Recollections of Early Texas (12 page)

Very soon John Harvey raised a company from Bastrop and went to survey out on the San Saba. They had been at work eight or ten days and were moving from one branch of the river to another, when they saw on their way a fresh Indian foot trail. This aroused and warned them of danger, and that night guards were stationed near the horses. One of these sentinels, a Mr. Burnet, stood near a steep hollow, close by which a mule was staked. Just before daylight he noticed the mule snorting and looking over into the hollow, as if he saw something unusual. Thinking it was probably a wolf or bear he indiscreetly went to the edge of the bluff and looked down into the hollow.

Three or four Indians had crawled up and just as he was in the act of peering down they fired upon him, tearing his arm to pieces. Almost simultaneously another party, or another division of the same party, crawled up on the opposite side of the camp and fired upon the sleeping men, who returned the fire as quickly as possible.

Three of them did not tarry to fight, however, but ran with all possible speed. One was on horseback, while two, Leffingwell and Pipkin, were on foot. After running some distance these two, noticing that the guns had ceased, and thinking the Indians had been repulsed, turned and were retracing their steps toward camp when they met the Indians, who were carrying a slain warrior. At sight of the two fugitives, they dropped their burden and took out after them. Thus, headed off as it were from their companions, they struck out for home. Both were young men and entirely inexperienced as woodsmen, in a wild waste without food and unarmed except one gun for which they had only one load.

In the meantime, Harvey and his company of surveyors, after repulsing the Indians,
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had come home and, finding the two footmen had not made their appearance, naturally conceded they had been overtaken and killed, but no investigation was made. In about ten days, however, the two men reached Bastrop almost dead from hunger and fatigue. They had traveled about one hundred and fifty miles on foot, over a rough country with no food except buds, berries, and wild
edibles gathered by hand. The gun would never discharge its solitary load and they were constantly tantalized by sight of game which they could not get.

The account of their adventure was quite interesting. One evening while traveling down the Colorado River they struck a sand bar, where water was still standing on the dry sand where Indians had just watered their horses. In a short distance they found where the savages had been camped. They were now considerably alarmed and perplexed as to what course to pursue. Knowing the Indians to be very near they wished to cross the river, but neither of them could swim. They concluded to try to wade the stream and one plunged in, but soon found that the water was over his head and came out. They then slipped cautiously down the river, watching carefully and fearing an attack from Indians every instant. At length, they crawled into a steep hollow and there lay concealed for the night.

While lying in the ravine they heard the sound of approaching steps and almost gave up hope. Nearer and nearer came the regular tramp of heavy feet, even to the very edge of the bluff above them. They lay watching with bated breath, expecting to see the form of an Indian spring down upon them. Great was their surprise to see instead the black head and shining eyes of a huge bear, which after a short glance turned and retreated, leaving them in peace. Thus beset with dangers and fears, they made their way home at last, although almost dead on their arrival.

About now a Mr. Ladd and another gentleman from Bastrop went over near the San Gabriel River to camp a few days, look at the country, hunt, and enjoy themselves generally. They camped at a spring and were settled in their wild quarters, having a nice time. One morning, Ladd took his gun and went out to kill a deer, leaving the old gentleman in charge of the camp. Before he was out of sight he
heard a noise back at the camp and looked back, seeing the Indians in the act of killing the old man. Knowing his time would come next, he broke to run and immediately they started in pursuit. He ran into the first thicket, which was instantly surrounded by the warriors, two of which were on horses and the rest on foot. He felt death to be inevitable, but determined to fight to the end, and taking deliberate aim at the nearest, pulled the trigger
and the cap burst!
At this the Indians ran all together on one side of the thicket, while he ran out on the other. And now his chances for life seemed indeed desperate.

