Texas Almanac, 1859 Page: 54
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54 TEXAS ALMANAC.
damned." This was enough. Wharton again went among the mea to prepare
them, telling them the order had been given at last-that it was now decided.
New life and animation were now depicted on every countenance, as the joyful in-
telligence was given. Many of the companies had been standing for over four
hours, expecting orders to march each moment, and their patience was well-nigh
exhausted. It was past three o'clock when all the arrangements were finally con-
cluded. The music struck up a lively air as we bid good-by to our camp. We
found the enemy somewhat unprepared for us at that hour. Our men having
marched half the distance in single file, were then formed into parallel lines and
ordered to advance. At this moment Drs. Booker, Davidson and Fitzhue, with
the writer, consulted as to what post we should take, as no orders 'had been
received from the Surgeon-General. No place having been assigned to us, we
decided that it was best to follow the line, and fight with our arms as circumstances
might direct. Dr. Davidson preferred the right, Dr. Fitzhue the centre, and the
writer chose his former regiment under Col. Sherman on theleft. We shook hands
and parted. I had hardly reached my position,* when a rifle discharge from the
2d Regiment (the left wing) was heard, followed by a discharge from the rest-the
cannon roared, and a general engagement ensued, amid showers of bullets. I ob-
served Gen. Rusk, accompanied by Dr. Mott, riding in full gallop on the rear and
coming towards the left.
HOUSTON ORDERS A HALT.
On a sudden a halt is made in obedience to an order. Upon which Rusk shouts
to the top of his voice: "If we stop we are cut to pieces. Don't stop-go ahead-
give them hell." A moment after, and the writer with four others find themselves
within twenty yards of some of the enemy's cavalry, thinking the while, it was
IRusk and Mott. As they wheeled to retreat, we saw our shots tell on them
effectively. We reload, and run some twenty yards to fire, and this was re-
peated some four or five times, when we found ourselves in the midst of the enemy's
baggage, from which they were running for life. A young man by my side re-
ceivcd a ball in the hip, which caused him to fall against me. A Mexican soldier
at that instant received four balls through him, standing not ten yards from where
we stood. Having pursued the enemy into the woods, we found many had thrown
themselves into the bayou, having only their heads above water. It was here that
one or two women were killed by some one aiming at their heads, probably mistak-
ing them for men, and two or three others taken prisoners.
COLONEL BERTRAND.
I pursued a fresh trail into the marsh, and came upon Col. Bertrand, who had
bogged, and on his knees he begged for his life. Supposing myself alone, I ex-
tenA-ed my left hand to raise him up, but was surprised to hear a voice behind me
saying: "Oh! I know him; he is Col. Bertrand, of San Antonio de Bexar. Gene-
ral Teran made him Colonel." This was said by one Sanchez, a Mexican, in Capt.
Seguin's Company, composed of some thirty Mexicans fighting on our side. He
*The Texian army was formed in the following order: The right wing and centre was
composed of Burleson's Regiment, Millard's Regiment of Regulars, the artillery under Hock-
]ey, the cavalry under Lamar, the left wing of the army under Sherman. The latter took a
direct route through an island of timber, in order to attack the enemy's right, commanded
by Col. Almonte, while the former marched a considerable distance around, in order to come
upon the enemy's left and in front of their breastworks, which they had thrown up during
that day and the day previous. Sherman's regiment commenced the action on the left, and
drove the enemy's rightintothetimber before Houston got up with his division. In a few mo-
nients, however, he was on the ground, and opened on their left, when the action became gen-
eral. -The enemy was driven through one piece of timber when they came to a boggy bayou.
It was here that Houston called a halt.
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Texas Almanac, 1859, book, 1859~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123765/m1/55/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.