A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination Page: 92 of 412
View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
76 THE FREDONIAN REBELLION. [1827.
seeing the Fredonian colonists could not succeed, not
only refused aid, but rebuked them for allying themselves
to the savages; no volunteers came from the United
States; Ellis P. Bean, sent by the Mexican government,
visited the Indians, and by promising them all the land
they wished induced them to desert the Fredonians.
Ahumada and Sancedo, with a force of some 200 Mex-
icans, advanced (January, 1827) against Nacogdoches.
Edwards and Martin Palmer,* the military leader of the
Fredonians, sent a strong appeal to the Cherokees for aid,
but the savages, having murdered Fields and Hunter, who
* Martin Palmer (not Parmer) was a brave, honorable leader, concerning whom
many curious stories were told. Capt. W. P. Zuber, a Texas veteran, furnished
the author with the following incident: "During the Fredonian rebellion, the
rebels put out a report that they were in hourly expectation of 1500 men from
Louisiana, to assist them in achieving their independence of Mexico. They were
indeed expecting help from Louisiana, though it never came. The report, how-
ever, placed the Mexican garrison at Nacogdoches,--about 200 men, I believe-on
the alert. Col. Martin Palmer, commanding the Fredonian troops, hovered around
Nacogdoches, watching the movements of the Mexican soldiers.
" On one occasion, with 41 men, Col. Palmer took a position, a mile or two east
of Nacogdoches, on the white-sand hill which overlooks the town. According to a
prearrangement, some friends had deposited for them, on the hill, a quantity of
whisky. Having found this, they imbibed till their courage eclipsed their pru-
dence, and they determined to charge the town and take the Cuartel, that is, the
large stone building in which the Mexican soldiers were quartered. Accordingly,
they rode down the hill in a gallop. The Mexicans, seeing the dust which the
chargers raised, thought that the expected 1500 men were thus advancing, and
fled. The Fredonians rode into the town, and took peaceable possession of the
Cuartel, but they did not hold it long,
"The Mexican commander, having retreated a mile or two, halted his men and
sent back to learn whether there was a real cause of alarm. On learning that the
stormers were only Palmer and his forty-one men, he countermarched, under
flying colors and martial music.
" The superfluity of ardor which the whisky had inspired in the Fredonians
subsided. Warned that the Mexicans were returning, they abandoned the Cuartel
and left the town as rapidly as they had entered it. Thus the Mexican barracks
were taken and retaken within less than four hours of time, and without blood-
shed."
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Pennybacker, Anna J. Hardwicke. A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination, book, 1895; Palestine, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2388/m1/92/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.