Texas Almanac, 1859 Page: 32
[224] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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TEXAS ALMANAC.
Community. Wm. B. Travis, who, it was supposed, had acquired a sufficient know-
ledge of law during the few months he had been studying, was consulted. His
legal advice is only known by the events that followed. Logan retired to near
Liberty. One morning soon after, a great commotion was pberved in the garrison.
The few mounted cavalry were spedily paraded, and orders given them. It was
reported that a fight with some parties was about to take lace. Scouts in quick
succession were sent out, and rumors were circulated that some enemies were
within a few miles. For a whole night the garrison was under arms. But when
the morning came, the scene was all changed-all was quiet. Every one inquired
for the cause of the alarm. A week passed, and finally J. T. White and Silas
Smith. of Turtle Bayou, made their appearance, and reported to Bradburn that they
could make no discovery, though they had been as far as the Neches, and spoken
with many persons. Bradburn now discovered that he had been deceived. He
called the officer of the guard, and finally the sentinel, whose answers gave a clue
to the whole of the excitement, about which we had been in profound ignorance.
The sentinel said that, during one dark, rainy night, same week previous, a tall
man, wrapped in a big cloak, had advanced towards him, that he hailed him, when
lhe answered," Amigo," and handed him a letter, which letter, being directed to
Bradburn, was handed to him the next day, and it was this that caused Bradburn's
alarm. The letter stated that a magistrate on the Sabin6 was organizing a com-
pany of 100 men to cross the Sabine for the purpose of taking the three negroes by
force, to whom he had given protection. The letter purported to be written by a
friend, in order to give him timely warning. It was signed " Billow." Now the
query was, who was the tall man covered with a cloak, who handed the letter to
the sentinel ? It was supposed to be Travis, and BPradburn doubtless believed the
ruse was played by Travis to make him give up the slaves. A day or two after,
while Travis and Jack were in their office, a guard of thirteen soldiers appeared
at the door, and took them to the quarters as prisoners, without any explanation of
the cause. While thus in confinement, Col. James Morgan had them attended by
one of his slaves.
One morning, as their clothes were being carried in a bundle to b- washed, the
officer of the day made an examination of them, and a letter was found among
them, addressed to " O. P. Q.," who was desired "to have a horse in readiness at a
certain hour on Thursday night." This attempt at a rescue of the prisoners caused
Bradburn much uneasiness, and he determined to secure his prisoners more effectu-
ally. As he wvas laying the foundation for a fort near Anahuac, a large brick-kiln
had just been/mptied, and all the masons and carpenters were forced to go down,
to put it up tor a prison. In the course of a week the work was completed, and
two large cannons placed on a platform near by. The two prisoners were now to
be conducted to the new prison. The whole garrison was put under arms. The
cavalry made a display at the head of a column. The letter to 0. P. Q. had caused
a line of sentry to be placed inside with the three prisoners, who were thus doubly
guarded, in order to be kept safd till the whole force of the garrison was ordered
out, to conduct the prisoners to the new place of confinement. As they were
marched out, my heart became full under a consciousness of the perils that awaited
them in the hands of the tyrant. Standing upon my fence, I waved my hand to
Travis, greeting him, bidding him be of good cheer, and assuring him. that help
would soon be at hand. Both, he and Jack, returned my greeting with a bow,
when I found it impossible to repress my feelings in view of their possible fate. A
ball was to be given under the auspices of Bradburn that very night, for the pur-
pose of trapping some few of us, who had fallen under suspicion. I was asked if
I would go, but I said, I could not, after witnessing the sad sight of our friends
beingmarched to prison under guard. However; after more mature reflection, I con-
cluded, it would be the most prudent policy to go, being fully satisfied that I would
be safe, as all the soldiers and officers appreciated my services too much to permit
me to suffer injury. Before sundown that day, I learned that Col. Morgau, James
Lindsey, and two others would be taken prisoners, if found there, and that soldiers
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Texas Almanac, 1859, book, 1859~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123765/m1/33/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.