HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Vol. XLVIII JULY, 1944 No. 1
PUBLISHED BY
THE TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
AUSTIN 12, TEXAS
THE CAPITOL (?) AT COLUMBIA
L. W. KEMP
Journal of Juan N. Almonte Samuel E. Asbury
David Gouverneur Burnet, Satirist . . . S. W. Geiser
Check List of Texas Imprints, 1854 . . . Edited by
E. W. Winkler
Life of General Don Manuel de Mier y
Terán (Continued) Ohland Morton
Letters and Documents: Dr. John Sibley and
the Louisiana-Texas Frontier, 1803-1814
(Continued) Julia Kathryn Garrett
The Spirit of Santa Rita George A. Hill, Jr.
A Plea for More History in Business . . . Eugene C. Barker
Texas Collection H. Bailey Carroll
Affairs of the Association
Book Reviews
Book Notes and Asknowledgments
Contributors
1897—The Oldest Learned Society in Texas—l897
Herbert Gambrell
George A. Hill, Jr.
ACTING DIRECTOR:
H. Bailey Carroll
President L. W. Kemp
Ex-President Harbert Davenport
Ex-President W. E. Wrather
Vice-President Herbert Gambrell
PRESIDENT:
L. W. Kemp
VICE-PRESIDENTS:
DIRECTOR:
Walter P. Webb
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
P. I. Nixon
Earl Vandale
COR. SEC. AND TREAS.:
Mrs. Coral Horton Tullís
Vice-President George A. Hill, Jr.
Vice-President Earl Vandale
Vice-President P. I. Nixon
Director Walter P. Webb
State Librarian Fannie Wilcox
Adina de Zavala (1945)
Eugene C. Barker (1945)
Frances Donecker (1946)
Fellows
Anna Powell (1946)
Members
J. Evetts Haley (1947)
R. L. Biesele (1947)
Amelia Williams (1948)
Claude Elliott (1949)
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE:
L. W. Kemp
Eugene C. Barker
Charles W. Hackett
E. W. Winkler
Rudolph L. Biesele
Walter P. Webb
J. L. Clark
H. Bailey Carroll
Herbert Gambrell
THE SOUTHWESTERN HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
EDITORS:
Walter Prescott Webb
H. Bailey Carroll
ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
Charles W. Hackett
Rudolph L. Biesele
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS:
W. A. Whatley
Llerena Friend
student editorial assistant:
Betty Brooke Eakle
The Association was organized March 2, 1897. The annual dues are three dollars. The
Quarterly is sent free to all members.
Contributions to The Quarterly and correspondence relative to historical material should
be addressed to H. Bailey Carroll, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
Other correspondence may be addressed to The Texas State Historical Association, Austin,
Texas.
The publication committee and the editors disclaim responsibility for views expressed by
contributors to The Quarterly.
Entered at the post-office, Austin, Texas, as second class mail matter.
Contents
The Capitol (?) at Columbia L. W. Kemp 3
The Private Journal of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte,
February 1-April 16, 1836 Samuel E. Asbury 10
David Gouverneur Burnet, Satirist S. W. Geiser 33
Check List of Texas Imprints, 1846-1876 Continued
Edited by E. W. Winkler 38
Life of General Don Manuel de Mier y Terán Continued
Ohland Morton 51
Letters and Documents: Dr. John Sibley and the Louisiana-
Texas Frontier, 1803-1814 Continued
Julia Kathryn Garrett 67
Affairs of the Association 72
The Spirit of Santa Rita George A. Hill, Jr. 78
A Plea for More History in Business Eugene C. Barker 85
Texas Collection H. Bailey Carroll 87
BOOK Reviews: Rister, Border Command: General Phil Sheridan
in the West; Lockwood, Life in Old Tucson, 1854-1864;
Introduction and notes by Ames, and foreword by Lyman,
A Doctor Comes to California: The Diary of John S. Griffin,
Assistant Surgeon With Kearny's Dragoons, 1846-1847;
Bowman, The Morale of the American Revolutionary Army;
Wiley, The Plain People of the Confederacy; Holland,
Morgan and His Raiders: A Biography of the Confederate
General; Mott, Jefferson and the Press; Hewett, From
Cave Dwelling to Mount Olympus 126
Book Notes and Acknowledgments 137
Contributors 140
The constitution of the Association provides that "Members who show,
by published work, special aptitude for historical investigation may become
Fellows. Thirteen Fellows shall be elected by the Association when first
organized, and the body thus created may thereafter elect additional Fellows
on the nomination of the Executive Committee. The number of Fellows shall
never exceed fifty." The present list of Fellows is as follows:
Acheson, Mr. Sam
Asbury, Prof. S. E.
