campsite near San Antonio, 54, 55

  death of, 158–59

  escorted back to Goliad, 157–58

  and massacre of troops sent to Refugio, 147–48

  and Matamoros plan, 87–88

  and news of defeat at the Alamo, 146–47

  as officer in Texian Army, 48

  and orders to withdraw from Goliad, 142, 145, 147–49

  and “remember Fannin!” battle cries, 206

  retreat from Goliad, 149–51

  and San Antonio siege, 74

  surrender of, 154–56, 157, 165–66

  Texas county named for, 224

  and Travis’s pleas for help, 107–8, 112–13, 116, 119–20, 146

  and Urrea, 155–56, 157, 255n17

  Field, Joseph, 79

  Filisola, Vicente, 227

  Florida, 8

  Fort Defiance. See Goliad

  Fort Mims, massacre at, 1, 3

  forts, Houston on limitations of, 162

  General Council, 69, 85, 87

  Goliad, 146

  and Alavez, Angel of Goliad, 159, 256n21

  army recruits from, 45

  avenged at Battle of San Jacinto, 208–9, 231

  as base of operations for region, 41

  captured by Collinsworth’s militia, 41–42

  leadership of (see Fannin, James)

  massacre of prisoners at, 157–59, 213–14

  Mexican Army’s march on, 144

  news of massacre at, 160, 177

  orders to withdrawal from, 142, 145, 147–49

  retreat from, 149–51 (see also Battle of the Prairie)

  revenge for, sought by Houston, 189

  Santa Anna’s plans to attack, 115, 170

  supplies at, 147

  and Travis’s pleas for help from, 107–8, 112–13, 116, 119–20, 146

  Gonzales, Texas

  cannon of, 30–32, 33–35, 37–38

  evacuation of women and children, 32–33

  Houston’s orders to destroy, 161

  Mexican Army’s attempt to seize cannon, 30–31, 34–36

  and news of defeat at the Alamo, 142, 143

  reinforcements sent to the Alamo, 116–17

  small arms of,
33–34

  volunteers’ arrival in, 42–43

  See also Battle of Gonzalez

  government in Texas

  and declaration of independence, 118, 187

  established by Consultation, 49–52, 69

  and news of defeat at the Alamo, 165

  paralysis in, 87

  retreat from advancing Mexican Army, 165

  Santa Anna detained by, 220–21

  targeted by Santa Anna, 180–81, 186–87, 190

  and Travis’s pleas for help, 140–41

  governor of Texas, 69

  Grant, James, 88, 92

  Grass Fight, 71–73

  Groce, Jared, 174

  Groce’s Landing encampment, 174–75, 176, 177

  Guadalupe River, crossing, 174–75

  Harrisburg

  Army of Texas’s march on, 182–83, 185

  burned by Mexican Army, 187

  Mexican Army’s march on, 185–86

  and Texas government officials targeted by Santa Anna, 180–81, 186–87

  Hockley, George Washington, 162, 204, 209, 211–12, 221

  Holley, Mary Austin, 27, 123

  Horseshoe Bend, battle of, 1–3, 14, 89, 162

  Houston, Andrew Jackson, 228

  Houston, Maggie, 230

  Houston, Sam

  alcohol consumption of, 7, 228

  and armistice, 214–15

  arrest and trials for assaulting Stanbery, 14–15

  battle wounds of, 2–3, 5, 14, 89, 207, 208, 209, 216

  and Cherokee peacemaking mission, 90, 112, 117

  and civilian evacuation, 161, 162, 165, 171–72, 186, 216, 230

  as commander in chief, 118

  and Committee of Safety, 30

  conversion to Catholicism, 18

  and Council of Texas, 50–52

  courage of, 1–2, 3

  death of, 230

  and declaration of independence, 118

  early military career of, 1–3, 6, 69

  on forts’ limitations, 162

  as general of Army of Texas, 69 (see also Army of Texas)

