The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956 Page: 347
587 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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A Critical Analysis of the San Jacinto Campaign
stream, going into camp shortly after crossing Mill Creek. The
rains continued; the roads were a sea of mud. It is related that
Houston spent one rainy night sitting on a saddle with a blanket
thrown over his shoulders." The entire baggage, linen, and head-
quarters papers of General Houston were carried in a pair of
saddlebags by a servant. The only money in the army chest was
$250.00 of Houston's personal funds.
The Texas army went into camp on the west side of the Brazos,
opposite Groce's, on April 1. Here Houston attempted to instill
a little discipline into the command, and to teach the essentials
of soldiering. The rains began in earnest then and it is somewhat
of a miracle that Houston was able to keep the army together.
Bad weather and drill did not make Houston popular with the
men, but the army remained in this camp from March 29 to
April 12.
The 2nd Regiment was organized on April 2. Sidney Sherman,
the lieutenant colonel of the Ist Regiment, was elected colonel of
the 2nd. The companies of this regiment, nine in number, were
designated by a number instead of the conventional letter.
The men, more than ever, were anxious to fight. Houston, how-
ever, was not ready. He confided in no one, kept his plans to him-
self, continued to drill the command in the mud, and insisted
that his orders be obeyed. Insist was as far as he could go, for
he had no system of courts-martial or articles of war to strengthen
his authority. The fact that he continued to train the troops,
regardless of the weather, is probably one of the major reasons
that the army did not disintegrate. All the time Houston was
being urged by the president, David G. Burnet, to stop his re-
treat, and by Thomas J. Rusk, the secretary of war, to take a more
decisive course. General Rusk joined the army on April 6.
On April 1 Houston ordered all troops at Washington-on-the-
Brazos and above that place to join the main army. On the next
day he directed those below Washington to do likewise.
It is not clear just what date the regular battalion of infantry
under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Millard was
organized or joined the army, but it did join while the command
was in camp on the Brazos. It is possible that organization was
effected in the camp.
4Ibid., 115.347
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956, periodical, 1956; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101162/m1/373/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.