187
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1855
So well satisfied was he that Santa Anna was on his march to the East, that he made the unprecedented march from Groce's on the Brasos, to Harrisburg, in three days, being poorly provided with means of transporta,tion, and the prairie very soft from recent rains. He took eighty-four lifts himself to get wagons out of the mud, between Groce's and Harrisburg. It had been said that he intended to retreat beyond the Trinity. But he said he had discretion enough to keep his own counsels, and when the army reached the forks of the road, one leading to the Trinity, the other to Harrisburg, he gave orders to take the Harrisburg road, which was the first intimation of his intentions. On reach- ing Harrisburg, he found the town burnt, and the prairie gashed deep with the carriages of the Mexican artillery. While there, deaf Smith and Carnes captured a Mexican Courier with a half a bushel or a bushel of letters, detailing the plan of operations of the Mexican Army, and informing Santa Anna that Gen. Coss was coming on with all speed, with a reinforcement of 550 men. Being possessed of the plans of the Mexican Army, he crossed over and marched down with all possible speed, to prevent the enemy from crossing at Lynchburg. Upon his arrival at this point, he found the enemy had not crossed. By means of a Ferry Boat and a raft, he succeeded in crossing the Bayou, to the same side with the enemy. After crossing, beeves were slaughtered, and the men commenced cooking, having eaten nothing since the morning before, at which time, the spies came in and reported a large Mexi.can force in sight, marching to attack them. He ordered the army to take position in a skirt of timber on the Bayou, and bordering on the prairie. The enemy marched up and took position in two islands of timber, one nearly within mus- ket shot of our lines, and commenced a brisk fire. He ordered his men to keep concealed in the timber, as he wished them not to know the strength of his army, hoping they would attack him in the timber. He then called for volunteers to dislodge the Mexican musketry from the Island, nearest the Texas line. Col. Sherman requested permission to lead them, to which he readily assented. Sherman proposed attacking them on horseback; he objected and told him it would never do to attack them in that position, only on foot; but Sherman insisted and was permitted, and made the attack with eighty men upon 55 Mexicans; and upon the first fire from the Mexicans, Sherman retreated with all haste and in disorder, which was very mortifying to him, and produced a bad effect upon the Army. He gave orders for the men to l.eep concealed,
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