Barker, Prof. Eugene C.
Biesele, Prof. R. L.
Bolton, Prof. Herbert Eugene
Carroll, Prof. H. Bailey
Casis, Prof. Lilia M.
Castaneda, Carlos E.
Clark, Prof. J. L.
Cox, Prof. I. J.
Crane, Judge R. C.
Davenport, Mr. Harbert
Dunn, Dr. William Edward
Dobie, Prof. J. Frank
Elliott, Dr. Claude
Emmett, Mr. Chris
Gambrell, Prof. Herbert P.
Garrett, Dr. Kathryn
Geiser, Prof. S. W.
Hackett, Prof. Chas. W.
Haggard, Dr. J. Villasana
Haley, Mr. J. Evetts
Hill, Mr. George A., Jr.
Holbrook, Mrs. Abigail C.
Holden, Prof. W. C.
Kemp, Mr. L. W.
McGregor, Mr. Stuart
Miller, Prof. E. T.
Neu, Dr. C. T.
Nixon, Dr. P. I.
Potts, Dr. C. S.
Powell, Dr. Anna
Raymond, Dr. Nora Neill
Richardson, Prof. Rupert N.
Schmitz, Rev. Joseph
Schoen, Dr. Harold
Shelby, Miss Charmion
Smither, Miss Harriet
Steen, Dr. Ralph
Tucker, Mr. Philip C. 3rd
Villavaso, Mrs. Ethel Rather
Webb, Prof. W. P.
West, Miss Elizabeth H.
Williams, Dr. Amelia
Williams, Judge O. W.
Winkler, Mr. Ernest Wm.
Wrather, Mr. W. E.
Zavala, Miss Adina de
The constitution provides also that "Such benefactors of the Association
as shall pay into its treasury at any one time the sum of one hundred dollars,
or shall present to the Association an equivalent in books, MSS., or other
acceptable matter, shall be classed as Life Members."
The Life Members at present are:
Arnold, Mr. M. L.
Baker, Mr. Hines H.
Beazley, Miss Julia
Blount, Mrs. Guy
Bobbitt, Mr. R. L.
Buchanan, Mr. A. A.
Carroll, Mr. H. Bailey
Carroll, Mr. J. Speed
Cartwright, Mr. and Mrs. J. I.
Clark, Mr. J. F.
Cox, Mr. I. J.
Crane, Mr. R. C.
Davidson, Mr. W. S.
Dealey, Mr. George B.
Deussen, Mr. Alexander
Dilworth, Mr. Thomas G.
Donaldson, Mrs. Nanna Smithwick
Donoghue, Mr. David
Driscoll, Mrs. Clara
Edwards, Mrs. Lillian Owens
Fortman, Mr. Henry F.
Gilbert, Mr. Harvey Wilbarger
Gleason, Rev. Joseph M.
Graves, Mr. Ireland
Gutsch, Mr. Milton R.
Hanrick, Mr. R. A.
Harris, Mr. Beverly D.
Hefley, Mr. W. T.
Holbrook, Mrs. T. J.
Hutcheson, Judge J. C., Jr.
Hyde, Mr. James H.
Jones, Mr. John Leddy, Jr.
Jones, Mrs. John Leddy, Jr.
Jones, Mr. Roland
Kemp, Mr. L. W.
Magruder, Mrs. Hamilton
Maresh, Dr. Henry R.
Milbry, Mrs. C. H.
Moody, Col. W. L.
Moore, Mrs. John M.
Morehead, Mr. C. R.
Morris, Mr. J. S.
Parten, Mr. J. R.
Pew, Mr. John G.
Powell, Miss Anna
Randall, Dr. Edward
Scarbrough, Mr. and Mrs. Lem
Schmidt, Mr. John
Sinclair, Mr. J. L.
