The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 2, July 1898 - April, 1899 Page: 316
[335] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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316 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
On the night of Oct. 1st the Texians crossed the river with their
cannon, and forming held a council of war, and listened to a pa-
triotic address from Rev. W. P. Smith, a Methodist preacher of
Rutersville. Then they marched up the river several miles, and
towards morning on Oct. 2d, a dense fog prevailing, their pickets
encountered the mounted pickets of the enemy, and a ludicrous
firing and scattering ensued, neither force being able to distinguish
friend from foe. The Texians, however, were annoyed by a little
dog that ran among them, betraying their position. A little lifting
of the fog showed the Mexican encampment, and an American
known as Dr. Smithers came out calling, "Don't shoot, don't shoot.
I have a message;" but the colonists firing their cannon charged up
and put the Mexicans to flight, capturing many of the camp equip-
ments. My father told me that the roar of the cannon loaded
with cut up pieces of chains, reverberating along the valleys and
river in the early morning, was remarkable. Some blood was seen,
and crippled animals were left on the battle-ground.
In the division 'of the camp spoils my father procured an excellent
Spanish blanket that was of great value to him in the following
campaign, in which he took an active part. Remaining with the
troops, he was requested by Gen. S. F. Austin to drill the men, and
was appointed lieutenant, being among those first commissioned at
Gonzales. He was at the battle of Concepcion on Oct. 28th, and
he afterwards took me over that battle-ground, showing me the
positions of the troops. He also received from General Austin the
appointment of assistant quarter-master general, as is seen from
Scarff's Comprehensive History of Texas, Vol. 1 page 541, where
the sirname printed "Baker" should doubtless be Bennet; and at
the siege of Bexar he was complimented for his efficient services
in that memorable campaign by the commander in chief, Gen. Ed.
Burleson, whose Report may be found in the, History of Texas by
Jno. Henry Brown, Vol. 1, page 424.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 2, July 1898 - April, 1899, periodical, 1898/1899; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101011/m1/320/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.