4.20
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1836
very few having escaped. About six hundred muskets, three hundred sabres, and two hundred pistols, have been collected since the action. Several hundred mules and horses were taken, and nearly twelve thousand dollars in specie. For several days previous to the action, our troops were en- gaged in forced marches, exposed to excessive rains, and the ad- ditional inconvenience of extremely bad roads, badly supplied with rations and clothing; yet, amid every difficulty, they bore up with cheerfulness and fortitude, and performed their marches with spirit and alacrity-there was no murmuring. Previous to and during the action, my staff evinced every dis- position to be useful, and were actively engaged in their duties. In the conflict I am assured that they demeaned themselves in such a manner as proved them worthy members of the army of San Jacinto. Colonel T. J. Rusk, secretary of war, was on the field. For weeks his services had been highly beneficial to the army. In the battle, he was on the left wing, where Colonel Sherman's command first encountered and drove in the enemy: he bore himself gallantly, and continued his efforts and activity, remaining with the pursuers until resistance ceased. · I have the honor of ·transmitting herewith a list of all the officers and men who were engaged in the action, which I respect- fully request may be published, as an act of justice to the in- dividuals. For the commanding general to attempt discrimina- tion as to the conduct of those who commanded in the action, or those who were commanded, would be impossible. Our success in the action is conclusive proof of their daring intrepidity and courage ; every officer and man proved himself worthy of the cause in which he battled, while the triumph received a lustre from the humanity which characterized their conduct after vic- tory, and richly entitles them to the admiration and gratitude of their general. Nor should we withhold the tribute of our grate- ful thanks from that Being who rules the destinies of nations, and has, in the time of greatest need, enabled us to arrest a power- ful invader while devastating our country. Sam Houston, Commander-in-Chief. 1Yoakum, History of Texas, II, 498-502. Brown, History of Texas, II, 18-23. Thrall, P.ictorial History of Texas, 265-268. Wortham, History of Texas, III, 310-316. John J. Lynn, Fifty Years in Texas, 203-209. John- son-Barker, Texas and Texans, I, 450-453. The Northern Standard, Sep- tember 27, 1861. Arkansas Gazette, June 7, 1836. A1·kansas Advocate, April 26, 1836. The copy for this work is taken from Yoakum. It hns
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