The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 26, July 1922 - April, 1923 Page: 233
324 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Memoirs of Major George Bernard Eraih
greater part of the Texans returned to their homes. A small
number of volunteers, nearly all of thQm just arrived from the
old States and New Orleans, garrisoned the town.
A discussion has arisen of late as to whom General Cos sur-
rendered his sword. I say there was no such surrender. When
the troops were allowed to march off with all arms, of course,
their general was not required to give up his sword.
And now for five or six weeks followed a kind of jubilee through-
out Texas, leading to almost unpardonable carelessness. The cap-
ture of San Antonio was as much a diplomatic arrangement as a
military achievement. The Mexicans engaged in the affair had
preferred a more liberal course than Santa Anna might have ac-
cepted; they probably retired in hopes it would lead to a com-
promise. But the Texans believed they had achieved a victory
that would frighten off Santa Anna and his Mexicans forever.
The many immigrants into the country about this time overdid
the enthusiasm even more than the older settlers. There were
volunteers from the older States, destined for military service first
and land speculation afterward, and many had only come to look
at the country, acquire land, and return later for possession. These
last, or most of them, were on their way back by the early part
of February when it became known that Santa Anna had crossed
the Rio Grande with seven thousand men, and was advancing
rapidly, vowing death and extermination to the American race on
Mexican soil. About five hundred men, principally Fannin's, re-
mained to fall for Texas.
When Santa Anna's purpose became known, a new convention
was called, which on the 2nd of March declared the independence
of Texas. Houston had already been appointed commander-in-
chief of the army. Travis, besieged in the Alamo with only one
hundred and seventy-five men, made strong appeals for relief.
Burleson and other leaders were concentrating troops as a nucleus
for the army at Gonzales, and calls and appeals were made on
all sides, but the response was slow. I myself was not one of the
first, but I started in the early part of March and joined the army.
The Alamo fell on the 6th of March and confusion reigned.
(Continued)233
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 26, July 1922 - April, 1923, periodical, 1923; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101084/m1/239/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.