The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906 Page: 220

220

Texas Historical Association Quarterly.

NOTES AND FRAGMENTS.
TEXAS STONE LAID IN SLOAT MONUMENT.--On Saturday last
[December 9, 1905], occurred one of the most interesting events
connected with the Sloat monument, in the presentation to Cap-
tain Lambert as custodian of the Sloat Monument Association
to that association of a beautiful granite atone by Comrade Wil-
liam H. Hilton, as representative of the president, officers and
comrades of the Texas Association of Veterans of the Mexican
War. The stone now crowns the southwest corner of the base of
this, the first national monument of the Pacific coast. The stone
was laid with the solemn rites of the Masonic order, and in the
cement was mixed the sacred blood-sprinkled soil of the battle-
fields of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and Fort Brown, sent by
patriotic citizens of Texas at request of Comrade Hilton, who was
in these battles. The soil from Palo Alto was sent by J. D. Scriv-
ner, of Brownsville, and was taken from the spot where the famous
charge was made by the Mexican cavalry on Duncan's battery, and
was repulsed. The soil from Resaca de la Palma is from the loca-
tion of Ringgold's battery, commanded by Lieutenant Ridgely,
when he told Captain May, "Wait, Charley, until I draw their fire,"
and immediately upon the discharge of the Mexican battery May
charged across the ditch, and the battle was practically gained by
the Americans. .... This soil was sent by J. B. Sharpe,
postmaster of Brownsville. The soil from Fort Brown was
sent by James K. Powers, of Brownsville, Texas, and
was taken from the spot where Major Brown fell while
directing the sighting of one of the guns on Matamoras.
Mr. Powers is the son of James H. Powers of Com-
pany H, 16th Infantry, commanded by Captain Smith. He was
at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, and under General
Scott to the City of Mexico. He emigrated to California in 1850,
and died at Sutter's Fort in 1853. James K. Brown sent his
kindliest greetings to the veterans in California, some of whom
may have been his father's companions-in-arms.