Staiti, Mrs. H. T.
Stone, Mr. Hugh Lamar
Streeter, Mr. Thomas
Tenney, Rev. S. M.
Thompson, Mr. Brooks
Timm, Mr. C. A.
Walker, Mr. J. A.
Webb, Mr. Mack
West, Miss Elizabeth
Willacy, Mr. John G.
Williams, Judge O. W.
Williamson, Judge J. D.
Wythe, Mr. George
Young, Mr. Eldon
PATRONS AND SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Patrons contribute to the work of the Association $500, payable over a
period of five years; Sustaining Members $250. The List of Patrons and
Sustaining Members follows:
Barker, Mr. Eugene C.
Blaffer, Mr. R. L.
Clayton, Mr. W. L.
De Golyer, Mr. E.
Denman, Mr. LeRoy
Francis, Mr. W. H.
Hager, Mr. Dilworth S.
Hill, Mr. George A., Jr.
Hutcheson, Mr. Palmer
Karcher, Mr. J. C.
Maercky, Mr. P. George
Perry, Mrs. Hally Bryan
Russ, Mr. Leon F.
Moss, Mr. H. S.
Shepherd, Mr. James L., Jr.
Smith, Mr. E. L.
Suman, Mr. John R.
Stark, Mr. H. J. L.
Waggener, Mr. Leslie
Webb, Mr. W. P.
Weiss, Mr. W. C.
Wheelock, Mr. Lloyd
Wilson, Mr. W. D.
Wrather, Mr. W. E.
Houston Oil Company
American Liberty Oil Company
THE SOUTHWESTERN HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Vol. XLVIII July, 1944 No. 1
The Capitol (?) at Columbia
grades of schools throughout Texas have reproduced a
photograph or drawing of a dilapidated shack that stood
in West Columbia, and which is erroneously referred to as
the first capitol of Texas.
Columbia, now West Columbia, was the temporary seat of
government of the Republic of Texas, but whether or not it
was ever the capital, in the true sense of the word, is debatable.
Granting, however, for the sake of argument, that it was the
capital, the much publicized building could not properly be
called the capitol. It was just one--and not the most important
--of several buildings utilized by the government during its
short sojourn in Columbia.
The Constitution of the new Republic required that an
election be held on the first Monday in September to select a
president, a vice-president, and members of Congress. David
G. Burnet, president ad
interim,
by proclamation dated July
23, 1836, ordered the election held, fixed the first Monday in
October as the date for Congress to convene, and named
Columbia as the meeting place. He did not designate Columbia
as the capital, and he had no authority to do so.
It is commonly stated, too, that the First Congress was
held in Columbia. This is but partly true. Only the first session
of the First Congress was held there. Congress convened Oc-
tober 3 and recessed December 22, to meet later at Houston
to complete its session. Houston, founded August 30, 1836,
was being surveyed as a townsite when, on November 30, by
joint resolution, Congress selected it as the temporary seat
of government.
The principal building used by Congress and governmental
departments at Columbia was a two-story building of five
rooms constructed in 1832 by Henry S. Brown and used for
a time, after his death in 1834, by the pioneer mercantile firm,
W. C. White and Company, composed of Walter C. White and
James Knight. This building was torn down in 1888. The
often photographed capitol (?) was a one-story building of
perhaps one room, and certainly not more than two, that had
been used as a store by Leman Kelsey. It was blown down in
the severe hurricane of September 8, 1900.
In Brown's A School History of
Texas,
there is a drawing of a two-story building, beneath which is
printed the caption, "House in which the first Congress met
at Columbia, October 3, 1836."
After the first election under the Republic, President Burnet, by proclama-
tion, assembled the First Congress, President and Vice-President at the
town of Columbia, on the Brazos, on the 3rd of October 1836. No other
place in Texas, at the time (excepting, perhaps Nacogdoches, in the ex-
treme east), had sufficient house room to meet the emergency. There was
in Columbia a large two-story house, divided in the center by a wide
hall and stairway into large rooms above and below--one on each side
of the hall, and an ell containing several rooms. It had been erected and
occupied in 1832-3 by Captain Henry S. Brown, father of the author,
and in it he died July 26, 1834. ...