He had a distance of at least four miles through open prairie before he would reach the San Gabriel, and behind him were
seven
determined Indians, two of whom were on horseback. But he attempted the run, his pursuers being immediately behind him. The two horsemen were foremost among the Indians, but whenever they would come alarmingly close, he would turn and bluff them with his gun, which he knew would not fire. When about half the way had been run they were so near that Ladd could distinctly hear them laughing, and he imagined it was in anticipation of taking his scalp. At length, they made a dash at him, at the same time firing upon him. They were so near that the report of the guns deafened him and dazed him, but he did not pause; he said that he felt as if he were fairly flying. At last the river Gabriel was in sight and he struck it at a bluff twenty feet high. Still he did not pause, for he knew a terrible death was pursuing hard behind him, so he sailed over the height, lighting on his feet unhurt, while the Indians, scared to make the leap, went around, giving him a chance to hide.

Again he concealed himself in a thicket, and no sooner did he become quiet than he was sound asleep from utter prostration. He was aroused from his profound and somewhat unseasonable nap by the voices of the Indians as they
looked for him in and around the thicket. They did not find him, however, and finally left him. He lay there till night and then escaped. Coming home, he declared he would not live in such a country, where a man's life was thus in jeopardy all the time, and soon after left these parts, never to return.

Another small party of men, among whom was Taylor Smith,* had a little adventure somewhat similar to this at about the same time [1838]. They were hunting buffalo, and one day were fired upon by Indians. One man [Smith] had his arm broken, but none were killed.

All these trials and dangers of our pioneers had no effect in staying the great tide of emigration which constantly flowed into our state from everywhere.

CHAPTER VI

More Mexican Trouble

In the spring of 1842 General Vasquez invaded Texas and captured San Antonio.
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The news created a great deal of excitement among us. The little signal cannon called us together at Bastrop, and General Burleson took a considerable force to Austin, which was by then a growing place.
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The citizens were alive with serious apprehensions, expecting an invading army from Mexico, and as we lay in Austin awaiting recruits we could hear innumerable reports of approaching forces. Two divisions were represented as advancing upon us; one by way of Goliad, another by way of Santa Fe.

Burleson dispatched runners in every direction to test the truth of these reports and finally went with his men to San Antonio, which we found in sackcloth and ashes. The citizens, being mostly Mexicans, were not hurt; most of the American citizens had run. What a city of devastation and bloodshed has San Antonio been! Whatever trouble ever visited Texas,
this little town seemed to be heart and center of her suffering, so that she has been well-termed as a “Slaughter Pen.”

In about a month several companies were organized. I belonged to one under Captain James Gillespie.* Burleson was very anxious to make an invading attack on Mexico and spoke at length on the subject at the Alamo, but having no orders to that effect from Commander-in-Chief Sam Houston, our forces finally disbanded and came back home. While we were in San Antonio we lived by foraging on the Mexican citizens of the place. Juan N. Seguin, who had hitherto been true and loyal to Texas in all her troubles, even commanding a company against the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto, now turned and became our enemy, giving as a reason for the change the fact that we destroyed many of his hogs and property while lying at San Antonio. Whatever might have been his true reasons, he went entirely over to Mexico.

In the fall General Adrian Woll came with a still stronger force and stayed longer on Texas soil. The panic and excitement became so great that some of our citizens gathered up bag and baggage and left. Once more two hundred men marched to San Antonio. Six miles this side of the city, on a little creek called Salado, they met a citizen of San Antonio and from him derived some information as to the strength of the Mexican army. Taking advantage of his familiarity with the country, they also learned from him what would be an advisable position and were led by him to the very spot, where was fought the famous Battle of Salado.

Immediately about eighty horsemen were sent into San Antonio to draw on the battle. No sooner were they in sight than the Mexican cavalry mounted and gave them a tight race back to the Salado. Forming a line they awaited the infantry, while we were making ready for fight.

Colonel Matthew Caldwell, who was one of the Santa Fe
prisoners and consequently had taken oath never to participate in the war of Texas against Mexico, had in spite of the oath entered the Texas army and had charge of the forces on this raid. He now gave his men a talk, explaining his position and how little mercy he could expect if he should again fall into the hands of the Mexicans. Then he asked them if they would be true to him at all hazards in the coming struggle. They swore they would stand by him to death.

