WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1845
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the charges made, by those who regard notoriety more than honest fame, I will not now stoop to a vindication of my course, but will state facts. On account of the relations and friends of those noble fellows, who fell by· clecimation~ it is proper that their acts should be vindicated, as it was not by their own conduct that they perished, but that of others, on whom punishment might have deservedly fallen. Soon after the General3 in command had ordered the army back from Guerero, to the San Antonio River, it was reported at Washington, that a portion of the troops had disobeyed the order and elected a leader. Then came in quick succession the news of the surrender at Mier. Our Congress was in session, and ad- journed without taking any action upon the case of our men. All persons whom I heard speak of the prisoners seemed to regard their destruction as inevitable, as the fact was known that they had crossed the Rio Grande, to invade Mexico without orders. And although others seemed to despair of their rescue, as a man, and as an Executive, I did not. Instructions were immediately sent through Hon. Anson Jones, Secretary of State, to our Min- ister at Washington City, as well as our Minister to England and France, directing them to make urgent request of those Govern- ments to interpose their kind offices in behalf of the prisoners, and if possible to obtain their immediate restoration to their friends and their country. The despatch from the Texian Sec- retary of State was the first intimation which our Minister to England had, of the disaster of Mier. There was surely no "betrayal of the brave sufferers," by this timely application in their behalf, urging such reasons as could be suggested, to cause the immediate action of all the friendly powers, in favor of their safety and release. Not satisfied while it seemed to me that any thing more might be done, I addressed a letter to Captain [Charles] Elliot, H. B. M. Charge d'Affaires, then, at this place, requesting him to address H. B. M. Minister at Mexico in behalf-of the prisoners, stating that no matter under what circumstances they might have crossed the Rio Grande, whether with or without orders, the moment that the terms of capitulation proposed by Mexico were accepted by the troops at Mier, that moment they were entitled to all the rights and benefits of prisoners of war, and I hoped, if these reasons were timely presented and urged, that they might all be saved. Previous to the receipt of my letter by Captain Elliot,
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