Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 3, September 1999 Page: 162
[68] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal
young, was one day left by her brothers (who
had to go a short journey from home) in com-
pany with the widowed mother and a sister. The
Indians at that time were dangerous. The ladies
saw a party of Indians approaching the house
led by their chief. Miss Hunt seized a rifle and
went forth to meet them, pointing the rifle at the
chief, and telling them that if they approached
nearer she would shoot him down. The Indians
seeing her determined manner, and realizing their
leader's peril, turned around and departed, with
many yells of laughter. They named Miss Hunt
the "fighting squaw," by which name she was
always known among them.
Early in 1842 the question of annexing
Texas to the United States began to be agitated.
Six years had elapsed since the battle of San
Jacinto, and Mexico had made no attempt to re-
cover her lost possessions. Now when the sub-
ject of annexation began to attract attention, in
order to keep up the shadow of a claim, the
Mexican government sent out small military par-
ties into Texas, though with no expectation of
permanent occupancy.
In March 1842, the Mexican general
Vasquez took possession of San Antonio, but only
occupied it for two days, when he when he with-
drew his troops to the west side of the Rio
Grande. A number of the Mexican residents went
with him, carrying off their goods and those of
others. This demonstration, with others made by
small parties of military near Goliad and Refiigio,
immediately aroused the Texans. In a short time
the whole country was in warlike array. Many
volunteers from the United States had come to
our help. My father being at that time general of
a brigade was one of the first to start from Hous-
ton with his command to repel the invaders. I
well remember this season of excitement in Hous-
ton. The troops were eager to march, but Presi-
dent Houston whose policy was pacific, was
tardy in giving the order. Military were constantly
parading the streets; speeches were being made,
while within doors, wives, mothers and sisterswere busy preparing knapsacks for their loved
ones. One of the delicacies prepared was
parched meal mixed with sugar and cinnamon.
The night before my father's command started,
I attended the marriage of a soldier of his staff
to a young lady of Houston. The event took place
at the old capitol, which had now been turned
into a hotel. As the Texans were seriously con-
templating an offensive war into Mexico, mat-
ters looked very gloomy and the young officer
wished to place his wife under the protection of
his family (for she was without relatives) in case
he should fall. However, before our troops
reached the Rio Grande, the enemy had with-
drawn into Mexico, and orders from the govern-
ment prevented any farther pursuit. Not longer
than a month ago I met the lady, my particular
friend, who was married on that very night, and
she laughed heartily when I asked her if she re-
membered how her tears dropped over the knap-
sack she was packing for her soldier lover. She
said she had forgotten the tears. How strange
that emotions which wring the heart should ever
be forgotten. The charming circle of grandchil-
dren by whom she is now surrounded is giving to
her a new existence, and the remorse of the past
is merged in the happiness of the present and
the hopes of the future.
In the summer of this year, 1842, my
family prepared to return to Alabama. Bidding
farewell to Houston, which from its infancy I
had known, and where no vestige remained of
the presidential log mansion, leaving behind the
beautiful islands, and lovely points of mainland
of Galveston bay, we took the steamer Neptune
at Galveston in August, and swept out of port on
a beautiful afternoon, our sails filled with the sum-
mer breeze, and the long column of smoke drift-
ing far behind us over the beautiful island, where
as a little child, I first set foot on Texas soil. Then
it was only an island with shells, and surging
waves. An island of enchantment then, and now.
But as I looked back upon it over the distant sea,
it had grown to be a city. Many mansions had162
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 3, September 1999, periodical, September 1999; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151407/m1/34/?q=nesbitt%20memorial%20library%20journal: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.