In this building the First Congress of the Republic of Texas assembled
under President Burnet's proclamation on the third of October, 1836. In
it on the 22d of the same month, President Burnet delivered his farewell
message, and at the same time Sam Houston, as first Constitutional
President, and Mirabeau B. Lamar, as Vice-President, took the oath of office
and delivered their inaugural addresses. In it all of the first Cabinet
took the oath of office, viz. Stephen F. Austin as Secretary of State (died
on the 27th of December following); Ex-Governor Henry Smith, as Sec-
retary of the Treasury (died in the mountains of California, March 4, 1851);
Thomas J. Rusk, as Secretary of War (resigned a few weeks later and
was succeeded by William G. Fisher, who died in 1845, while General
Rusk died in 1857); and Samuel Rhoads Fisher, as Secretary of the
Navy (who died in 1839). A portion of the offices were in other buildings
and for a time one House of the Congress occupied a different building.5
A feature story on the history of East Columbia and West
Columbia in Brazoria County appeared in the Galveston Daily
News,
Sunday, January 9, 1898. It was written by Richard
Spillane, presumably a reporter for the paper, who had visited
the two towns in order to interview old settlers and to inspect
historic sites and old landmarks. West Columbia in 1836 was
known as Columbia, and the present East Columbia was suc-
cessively known as Bell's Landing, Marion, Columbia, and East
Columbia. It was called Columbia at the time of Spillane's visit.
At West Columbia Spillane saw a dilapidated one-story
frame building-, the property of John C. Underwood, in which,
he was informed, the House of Representatives of the First
Congress of the Republic had convened. He was told that the
Senate met in a larger building which had been torn down, as
had been numerous log buildings near by which were used
by various governmental departments in 1836-37.
John Adriance, an outstanding citizen of the community,
was among those interviewed by Spillane. In October, 1835,
when a youth of seventeen, Adriance had sailed from New
York City for Texas on the schooner Julius
Caesar.
He located
at the present East Columbia, then known as Bell's Landing,
and there resided for the rest of his long life. During the
spring campaign of 1836 he served in the Army of Texas as
a member of Captain Jacob Eberly's Company of mounted
gunmen. He was eighty years old when interviewed by Spillane,
who wrote of him:
In a somnolent old town on the west bank of the Brazos there lives a
scholarly old man who knows more, perhaps, of early Texas history than
any other person now living. He is one of the few links between the past
and present, one of the few men who took an active part in the stirring
events of more than sixty years ago, when Texas battled for freedom
and the armed host of Mexico overran the whole region which is now
known as South Texas. This man is John Adriance. . . .
Texas history. Now in the twilight of life he spends his days among his
papers. He is past the eighty-year mark, but he is as bright and keen
in intellect as a man of sixty. His library is large and well stocked, but
of all his books and manuscripts those that will be most highly prized
are the ones that deal with the days of Houston and of Austin and the
noble band of men whose valorous deeds made luminous the story of the
Texas republic.
After telling how Columbia, the present East Columbia, had
declined as a commercial center over the years, Spillane
continued:
But if Columbia has been distanced in the great race of trade, no place
in all Texas can rival it in historic lore. Less than two miles west of the
town [in West Columbia] on a noble thoroughfare called the Avenue
there stands the ruin of a structure, every part of which should be held
sacred by the people of Texas. It is a barn-like old building, all battered
and decayed, its roof broken in and its doors and windows shattered and
gone, but in the old house scenes were enacted of which, alas, too little
is known, for that building was part of the first capitol of the republic
of Texas. . . .
I went to Mr. Adriance and asked him to tell me the history of the old
building I had seen. He said it had been the first house of representatives
of the republic. There was a somewhat larger building to the south of it
which was the senate chamber, but it was torn down years ago.
The two buildings," said Mr. Adriance, "were originally put up for
use as stores. The one that became the senate chamber was occupied by
White and Knight, who came to Texas in 1826. The house of repre-
sentatives was occupied by a merchant named Kelsey. There were a great
many log buildings nearby which were used by the different depart-
ments of the republic for offices,"
There is no doubt that there was an understanding between
President Burnet and the former publishers of the Telegraph
and
Texas
Register
about the re-establishment of that paper.
