395
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
take his place among the useful men of his nation. Such service he began as the secretary to the city council at Merida, a post he held from 1812 to 1814. He studied medicine both in the best schools of America and of Europe, and by 1818 we find him a popular physician at Merida with a large and still growing practice. But in 1820 he was elected a delegate to the Cortes of Spain, and served there until the latter part of 1822, when he was elected from the State of Yucatan as a deputy to the Congress of Mexico. He held that position until November, 1824, when he resigned to become a Senator to the Mexican Congress. After serving as a Senator for two years he was elected Governor of the State of Mexico, and while serving as the Governor of a Mexican State, he was also the National Minister of Finance. When the revolution of Jalapa broke out in 1830, l.e was forced to flee the Republic, but soon returned to hold various small political positions until 1833, when he was again elected Governor of the State of Mexico, also a Senator to the National Congress. In 1834, he was sent to France as Minister Plenipotentiary from Mexico, but in 1835, upon becoming displeased with Santa Anna's tyrannical policy of Government, he resigned his diplomatic position, and moved to Texas as a colonist. He settled upon a tract of land along Buffalo Bayou near the town of Harrisburg, and built a handsome home. He wholeheartedly cast his lot with the Texans and was cordially welcomed by them. They sought his advice concerning many of the problems of the new Government they were organizing. He was elected a delegate from Harris County to the Consultation in 1835, and to the Convention in 1836. He was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and helped to formulate the first Constitution of the Texas Republic. He served as vice-president of the ad inte1'im government (March 4-October 2, 1836). While attempting to c.ross Buffalo Bayou at flood stage, he was drowned, November 15, 1836. See the Quarterly, XXXVI, 29-30; Sam Houston Dixon, Men Who Made Texas Free, 141-146; Thrall, A Picto1·ial Histo·1·y of Texas, 636-637; Lamar Papers, 6 vols., especially IV, Pt. 2, pp. 236-237.
To THOMAS J. RusK 1 Headquarters, Camp West of Brasos, April 4, 1836.
To Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War: Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, by an express which reached me last night, I received intelligence that Colonel Fannin 2 and his command had been attacked by a large body of Mexican cavalry and infantry, in the prairie, about eight miles rnst of the San Antonio river, on his march from La Bahia to Victoria. The enemy were several times repulsed; the battle lasting until in the night. On the next morning the ·enemy fired several cannon shots and hoisted a flag of truce, which was met by a correspond- ing signal from Colonel Fannin. The commanders met, and stipu- lated that the Americans, on condition of a surrender, should be treated as prisoners of war, and in eight days [be] sent to New Orleans on parole. On the eighth day the prisoners were marched
Powered by FlippingBook