The Mexicans charged several times and the skirmish lasted over a half-day, but finally the Mexicans were repulsed.
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In the meantime, Captain Dawson, with a company of about fifty men from Fayette County, was on his way to join Caldwell's forces at Salado Creek, anxious to aid in the coming battle. His spies saw the Mexican forces and reported. After a brief period of deliberation they decided to fight, and proceeded to take position in a mesquite grove.

General Woll turned his attention and his forces full upon Dawson, though he artfully hid his artillery and infantry behind his cavalry, so that Dawson did not see the tremendous odds with which he would have to contend. His small force of fifty-two men awaited the attack of a large Mexican army. The cavalry marched in gunshot range, received a volley of shots, and then moved aside and surrounded the little company, exposing to view the artillery and infantry.

Then commenced one of the most cruel and murderous massacres in all the annals of history.
Seeing the utter helplessness of his situation, Dawson at once raised the white flag, as signal of surrender, but no heed was taken of the sign!
With deliberate and vindictive cruelty, they pressed upon the small band of Texans! First shots were high, then lower and lower, till sweeping the ground the little force fell thick and fast all around. With saber and lance the Mexicans fell upon
the few who escaped death in the volleys of shot, and cut them down.

Only two out of the brave but unfortunate company escaped and lived to give details of the cruel butchery—Alsey Miller* and Gonsolvo [Henry Gonzalvo] Woods. The latter escaped by an almost miraculous combination of bravery, skill, vigilance, and fortitude. Receiving a wound in the shoulder, and several hacks over the head with sabers, he knew he could not cope with the merciless foe, who were every instant cutting down his comrades around him, so he concluded to surrender and place himself at their mercy, as vanquished. He tried to make his way with gun and ammunition to the commander,
who was none other than Juan N. Seguin, the traitor.

The wildest disorder and confusion reigned, and only one rule was the order of the day, and that was
death to the Texans.
The snap of a Mexican gun which had been drawn upon him convinced him that surrender or escape was almost impossible, but in his desperation he broke into a run, with a Mexican horseman at his heels. Death seemed inevitable, but as “fortune sometimes favors the brave,” so did it to Woods. The Mexican attempted to strike him with his lance, but missed him. With wonderful quickness he snatched the weapon with such force as to jerk the astonished soldier to the ground, whereupon he ran the lance through him and sprang upon the Mexican's horse and made his escape.

Riding full speed about two miles he saw two men, one of whom seemed to be his fellow soldier, Alsey Miller, whom he had seen make a desperate run from the scene of battle, and he turned to join them, but they were two Mexicans, who immediately rushed upon him, firing as they came. Seeing a pistol attached to the horn of the saddle, Woods snatched it to fire, but as he did so the cartridge fell to the ground, thus leaving him once more powerless to defend himself. They,
however, did not know the pistol was empty, so he managed to bluff them until he reached a hollow. Dismounting, he hid himself and
finally
made his escape.

His father, an old man sixty-two years old,
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was killed and his brother Norman was wounded on this campaign, and died a prisoner.

The next morning Woll commenced a retreat, camping that night on the Medina River, where our forces under Caldwell, John H. Moore, and James S. Mayfield came in sight of him. In the meantime, we had captured five stragglers from Woll's army and these were now tied, so that even the guards might take part in the battle which seemed impending. Our spies went out under cover of the night almost into their camps, and returned and described their position and strength. We then advanced to within a mile and a half of them and awaited daylight. We awoke the next morning to find that the enemy had retreated during the night. We marched in pursuit at once, but after following them about fifteen miles we heard shots being exchanged between our advanced guards and the rear guards of Woll's force. We were immediately ordered to halt, and our scouts returned from the firing and brought back one of our men, who was shot through the lungs.
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Our army was composed of about five or six hundred men, and instead of advancing as a majority thought best, we were ordered to fall back three or four hundred yards into a dry creek in the prairie, near the Hondo River, where with a strong position we awaited
attack. After waiting a half-hour without any sign of the enemy, we were ordered to mount and advance.