  and governance of Texas, 49–52, 141

  as governor of Texas, 229

  and gun repair for soldier, 178–79

  headquarters of, 86–87

  height of, 12

  iconic status of, 230

  land acquired by, 22

  law practice of, 18

  leadership qualities of, 1–2, 69

  marriages of, 6–7, 13, 18, 228

  medical treatment in New Orleans, 216, 217–18

  memoir of, 231

  and Mexican scouts, 171

  and news of defeat at the Alamo, 142, 143

  and news of massacre at Goliad, 177

  as “Old San Jacinto,” 218

  orders to destroy and evacuate the Alamo, 91–93, 112, 118

  orders to withdraw from Goliad, 142, 145, 147–49

  parents of, 5–6

  political career in Tennessee, 6–7

  postwar life of, 228, 230

  as president of Texas, 219, 229

  recruitment efforts of, 45, 73–74, 85

  and “remember the Alamo!” call to battle, 192, 206

  retreating from Mexican Army, 160–66, 167, 171, 172–74, 181–82

  and San Antonio siege, 49–52, 69, 73–74

  and Santa Anna, 212–15, 221

  and Travis’s pleas for help, 112, 117–18, 141

  as U.S. senator, 229

  Houston, Sam, Jr., 230

  independence of Texas

  Austin on inevitability of, 27

  and Battle of San Jacinto, 200, 211, 215, 230, 231, 232

  and Consultation, 52, 68–69

  growing interest in, 25, 43

  Houston’s pursuit of, 49

  Jackson’s interest in, 169

  Texians’ demand for, 86, 118, 187

  Indian policy of Jackson administration, 13

  Jackson, Andrew

  and Adams, 7–8

  affection for Houston, 13

  and annexation of Texas, 223, 229

  attempt to purchase Texas from Mexico, 9, 12, 16

  and Battle of Horseshoe Bend, 1, 2

  and Battle of New Orleans, 5

  and Crockett, 97, 98

  death of, 229

  as father figure to Houston, 2, 5, 6

  home of, 6, 15–16

  and Houston’s brag about conquering Texas, 16

  and Houston’s move to Texas, 16, 17

  and Houston’s political career, 6

  and Houston’s return to Washington, 12–13

  and Indian policy, 13

  interest in Texas, 9, 16–17, 25, 27, 169, 221, 222–23

  money loaned to Houston by, 17

  and presidential election of 1828, 9

  and Santa Anna, 169, 220–21, 222–23

  soldiers’ devotion to, 179

  suit purchased for Houston’s trial, 14

  as U.S. senator, 6

  Jackson, Rachel, 6, 15

  Jameson, Green B., 94, 96, 100, 114, 128

  Jefferson, Thomas, 8

  Karnes, Henry

  and Battle of Concepción, 56, 57

  and Battle of San Jacinto, 198

  and Grass Fight, 72

  Mexican courier intercepted by, 187–88

  Mexican scout captured by, 164

  and San Antonio assault, 80–81

  and San Antonio reconnaissance trip, 142–43

  Texas county named for, 224

  Key, Francis Scott “Frank,” 14

  Labadie, Nicholas, 182, 226

  Lamar, Mirabeau Bonaparte, 198–99, 204, 219, 225

  Lea, Margaret, 218, 228

  liberty, Texians’ defense of, 110–11, 119, 143, 232

  Life of Sam Houston, The (Houston), 231

  Louisiana Purchase, 8

  Lynchburg, 191

  Lynch’s Ferry, 188, 191, 195

  Madison, James, 8

  Mann, Pamelia, 182–84

  Martin, Albert, 33, 35, 177, 182

  Martin, Wyly, 173

  Matamoros, Mexico, 87–89

  McGregor, John, 116

  Mexican Army under command of Cos

  and Alamo fortifications, 96

  and Battle of Concepción, 56, 56–59, 61

  and Battle of Gonzalez, 36–38

  and cannon of Gonzalez, 30–31, 34–36

  and Grass Fight, 71–73

  horses and mules of, 66, 74

  muskets of, 61

  occupation of San Antonio, 63–64

  and orders for no quarter, 82, 84

  and reinforcements, 82

  and San Antonio siege, 74–75

  size of forces, 63

  surrender and retreat of, 83–85, 105

  Mexican Army under command of Santa Anna

  and armistice, 214–15

  arrival in Texas, 102–3, 104

  and Battle of the Prairie, 150–56

  at Brazos River crossing, 176, 179

  burial of dead soldiers, 138

  and Goliad massacre, 157–59, 213–14

  march on Goliad, 150

  march on Harrisburg, 185–86

  march on Lynchburg, 191, 195

  march to Texas, 86, 105

  massacre of Refugio reinforcements, 148–49

  nearing San Antonio, 106

  no-quarter orders of, 107, 126–27, 133, 135

  and reinforcements, 113, 119, 200

  scouts and scouting missions of, 163–64, 171

  size of forces, 117, 160, 1
88, 202

  and spring rains, 185–86

  surrender at Battle of San Jacinto, 209–10

  and three-part plan of Santa Anna, 169–70, 170

  uniforms of, 204

  See also Battle of San Jacinto; Battle of the Alamo

  Mexico

  Austin’s changed views of, 29

  and border negotiations of Adams, 8

  closure of Texas border, 20, 23

  federal constitution of, 9

  freedom suppressed in, 25

  Houston’s brag about conquering, 16

  independence from Spain, 9, 24

  and Mexican-American War (1846–48), 227, 229

  president (see Santa Anna, Antonio López de)

  rebellion suppressed in, 23, 24

  and resistance in Zacatecas, 27–28

  and settlement of Texas, 9, 12, 19, 20

  statehood sought by Texas residents, 23, 26, 29, 52

  and Treaties of Velasco, 217–18

  U.S. negotiations to purchase Texas from, 9, 12, 16

  Milam, Benjamin Rush

  background of, 39–40

  death of, 81–82, 85

  and San Antonio assault, 75–79

  Texas county named for, 224

  volunteering to serve, 40

  Milam, Sam, 44

  Mission Concepción, 54–59, 56

  Mission San José, 54

  Mission San Juan Capistrano, 54

  Monroe, James, 8–9

  Moore, John, 36–37, 43, 44

  Morales, Juan, 125

  Morgan, Abel, 152, 153

  Nacogdoches

  and Committee of Safety, 30

  history of, 18

  Houston’s home in, 18, 218

  and law practice of Houston, 18

  recruits from, 64

  Native Americans

  and battle of Horseshoe Bend, 1–3, 14, 89

  Houston as U.S. representative to, 17, 22, 25

  and massacre at Fort Mims, 1, 3

  in Texas, 19

  See also Cherokee

  Neill, James Clinton

  and Battle of San Jacinto, 198, 204

  battle wounds of, 198

  and fortification of Alamo, 100

  and orders to destroy Alamo, 91–92

  and “Twin Sisters” cannons, 178

  New Orleans Greys, 75, 150, 226

  New Washington, 190–91, 195

  Oo-Loo-Te-Ka, Chief of Cherokee nation, 5, 7

  Osage, 13

  Peggy Lake, 196, 209

  Peña, José Enrique de la, 227

  Pensacola, Florida, 8–9

  Ponton, Andrew, 31–32, 35

  Potter, Robert, 141

  Raguet, Henry, 193

  Red Stick Creek Native Americans, 1, 2–3

  Refugio mission, 89, 147–48, 157

  “remember the Alamo!” battle cry, 192, 206–7

  Revolutionary War, 3, 5, 174

  Rogers, Dianah (Tianh), 13, 18

  Romero, José María, 125, 130

 

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