Texas Almanac, 1859 Page: 55
[224] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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TEXAS REVOLUTION. 55
,had:scarcely cone speaking when I observed three others coming up with levelled
-guns. I cried out to them: "Don't shoot, don't shoot; I have taken him prison-
er." These words were hardly spoken, when bang goes a gun, the ball entering
the forehead of poor Bertrand, and my hand and clothes are spattered with his
-brains, as he falls dead at my feet.
OTHER EVENTS OF THE DAY.
Seeing Col. Rusk at a distance, on horse-back, I walked up to him. "Where is Dr.
:Mott?" saidI. "Oh I poor fellow, he is shot," he replied. As we were returning to-
wards the enemy's camp, two men were seen hid in the grass. A gallop soon brought
Rusk up to them; but as they were rising and in the act of taking off their coats,
they were both shot dead by four men coming up just behind us. Rusk, as if
thunder-struck, turning toward me said: "Let us go; it is enough." Having
reached the spot where I left my wounded comrade, I observed Gen.- Iouston on a
bay poney, with his leg over the pommel of the saddle. "Doctor," said he, "I am
glad to see you; are you hurt?" "Not at all," said I. "Well," he rejoined, "I have
had two horses shot under me, and have received a ball in my ankle, but am not
badly hurt." "Do you wish to have it dressed?" said I. "Oh! no, not now, but
will when I get back to the camp. I can stand it well enough till then." He
then faces his horse about, and orders the drum to beat a retreat. But the men,
paying no attention to the order, shouted with expressions of exultation over the
glorious victory, and it was difficult to hear anything distinctly. Gen. Houston
then orders the drum to stop. Then while I was within ten feet of him, he cries
out, as loud as he could raise his voice: "Parade, men, parade!" But the shouts
and halloing were too long and loud; and Houston, seeing he could not restore or-
der, cries at the top of his voice: "Gentlemen! gentlemen! gentlemen! (a mo-
mentary stillness ensues) gentlemen! I applaud your bravery, hut damn your man-
ners." He then turns his horse towards the baggage-depot, when Col. Wharton
comes up to us, and speaks to Houston in a low voice, pointing in various direc-
tions, as if showing what he thought should be done, when Houston turning and
looking him full in the face, says: "Col. Wharton, you have commanded long
enough; damn you, go about your business." Wharton makes no reply, nut tak-
ing a gourd of water hanging at the pommel of his saddle, drinks copiously, and
then rides off, while Houston rode to Col. Turner's company, to whom he gave some
orders.. It had now become quite dark, and I returned with Dr. Fitzhue to our
camp, where I found a crowd of prisoners well guarded, and towards them were
pointed the twelve-pound brass cannon, taken that day, and the "Twin Sisters,"
all loaded and prepared to pour destruction upon the dispirited prisoners.
GENERAL REJOICING.
It is needless to attempt any description of the unbounded rejoicings.and expres - _
sions of heart-felt gratitude to the God of battles for our success. The inhabitants,
mostly of the Trinity, had all abandoned their homes, and the whole country pre-
sented one vast scene of wide-spread desolation. In all directions were seen car-
cases of oxen, the debris of broken wheels and sledges, and numberless graves,
(almost insight of each other,) of children, women, and men, who were taken sick
from exposure and want of proper food, and died from want of proper treatment;
and being buried alongside of the roads they were traveling to escape from the
-enemy, they furnished unmistakable evidence of the great suffering and distress of
the country, and these sights had served to nerve our arms against an enemy
from whom no mercy could be expected. It was, indeed, a fit occasion for rejoic-
ing, and many poured out their most heartfelt thanks to God for a victory won
almost against the will of their commander, who, when he could no longer put off
-the action, finally yielded to the incessant demands by both officers and men, to be
allowed to meet the enemy, and determine, at once, the fate that awaited us; but
there was scarce a man in the army who felt the least doubt as to the result.
. All were confident of success.
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Texas Almanac, 1859, book, 1859~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123765/m1/56/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.