I..
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
323
himself, and remained there until the enemy had all fled. As I returned from the pursuit of the enemy, I met him coming up with some stragglers. This statement is made principally from notes taken during the campaign, and from facts within my recol- lection, as though they had passed yesterday. I have forborne to state anything about Colonel Sherman's conduct in disposing of, and appropriating the spoils privately to his own use; but, should it be necessary at any future day to do so, I am fully prepared. I am your friend, etc., Joseph L. Bennett. 12 General Sam Houston, Washington, Texas." Mr. President, this is one of the gentlemen who have been most active in contributing to the contents of this almanac, as I have been informed, and one to whom the calumny has been traced. This is not the only evidence that I have in relation to that gentleman; and I will make one statement, as it is a fact that is important in relation to the calumnies to which I am responding: that this letter has been in the possession of Colonel Sherman since 1843. He was furnished with a copy of it; and during several years of Colonel Bennett's life, he never called for explanation, nor did he ever confront Colonel Bennett when he went where he was, but slunk from his presence, and cowered before him. Since his decease, Sherman has been busily engaged in propagating ·every slander against the Commander-in-chief that malice could devise; and, though challenged and invited to publish the letter of Colonel Bennett, he has thought proper to rest under all the imputations of cowardice heaped upon him, and finds consolation, I presume, in trying to place others in his own category. Now, as this comes in at this particular point, I have another letter that I think proper to submit. It is very short, "Walker County, Nove1nbe1· 2, 1857. General Houston :-Seeing that you have been at- tacked by persons on pretense that they have been in the battle of San Jacinto, and wish to injure you by false charges, I feel it my duty to give you a statement cf what I know to be correct. I joined the army on the Colorado, and in its march to San Jacinto I joined Captain Hayden Arnold's com- pany, of the second regiment, commanded by Colonel and I asked the Secretary to read it. The Secretary read it, as follows:
Powered by FlippingBook