WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
371
~Erastus Smith (familiary known as "Deaf Smith")-April 19, 1787- November 30, 1837-pioneer, famous Texas scout, was born in New York, the son of Chilab and Mary Smith. When the boy was twelve years old his parents moved to Natchez, Mississippi. Young Smith did not make his first visit to Texas until 1817, and then he remained only a short time, 2.nd nothing is recorded of the trip. He returned to Texas in 1821 and settled near Bexar where, in 1822, he married a young Mexican widow, Mrs. Guadalupe Ruiz Duran. When Green DeWitt obtained his contract to settle four hundred families within the boundaries of the present coun- ties of DeWitt, Guadalupe, Caldwell, and parts of Lavaca and Karnes, he commissioned James Kerr to select and lay out a site for the capital of his colony; and in August, 1825, James Ken, Erastus Smith, Basil Durbin, Geran Hines, John Wightman, James Musick, and some negro slaves were busy in the performance of this commission (Texas Histo1·ical Qua.rte1·ly, VIII, 102). At the outbreak of the Texas Revolution the loyalty of Erastus Smith was considered uncertain, due to his family affiliations and to. past associations with Mexican interests. But when Austin's army was organized at Gonzales, Smith was one of the first to enlist, and it was not long before all Texas had perfect confidence in his loyalty to the Texan cause. From the first he was detailed for scout duty, a duty for which he was particularly fitted by his long years spent on the frontier, his thorough acquaintance with the manners, language, and customs of the Mexicans, and of the topography of Texas. A disease of childhood had left him hard of hearing, an affliction that seemed to incline him to i,olitude and reticence, but no man was bolder, more fearless, more enter- prising, or more cautious-the very qualities most needed for this time. He puticipated in the Battle of Concepcion, and guided Francis Johnson's command into the City of San Antonio on December 5, 1835. While on the top of the Verimendi house, December 8, he was wounded at almost the same moment that Ben Milam was killed in the yard of the same home. After Houston had reorganized the army (March, 1836) at Gonzales, "Deaf Smith" was assigned to the cavalry, and was put in command of recruits. Near Harrisburg he captured a courier with important dis- patches to General Santa Anna, dispatches that revealed to the Texans the position of Santa Anna and his army. On the morning of April 21, he destroyed the bridge over Vince's Bayou, and then fought valiantly in the battle that followed. After the Battle of San Jacinto, Houston sent Smith to overtake Filisola and deliver to that general orders from Gen- eral Santa Anna. These orders commanded Filisola to retreat from Texas boil. After the Battle of San Antonio, December, 1835, Smith realizing the uncertain fate of that city removed his family to Columbia, and this latter town remained his home. He resigned his commission in the Texas Army after the Battle of San Jacinto, nevertheless, he was given per- mission to raise and command a company of Rangers, using his own dis- cretion concerning the place, time, and length of service. On February 17, 1837, with only twenty men he fought a battle against a force of Mexicans nearly double that number. This skirmish occurred near Laredo where the Mexicans had been robbing and laying waste ranches and homes. In his official report of this battle, Smith said that the Mexicans had lost ten killed, as many wounded, and forty horses captured, against two 'l'exans wounded and none killed. In this report Smith also stated that
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