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514
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
divisions were opposed, and unwilling to attempt an attack on the for- tifications of San Antonio, which said officers also expressed a concur- rence with their men in opinion; in consequence of which Genl Burleson was induced to abandon the measure. On the fourth• day of December· the Comrin Chief Authorised Col Benjamine R Milam and F. W. John- son Adjt & Inspr Genl, to raise a force of Volunteers from the Army, to attack the enimy on the following morning, for which service Two hun- dred and sixteen (216) men promptly volunteered. These troops were equally divided into two divisions, The first was ·commanded by Col Milam & the second by Adjt & Inspr Genl Johnson; The Comr in Chief remaining with, & disposing ofthe main Army as a reserve. The assault upon the town being made at day light, on the morning of the 5th instant, Each division gained possession of a strong position, with- in the walls of the town; without the loss of a single man. The main Army at this time occupied a position some six hundred yards above the town, on the West side of the river. On the advance of the attacking party Genl Burleson formed all the reserve with the Exception of the· Camp guard, At the old mill station i:n1me<liately above the town, ·and held himself in readiness to advance in case of necessity & Co-operate as circumstances might require-- It now became the object of the Comr m Chief to give all possible aid & succor to the attacking divisions, for this purpose he organi:7:erl Efficient mGunt_ed CornpanieE under the immediate·command of Captn Cheshire~ Roberts and CoJeman, which were kept actively emploYecl reconnoitering & watching the movements of the enimy, and procuring provisions from the surrounding country for the use of the Army. In this m8:Ilner our troops were furnished with an abundant supply of provisions during the engagement- Reinforcements under command of Capt Cheshire, Southerland & Lewis amounting to about one hun- dred men were sent in by the Comr in Chief during the battle; Other companies were Especially held in readiness to reinforce the attacking divisions in case they should be needed, but the two positions occupied · by our troops in town being very contracted, as many men were already there as could be.employed to advantage: During the whole time of the battle ,v.pich lasted five days & nights, Genl Burleson was actively engaged night and day, in giving succor to the attacking divisions in every possible way. The plan of operations of that Army was formed previous to the attack under the direction of the Comr in Chief assisted by his Adjt & Inspr Genl and a perfect concert of action prevailed among the officers commanding the 'different divisions throughout the Engagement-and it is extremely uncharitable for any Texian to critacise, or condem the plan formed on that occasion, by the combined wisdom of such gallant men as Johnson and Burleson & the lamented Milam Had not Genl Burleson remained in charge of the main Army (which was about five hundred strong besides the attacking divisions) and kept an open communication with our troops in town, the Enimy with their overwhelming force, could Easily have surrounded the town, cut off all our means of procuring provisions or other necessary supplies. And the consequences would have been, that we would have been compelled to surrender at discretion, in a very few days, or we would have met the
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