WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
324
Sherman. Captain Arnold's company was the first in the regiment in the charge upon the enemy in battle. I was the fifth or sixth man from Colonel Sherman. While we were advancing upon the enemy's lines, and before any firing had taken place, Colonel Sherman called out in an audible voice, 'Halt.' At that moment Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett, who was close by, hallooed out, 'This is no time to halt; push on, boys, the enemy is right here in this little timber, push on'; and advanced in front of the command. In casting my eye on Colonel Bennett a moment afterward, I saw General Rusk near to him. Colonel Sherman halted where he gave the order 'to halt,' and I never saw him again until after the battle was over. I then saw him coming up in the rear with some stragglers, at the ravine where the army halted in pursuit, and the place from which you ordered Captain Turner's company back to guard the spoils. Your obedient servant, Philip Martin.12 General Sam Houston, Huntsville, Texas." This evidence, Mr. President, seems to account for the anxiety that Sherman entertains to place his conduct in such a light as to get rid of the deserved charge of cowardice, and ordering a halt before he fled from the fil:~ld, and attach the imputation which he deserves, to the Commander-in-chief. This is the grati- tude he returns. But, Mr. President, it is proper to remark, that previous to the order for the demolition of the bridge, and during the early part of the day, two officers came to the Com- mander-in-chief and asked him if it would not be well to construct a bridge across the bayou, •immediately opposite the encampment, which was, perhaps, some seventy or a hundred yards wide at tide-water. The general, to get rid of them, remarked, "Is there material?" and told them to see. They went, and after returning, reported that, by demolishing Governor Zavala's house, a bridge might be constructed. The general observed to them, that other arrangements might suit better, and cast them off. So soon as the general supposed the bridge was destroyed, or cut down, he ordered Colonel Bennett to go around to the captains and men of Sherman's regiment, to see what their spirits were; whether they were cheerful, and whether he thought them desirous for a battle. Colonel Bennett reported favorably. They were ordered to parade. The plan of battle is described in the official report of the Commander-in-chief, to be found in Yoakum's History, one of the most authentic and valuable books in connection with
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