The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 58, July 1954 - April, 1955 Page: 2
650 p. : ill., maps (some col.), ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
was delayed for several weeks by an attack of measles. It was dur-
ing this illness that David Crockett fell in defense of the Alamo.2
Upon recovery from the illness which saved him the fate of
those in the Alamo, McCulloch went down the Brazos River to
Jared Groce's Bernardo Plantation, where he joined the army of
General Sam Houston. He was a welcomed addition to the dwin-
dling army and was given the command of one of the "Twin Sis-
ters." In the battle of San Jacinto Ben McCulloch displayed such
courage and ability in carrying out his duties that he was pro-
moted to the rank of first lieutenant on April 22.3 In later years,
when General Sam Houston was under attack for his conduct in
the battle, McCulloch came to the aid of his former commander
by giving his account of the battle. McCulloch was in charge of
one piece of artillery, and during the battle the artillery was ad-
vanced after each shot. On one occasion, when about a hundred
yards from the enemy lines, he was delayed by General Houston,
who passed across the line of fire about thirty yards ahead of the
Texan line. Later McCulloch saw Houston in front of Edward
Burleson's regiment when about seventy or eighty yards from the
enemy.4
The inactivity of the army after the battle of San Jacinto
caused McCulloch to request a furlough to pursue a course only
natural to a woodsman. Alone he made an exploring trip into
the Lavaca and Guadalupe valleys to learn more about the land
he had adopted as his own. Foreseeing the great need for sur-
veyors when the General Land Office opened the following Octo-
ber, McCulloch went back to Tennessee in the summer of 1837
to learn surveying from his father. On his return to Texas he
selected the San Marcos and Guadalupe valleys for his future
home, making Gonzales his headquarters. McCulloch had hardly
settled his gear before he was called on to aid in the protection
of the settlement from the numerous Indian raids. His willing-
2Ibid., 31-38; Samuel C. Reid, Jr., The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's
Texas Rangers (Philadelphia, 1847), 24; David Crockett, The Life of David Crockett:
The Original Humorist and Irrepressible Backwoodsman; An Autobiography (New
York, 1902), 251.
8Sam Houston Dixon and Louis W. Kemp, Heroes of San Jacinto (Houston,
1932), 81.
4Amelia W. Williams and Eugene C. Barker (eds.), Writings of Sam Houston
(8 vols.; Austin, 1938-1943), VII. 325.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 58, July 1954 - April, 1955, periodical, 1955; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101158/m1/20/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.