During the spring and early summer of 1836, Texas was without
a newspaper, the hand press of the Telegraph
having been
thrown into Buffalo Bayou at Harrisburg April 14 by Santa
Anna's army. A new press had been purchased in Cincinnati
to be installed, it appears, at the town most likely to become
the capital of the Republic. On August 2, 1836, the Telegraph
began publication at Columbia, following Burnet's proclamation
of July 23. Burnet no doubt thought that Congress would
select Columbia as the capital, and certainly this must have
been the belief of the publishers of the Telegraph.
Later they
lost no time in moving their paper to Houston when the newly
laid-out town on Buffalo Bayou was made the capital. In fact
the Telegraph
and the executive departments of the Republic
were transported from Columbia on the same boat, April
16, 1837.
It being the province of Congress to select a capital for the
Republic, the Senate on November 2, 1836, adopted a joint
resolution providing-,
that each House of Congress appoint a committee of three whose duty it
shall be to report the most eligible point, at which to locate the Seat of
Government of the Republic from and after the adjournment of the
present Congress . . .
It is probable that Columbia would have been selected as the
capital had its citizens promptly furnished sufficient houses
to conduct the affairs of government. This they failed to do.
They "had either failed to procure a sufficient number of
houses," wrote E. W. Winkler, "or else they had not con-
templated the increase of offices accompanying the organiza-
tion of the constitutional government."
On November 7, President Houston sent the following mes-
sage to Congress on the subject of the proper accommodations
for the government:
Gentlemen:
The important trusts committed to our charge as the representatives
of a Nation and the guardian of her free institutions, demand at our
hands, the arduous and incessant toils which responsibility and moral
consciousness always impose, when they flow in their natural and ap-
propriate channel.
Industry and application, put in requisition by mature judgment, must
still be conducted by system, organization and method; for these are
necessary, and cannot be attained or exercised without the convenience
of houses.
The present position of our Government is one of great inconvenience
and absolute embarrassment. We have accomodations for no branch of
the public trusts. Congress is itself scarcely provided as a body, with suf-
ficient buildings. No Offices for the Chief Departments of the Executive
branch of Government, and the personal accomodations of all are very
deficient.
The Head of no Department can now transact with convenience the
functions devolving upon him. The Secretary of the Treasury and all
his Subordinate Officers, are without rooms and without any place to per-
form his highly important business. The discharged soldiers of our
army, are now waiting at great expense for their "honest dues at the hands
of that officer. The financial concerns of the Government, will be deranged
and our credit at home and abroad will be depreciated.
I would call your particular and immediate attention to this subject;
and am compelled by my station to suggest that business cannot profitably
proceed, unless Congress will adjourn to some point, where better accomo-
dations and greater conveniences can be speedily obtained or buildings
furnished at this place.
To induce the meeting of Congress at this point, nineteen rooms for
offices had been promised but the pledges remain unredeemed. The pledge[s]
given are herewith enclosed.
Sam Houston
All the Chairs and Tables necessary for Both Houses of Congress.
Sepr. 16, 1836.
W. C. White & Co.
Fitchett & Gill
Jacob Eberly
Geo. Brown
G. & T. H. Borden
"Perhaps only those marked (V) had been placed at the
service of the government at this time," wrote Winkler.
It appears that space in the Senate chamber was set aside
for the president's private office and that when the Senate
held secret session, which it frequently did, the president and
his private secretaries were obliged to retire. On October 27,
Senator William H. Wharton had moved to allow them "to
retain possession of their rooms during the secret sessions
of the senate." The motion, however, was lost.
Congress, as has been shown, contemplated selecting a place
to become the capital "after the adjournment of the present
congress," but agreeing with Houston that business could not
profitably proceed, unless Congress adjourned to some point
where better accommodations were afforded, it voted that the
seat of government be located "during the present session of
congress. . . ." Houston was selected as the seat of gov-
ernment, effective April 1, 1837. Congress did not convene there,
however, until May 1, due to delay in completing a two-story
building being constructed as a capitol for the Republic by
Augustus C. and John K. Allen, proprietors of the town.
