march to the Fourth Bend, 20 to 30 miles hclow, and crossed a part of their forces over bcfore they were discovcrcl. The movement was handed to Houston by express, and he immediately crossed his army to the East side of the Brazos, by the help of a steam hoal, which he had pressed and detained for that purpose. The army remained upon the East bank of the river a clay and a half, when having learned that I.he enemy had made a movement towards Harrisburg, they made a forced march, and the four I h clay crossed Buffalo Bayou, three miles below the town, which the enemy had laid in ashes. The 1\lexicans had continued their march and hurnl New Washington, and were returning up the San Jacinto to cross the river at Lynch's Ferry, when on the 19th ult. their advance, to their suprise, fell in with small parties of the Texians. On the 20th the two armies were encamped within a mile of each other - the Texian above and the Mexican below Lynch's Ferry. On the same day I here was a sharp conflict between the Texian cavalry and a body of the enemy, cavalry and infantry, six or eight times their numbers. When the conflict had terminated most of the Texian infantry was literally angry that the General had not pcrmilled them lo take part in the engagement, feeling confident that they could have annihilated the enemy - which consisted of about 700 men, and was commanded by Santa Anna in person. Early the next morning General Cos joined Santa Anna with a strong reinforce- ment, hy a forced march. Never did men engage in battle with a firmer determination lo conquer or die. They had nothing lo hope of mercy from the perficliotis and cruel enemy. They had no hope of life - hut in victory: · The number of the Mexican army was estimated at from lJ 50 to 1500 men. The Texian forces are estimated at from 610 to 780 men. The sick, the lazy and the cowardly had been left behind in the forced march, and I found several of my friends who had no other apparel but that which they had upon their persons, and had not even blankets to cover them al night. On the 21st, at 4 o'clock, P. l\t the Texian army marcheu out of their encampment to attack the enemy. They had lwo pieces of small iron artillery, a present from the citizens af Cincir.nali - S7 c2va!ry, 300 regulars and volunteers armed with muskets and bayonets, and the residue were armeu with rifles and belt pistols. The Mexicans were encamped on a high prairiP-, with their right resting in a cedar thicket upon the border of a lake connected with the San Jacinto river. The division of Cos was ahout 150 yards in the rear of their front line, resting in careless security after their forced marc:h. The Texian army Lakin~
146
Powered by FlippingBook