310
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
of Santa Anna. 1 Surrounded there, and cut off from all succor, the consequence was they were destroyed ; they fell victims to the ruthless feelings of Santa Anna, by the contrivance of the council, and in violation of the plans of the Major-General for the defense of the country. What was the fate of Johnson, of Ward, and of Morris? They had advanced beyond Copano previous to forming a junction with Fannin, and they were cut off. Fannin subsequently arrived, and attempted to advance, but fell back to Goliad. When the Aiamo fell, he was at Goliad. King's command had been left at Refugio, for the purpose of defending some fam- ilies, instead of removing them. They were invested there; and Ward, with a battalion of the gallant volunteers of whom I have spoken, was sent to relieve King; but he was annihiliated. Fannin was in Goliad. Ward, in attempting to come back, had become lost or bewildered. The Alamo had fallen. On the 4th of March, the Commander-in-chief was re-elected by the con- vention, after having laid down his authority. He hesitated for hours before he would accept the situation. He had antici- pated every disaster that befell the country, from the detached condition of the troops, under the orders of the council, and the inevitable destruction that awaited them; and to this effect had so reported to the Governor, on the 4th of February. 6 When he assumed the command what was his situation? Had he aid and succor? He had conciliated the Indians by treaty whilst he was superseded by the unlawful edicts of the council. He had conciliated thirteen bands of Indians, and they remained amicable throughout the struggle of the revolution. Had they not been conciliated, but turned loose upon our people, the women and children would have perished in their flight arising from panic. After treaty with the Indians he attended the con- vention, and acted in the deliberations of that body, signing the declaration of independence, and was there elected. When he started to the army, the only hope of Texas remained then at Gonzales. Men with martial spirit, with well-nerved arms and gallant hearts, had hastily rallied there as the last hope of Texas. The Alamo was known to be in siege. Fannin was known to be embarrassed. Ward, also, and Morris and John- son, destroyed. All seemed to bespeak calamity of the most dire- ful character. It was under those circumstances that the gen- eral started; and what was his escort? A general-in-chief, you would suppose, was at least surrounded by a staff of gallant men. It would be imagined that some prestige ought to be
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