Texas Almanac, 1859 Page: 41
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TEXAS REVOLUTION. 41
of liquors left in the stores, the town having been set on fire by parties left
behind. During the next morning, these stragglers were constantly coming up
with their horses packed down with merchandise taken from the stores before
setting them on fire; now and then a family of women and children was with them.
The army resumed its march towards noon, and continued until it reached
Burnham's on the Colorado, where it crossed the river and marched down to a
point opposite Beason's; here it made a halt for several days. In the mean time
General Sesma formed a camp on the west bank, where the town of Columbus is
now situated. His command did not exceed 800 men. While the army lay at
this point troops were constantly coming in until the Texas army, in a few days,
increased to fifteen or sixteen hundred men.
GENERAL PREPARATION.
Meetings were held throughout the country to devise means to meet the
army of 8000, coming to subjugate Texas; the excitement was very great and
universal; and finally delegates were chosen in the several departments to meet
in convention at Washington. Meanwhile Committees of Vigilance and Safety,
appointed at the most eligible points, urged upon all the necessity of preparation
for a decisive conflict; and finally, the Consultation in San Felipe called for a
drafc to be made in every settlement, to raise the men requisite to meet at San
Antonio the invading army of Santa Anna.
THE LIBERTY COMPANY ORGANIZE AND JOIN THE ARMY.
About this time, (February, 1836,) a meeting was held at the house of Mrs.
James, in Liberty county, whose husband had just returned from the siege and
capture of San Antonio. At this meeting, J. N. Morland, one among the leading
spirits of the day, related the thrilling events of the campaign at San Antonio,
the Grass Fight, etc., that had transpired but a few weeks before, and the recital
inspired increased enthusiasm among all. It was finally agreed that we would
meet at Liberty on the 11th of March, fully equipped and prepared for the
approaching campaign. On the day appointed, all were promptly on the ground,
and immediately went into an election of officers, when Wm. M. Logan, who had
distinguished himself in resistance to Bradburn's attempt to set the slaves free,
was chosen our Captain, and Harper, Hardin, and Branch, were chosen next in
command, while Moreland was to act as Orderly, as he had acquired some
knowledge in drill at San Antonio. Thomas Norman, son of Mrs. James, and the
writer, were the only two from that neighborhood. The company embraced over
seventy, composed of Beaumont and Liberty boys, and there was not in that
campaign a more efficient company or a more fearless and determined set of men.
After the election of officers, Wmn. Hardin gave us a fine dinner, when we set
forward to meet the enemy. On crossing the river at Green's Ferry on the 12th,
we met Mr. Padillo returning from the Convention, and from him we learned, for
the first. time, that Texas had been declared forever FREE AND INDEPENDENT OF
MEXICO, on the 2d inst., (March.) Having given him three hearty cheers for his
glorious news, we again mounted and proceeded on towards San Felipe by way
of "New Kentuck." Having arrived at Roberts', we camped at noon to rest our
horses, and while the writer was cooking the last of his corn-meal, an express
rides up, giving us the sad tidings of the fall of the Alamo, the slaughter of
Travis and his men, and the retreat of General Houston, after having set fire to
Gonzales. He further stated that the entire country west of the Brazos was to
be abandoned, and that the only hope of safety was to fly to the Sabine without
delay. This was indeed appalling intelligence, and our spirits were still more
depressed by the cries of the women of Mr. Roberts'. house,' who declared that
they would all be massacred by the Indians. Orders were at once given to
mount and reach San Felipe by a forced march. In ten minutes we were again
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Texas Almanac, 1859, book, 1859~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123765/m1/42/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.