WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
417
That evening a courier of the enemy was taken, from whom I learned that General Santa Anna, with one division of his choice troops, had marched in the direction of Lynch's ferry, on the San Jacinto- burning Harrisburg as he passed down. The army was ordered to be in readiness to march early on the next morning. The main body effected a crossing over Buffalo bayou, below Harrisburg, on the morning of the 19th, having left the baggage, the sick, and a sufficient camp-guard, in the rear. We continued to march through the night, making but one halt in the prairie for a short time, and without refreshments. At daylight we resumed the line of march, and in a short distance our scouts encountered those of the enemy, and we received in- formation that General Santa Anna was at New Washington, and would that day take up the line of march for Anahuac, cross- ing at Lynch's ferry. The Texan army halted within half a mile of the ferry, in some timber and were engaged in slaughtering beeves, when the army of Santa Anna was discovered to be ap- proaching in battle array, having been encamped at Clopper's point, eight miles below. Disposition was immediately made of our forces, and preparation for his reception. He took a posi- tion with his infantry, and artillery in the centre, occupying an island of timber, his cavalry covering the left flank. The artillery, consisting of one double-fortified medium brass twelve-pounder, then opened on our encampment. The infantry, in column, ad- vanced with the design of charging our lines, but were repulsed by a discharge of grape and canister from our artillery, consist- ing of two six-pounders. The enemy had occupied a piece of timber within rifle-shot of the left wing of our army, from which an occasional interchange of small-arms took place between the troops, until the enemy withdrew to a position on the bank of the San Jacinto, about three quarters of a mile from our encamp- ment, and commenced fortification. A short time before sunset, our mounted men, about eighty-five in number, under the special command of Colonel Sherman/ marched out for the purpose of reconnoitring the enemy. While advancing they received a volley from the left of the enemy's in- fantry, and, after a sharp rencounter with their cavalry, in which ours acted extremely well, and performed some feats of daring chivalry, they retired in good order, having had two men severely wounded, and several horses killed. In the meantime, the in- fantry under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Millard, 3 and Colonel Burleson's regiment, with the artillery, had marched out
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