Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar
No. 2483 1853 Dec. 1, ANONYMOUS. EARLY HISTORY OF SAN ANTONI0 76 Early History of San Antonio. The times of 1811 and 1812.-First rising of the .Mexicans against the Spanish Government.-Padre Ydalgo.--The brutal murder of Salcedo and Hierra..-Gutierrez condem�d.-Interesting incident, connected 'with the sites of Guilbeaii's and Callaghan's houses-of the Postoffice-of Military Plaz(J,-{)f Courth011.se and the Plaza House.-Battles of the Salado and Medina, &c. In the issue of the San Antonio Ledger of date the 17th of Sep-· tember last, I perused a historical sketch of the foundation and early events of the City of San Antonio de Bexar. Having been an eye witness of nearly all the occurrences therein detailed, I cannot forbear the temptation to correct many substantial errors contained in such narration. The mistakes to which I refer, undoubtedly resulted from inexact information, gleaned perhaps from mutilated documents which rarely preserve the historic chain. It is ever desirable to procure the most correct information of these events, for they present to posterity the customs, capacity, character and moral qualities of the men of that particular era. In 1813, the writer of this communication w&s eighteen years of age. He was then in San Antonio and retains the most vivid recol lection of the transactions of that period. This drcumstance, and a desire that every thing appertaining to that city (dear to him for many reasons), should be related with a rigid regard for truth, induces the present effusion. You will discover no rhetorical flourish or attempts at excellence of style, but rather an unvarnished detail of stirring and bloody times. A Mexican Curate, by the name of Don Miguel Ydalgo y Costilla, was really the first individual who raiRed the cry of Independence in the towil styled Dolores. The Priest Don Jose Maria Morelos since �o celebrated for his military talents, was likewise a hero of Mexican Tndepenrlence. He it was, who after the ex'!cution of Father Ydalgo, convoked the first Mexican Congresf', f't_yled A pacingan. General Don Felix Maria Calleja, afterwarrls the Spanish Viceroy of Mexico, was particularly distinguished for his sanguinary pursuit of the Patriots Ydalgo, Guerrero, Morelos, Brabo and others. Calleja was. however, · the most formidable foe of the MPxicans. Morelos was taken ·prisoner, and after the mot"t ignominiouf' treatmPnt, was finally shot in the ancient fortress of San ChristoYal, distant four leagues from the Castle
?•Clipping from The Western Texan.
Powered by FlippingBook