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TEXAS ST.A.TE LIBRARY
told. Their encampment had been reconnoited, and their situation and numbers ascertained. Our army as before observed was about double their numbers, of as brave and determined men as ever found an enemy, and anxious for revenge, and on tiptoe to attack them, and expected orders to that effect, but were from day to day, disappointed. And finally a precipitate retreat was ordered. leaving the picket guard out on duty as at Gonzales, without a knowledge of the army's move- ments. This precipitate movement was not only calculated to disap- point, but disgust the army, as they had fondly hoped that the Colo- rado would then be made the line of defence. 'l'hey could attribute the conduct of their general officer to nothing but dastardly cowardice or a want of integrity to the Country As before observed, the army while it remained at the Colorado was receiving hourly acquisitions, on a belief that it would me [be] made the line of defence This pre- cipitate retrograde movement disappointed all their fond hopes; not only in taking revenge on the division of the enemy then in their power; but on sustaining the Country perhaps, at all As no new ac- cessions could be expected and the citizen soldiers, particularly those who had families, were compelled to decamp and take care, as best they might, of their women and children. They knew these facts were well known to their leader, and as such they could attribute his con- duct to nothing but a want of courage, or integrity to the Country The retreating army struck the Brazos a few miles above San Felipe which he ordered to be burnt, which was arcordingly done, destroying many goods and much valuable property. He thence took his course up the river, to Groces crosi;:ing on the direct route to the sabinc and some eighteen or twenty miles above the line of march of the upper division of the invading army, from which he had just retreated. There he remained some weeks, ensconsed in the Brazos-bottom; until the enemy had crossed the Brazos. His strange and unaccountable con- duct in retreating from the Colorado without fighting the enemy, pro- duced the effect which he and all others well knew would follow His army had now depleted from necessity one half, and receiving no rein- forcements as all confidence in security or efficien<:y from that source was lost. The confusion and distrust which followed can be more easily imagined than discribed. In this hiding place he remained until his band of patriots, became entirely impatient Neither officers or men could see the propriety of his policy, if he had any, as every thing then, as now, was a secret kept under the veil of mystery. This spartan band was composed of men of intelligence and intrepidity, a11 anxious to be active, as they well knew the situation of the Country required all their vigilance. The soldiery and officers had now become impa• tient to the last degree, as from his conduct all had come to the , 0 on- clusion, that either from cowardice or want of integrity he did not in• tend to fight or defend the Country. The officers held a consultation, in which it was determined to strip him of his apauletes, which he dis- graced, and select 1mother leader Col. Sidney Sherman had bPen selected for that purpose, than whom a more modest unassuming gen- tlemanly and chivalrous man could not have been selected Hence that irentleman has been pursecuted with all the malignity, that power in the hands of an unprincipled man could produce This move on the part of the officers was unfortunately thwarted by the interposition of
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