If one accepts as true the undisputed statement of John
Henry Brown that when Congress first convened both houses
met in the two-story building which had been erected by his
father and that later one house of Congress occupied a different
building; if one accepts as true the statement of John Adriance
that the House of Representatives met in the shack while the
Senate met in a larger building; if he believes that the pres-
ident's office was in the same building with the Senate, there
is only one conclusion to be reached: the first capitol was the
two-story building constructed by Henry S. Brown--provided,
of course, it is established that Columbia was ever the capital
of the Republic.
FOOTNOTES:
Ginn & Co., 1897), 14; Dudley G. Wooten, A Complete History of Texas
(Dallas: The Texas History Co., 1899), 246; Joseph L. Clark, The Story
of Texas (Evanston, Ill.: Row, Peterson & Co., 1932), 183; Clarence R.
Wharton, History of Texas (Dallas: Turner & Co., 1935), 202; Ralph
W. Steen, History of Texas (Austin: The Steck Co., 1939), 173; Wharton,
Lone Star State (Dallas: Southern Publishing Co., 1932), 153. Clark did not
include a picture of the building in his A Complete History of Texas,
Land of Promise (Atlanta: D. C. Heath & Co., 1940). Steen reproduces
a photograph of the building in his Texas, A Story of Progress and
correctly identifies it as "one of the government buildings in 1836. . . ."
(Austin: The Steck Co., 1942), 251.
by the Allen brothers in which they stated that the town "is now for the
first time brought to public notice." For that reason August 30 is con-
sidered the birthday of Houston by its citizenship.
(ed.), The Laws of Texas, I, 1138, 1139.
the General History of John Henry Brown (New York: J. J. Little & Co.,
1894), 164.
L. E. Daniel, 1895), 53.
Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, X, 169. Winkler cites
the Telegraph of August 12, 1837.
Telegraph, November 9, 1836.
retary of State, attributed Austin's death not alone to the mental and
physical strain under which he labored but also to "the exposure in a
small clapboard shed-room, without fire, which was his bedroom and
office."--William G. Scarff, A Comprehensive History of Texas, I, 590.
Austin died at the residence of Judge George B. McKinstry, December
27, 1836.
MS Messages of 1 Tex. Cong., 1 Sess. State Department; see also Amelia
W. Williams and E. C. Barker (eds.), The Writings of Sam Houston: 1813 -
1863, I, 474.
but one of several used by the Congress and government of the Republic
of Texas at Columbia in 1836.
The Private Journal of Juan
Nepomuceno Almonte
February l—April 16, 1836
The present publication of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte's
Journal is from photostats of the original issues of the
New York Herald,
obtained from the New York State Library,
Albany, New York, and the Library of Congress. The Telegraph
and
Texas
Register,
October 4, 1836, published part three; and
about a third of part six was published in William Kennedy's
Texas,
18
41,
pp. 218-220. This Journal and other documents
were sent to the Herald
because of its strong support of the
Texian cause, and the long friendship of Sam Houston and
James Gordon Bennett, the editor and owner. The original
documents are lost. The space required for the Journal itself
and its accompanying notes limit present notes. Many questions
arising remain unanswerable or speculative. The writer wel-
comes correspondence.
By the packet ship Nashville from New Orleans, which ar-
rived on Tuesday evening, we have received various documents
and papers from Texas and New Orleans --and among them,
the original copies of the "Private Journal of the Mexican
Campaign and its Progress," by Almonte, together with a
"General Order Book," both contained in two folio manu-
scripts and written in Spanish. As soon as the Journal shall be
translated, we shall publish it in the Herald.
It is a highly interesting and valuable document, and throws
a great deal of light on the secret motives and movements of
Santa Anna and his generals. The journal is kept by Almonte,
who was in this city last summer, and previous to the war
and afterwards travelled through Texas as a spy. To his mis-
representations is attributed the campaign altogether.
The Journal or Private Diary commences on the 1st of Feb-
ruary, 1836, dated at Sa[l]tillo. Under the date of the "6th March,
Sunday," there is an entry describing the assault on the Alamo.
It began at 5¼ A.M. and continued till 6 o'clock. The journal
states that the enemy (The Texians) attempted to escape
but were all killed, or put to the sword. Only four women
and one negro slave saved their lives. At the close of the entry
is the following by way of postcript:
A great many other curious particulars are told in this journal
which will appear in our columns in a day or two.
