WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1857
449
reference to objects, beyond the sphere of their personal acquaint- ance in the hope that names and titles would weigh much in their favor, and obta,in for them factitious advantages which they never could have derived where they are known, and their acts of service to Texas appreciated. They evince but one military trait. Not relying on their own weight of character, they have invoked the name and character of Gen Rusk; and, had they confined themselves to the living, there would have been some apparent fairness in their course, because the living can vindicate their names against error and misrepresentation ;-the dead can make no response! I must be excused for not attaching credit to any statement made by the trio, as to what Gen Rusk may have done or said, for the reasons which I will render! Mr. Burnet says General Rw;k drafted the Treaty made w-ith General Santa Anna. Gen. Rusk addressed me a letter while I was confined with my wound at San Jacinto, asking my opinion, relative to the conditions of a Treaty, if one should be made with Santa Anna. In reply, among other con- ditions, I proposed that he should be retained, an hostage, until all the conditions of the Treaty should be performed. I under- stood the General to concur in this opinion, and moreover, Gen Rusk was not at, or within many miles of Velasco, when the Treaty was signed, nor was he a member of the·Cabinet, but in command of the army. So much for Mr. Burnet's invocation of Gen. Rusk's name! Now, as to what Mr. Lamar states that Gen. Rusk stated about what Mr. Collinsworth stated about an order to "HALT!" I must be allowed to suppose Mr. Lamar's memory is somewhat defective for the following reasons: Gen. Rusk's position and that of Mr. Collinsworth (if he was near enough to slap Gen Rusk on the thigh) was on the extreme left of the line, not less than three hundred yards from Gen. Houston, whose position was in front of the center of Burleson's first battalion, and attacking the enemy's breastwork. In the noise of battle could an order have been heard at the distance of three hundred yards? No such order was ever given on the field of battle, or within six hundred yards of it. Strange that Mr. Lamar had not produced a certificate from Mr. Collinsworth and from Col Wharton, for he says, "the fact was related to me by Col. Wharton." Oh no, he must get it second- hand, years after, though he says, "it is also said that when Rusk gave orders to advance, Houston called to those arou.11d him to bear witness that the ·m.ovemcnt was again.st his orders, am.d kc
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