WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1855
190
His object was to let the army know that the only means of retreat was cut off, and to keep them ignorant of the reinforce- ments of Santa Anna, lest it should have a tendency to discourage the men. He said, if he had sustained Sherman in the attack he brought on by disobeying orders, it would have brought on the battle before Coss with the reinforcements, arrived, and the victory would only have been half gained; but now it was com- plete. Among the spoils he said there was found $12,000 in gold and silver, in the army chest of Santa Anna, which he had dis- tributed among the soldiers, but took not a dollar himself. While in pursuit of the enemy, Carnes captured a fine black horse that Geri. Coss had got from Vince, and presented it to him, but he did not accept of him, but sent him to the army and the army unanimously presented the horse to him.-The President, he said, interposed his authority.-He would not characterize it horse stealing, but he would say it was horse robbery. He took his horse away from him, and gave him to Vince, who had never done anything for the country. The secret of the malignity of the President and Cabinet to- wards him, was that they wanted to handle the 12,000 dollars taken from the enemy; but he had distributed it among the sol- diers that gained the victory. Bob Potter, whose infamy was wider than the world, and deeper than perdition, was Secretary of the navy and wanted the handling of the $12,.000. It had been said that the wound he received was a mere scratch, but he was shot through the ankle, and the front bone of his leg shot off. He went to Galveston, and not finding the medical aid necessary, he proposed to go to New Orleans, where he could get such aid as his situation required.. He requested a conveyance in a public vessel to New Orleans, but the President refused to · grant his request, and some of his friends procured him a passage in a private schooner bound for New Orleans. When he arrived there, his leg was in a state of gangrene, having had no dressing for ten days, but the piece of a shirt with which it was bound up on the day of the battle. He asked for Dr. Ewing to accompany him as surgeon. The President refused permission, but he thought he had a right, as General, to command his services, but the President dismissed him from the service for going with him to New Orleans. While at the house of his friend, Col. Christie, Christie suggested that the Cabinet would put Santa Anna to death, to which he replied: "No, Christie, they won't do it." Christie said: "Why, General, what makes you think so?" "Ah, Christie, money will save him."
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