The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 20, July 1916 - April, 1917 Page: 147
426 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Sam Houston and Williamson Simpson Oldham
Campbell, of one of the judicial districts of Texas, and William-
son S. Oldham, member of the Confederate Congress, had been
the old General's bitter enemies during the canvass on secession.
They had followed him night and day through the State. On
the day set for him to review and put the regiment through some
military evolutions, the General was on hand at the hour and
place. This called out a, large concourse of people to witness the
performance. . . . All eyes were now upon him, some of
them dimmed with tears, and many a throat of soldier and spec-
tator was choking down feeling unutterable-the writer with the
rest. Not a word had yet passed the General's lips, but now the
Colonel passed him his own sword and told him to proceed. Then
came
"Shoulder arms."
"Right about face." The regiment now facing the rear, the
General cried out in stentorian tones of sarcasm: "Do you see
anything of Judge Campbell or Williamson S. Oldham there?"
"No," was the emphatic reply. "Well," said the General, "they
are not found at the front, nor even at the rear."
"Right about; front face."
"Eyes right. Do you see anything of Judge Campbell's son
here ?" "No, he has gone to Paris to school," responded the
regiment.
"Eyes left. Do you see anything of young Sam Houston here?"
"Yes," was the thrilling response.
"Eyes front. Do you see anything of old Sam Houston here ?"
By this time the climax of excitement was reached, and regiment
and citizens together responded, in thunder tones, "Yes!" and
then united in a triple round of three times three and a tiger for
the old hero. Thereupon he returned the Colonel his sword, with
the remark, "There, Colonel, that will do, I leave you to manage
the rest of the maneuvering," and retired from dress parade.
That the incident set forth above is imaginary appears also
from the following brief extract from the history of the Second
Texas Infantry:
During the first four months, the regiment was quartered in
cotton compresses and warehouses in the city of Galveston, and
six hours every day, except Sunday, were spent in the most ar-
duous drilling. . .
In December, 1861, the regiment was moved from Galveston
to quarters near Houston. . . . While at this place the ven-
erable and majestic form of General Sam Houston was frequently
to be seen moving among the men. He had a kind and encourag-
ing word for every one, and claimed to be a private in Company C,
commanded by his friend Dr. Ashbel Smith.147
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 20, July 1916 - April, 1917, periodical, 1917; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101070/m1/153/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.