Meantime we are are [sic]
happy to learn that the affairs
of Texas are in a most prosperous condition. General Cos
and Col. Almonte have been adjudged by a Texian court martial
to be shot -- Santa Anna's life will be preserved but he will
remain a close prisoner of war.--This decision has been made
though not yet promulgated.
Both Cos and Almonte deserve their fate. The former was a
prisoner to the Texians in the early part of the contest. He
was released on his word of honor not to take up arms against
them. He broke this honor, and he dies as a traitor ought to do.
Almonte is the same person who was here last summer and
secretly furnished or stimulated the Courier & Enquirer to
publish articles calling the Texians "rebels" and "insurrection-
ists." He afterwards went to Texas as a spy. He also deserves
his fate.
We further hear that
the
gallant
Houston
will
soon
be
in
New
York.
His physicians have recommended to him a northern
latitude till his wounds are healed. The climate of New Orleans,
and the general excitement there, protract his convalescence,
He wants retirement and tranquility.
By the next New Orleans packet we therefore expect General
Houston, the hero of San Jacinto -- a victory unparalleled in
ancient or modern times. It is the Marathon of Texas
Journal of the Mexican Campaign -- by Almonte,
Aid to Santa Anna. Picked up on the Battle Ground
of San Jacinto by Anson Jones.
Annexed will be found a translation of the first portion of the
remarkable "Secret Journal" of the recent Mexican Campaign,
written by Col. Almonte, aide de camp to General Santa Anna.
The original, in the Spanish language, is now in our possession.
It was picked up on the battleground of San Jacinto by Dr.
Anson Jones, and was sent to us via Galveston Island, on the
12th of May last. The journal was seen and examined by Mr.
Childress, the diplomatic representative from Texas, who left
this city a few days ago for Washington. The Journal begins
as follows:
Feb. 1st.—At 8 A. M.—The President set out from Saltillo
for Monclova, passing by way of the Hacienda (farm) of Santa
Maria, 6 leagues distant; thence to Carretas, 5 leagues; thence
to the Hacienda de Mesillas, 5 leagues; making- in all 16 leagues
of good waggon road. In Carretas there is running water, no
pasture, the road passes through high ridges and hills, and
with little stone. There is a shorter road to Saltillo from Los
Arcos, or a bridge near to the Hacienda of Santa Maria. Mesillas
has no running water, but a reservoir; the running water being
1½ leagues distant; there is a large house, corn and corn stalks.
2d.—Started for Anclo at 7½ A. M.—To the reservoir of San
Felipe, 7 leagues; road almost level; little stone; the water
in the reservoir somewhat scarce; there is some pasture; no
house; we encamped in a small valley; there we met the second
Division under command of Tolsa; we arrived at 5 P. M. having
made a short halt.
3d.--At 8¼ A. M.—Started to the Hoya, 8 leagues; no people;
well dry; two small poor houses—to Bejar, 6 leagues; very
good road; some dry pasture; no water in the road. The In-
fantry arrived at 7½ P. M. and rested the day following; many
soldiers sickened with diarrhoea, and some with blistered feet;
plenty of water, but no fodder; corn at 2 rials [reals] the
almad [almud].
4th.--Started at 8 A. M. to the Hacienda de Castaños, 10
leagues; running water, good and abundant; to Monclova, 3
leagues; good road; corn and stalks, but few provisions. From
Saltillo to Monclova, according to our account, there are 57
leagues; according to the Itinerary, 52 leagues.
5th--The thermometer at Monclova in the house at 59°; in
the afternoon arrived Messrs. Ampudia, Caro, Wall and Arago;
I
wrote
to
New
York;
it rained in the night; stood guard; Mr.
Moral arrived.
6th.--In Monclova, thermometer at 59°, cloudy.--The second
Division arrived; Flores was ordered to deliver the command
of the Division of Gaudalaxara to his next in command; wrote
under
dictation
of
His
Excellency
the
President;
D. Ramon
Musquiz left for Sta. Rosa; Arago continues unwell; Moral
on guard.
7th.--In Monclova, thermometer 62°, day clear. Orders is-
sued at 6 A. M. the next day; Sr. Mora, assistant guard; I
wrote to**********
** * * * * * * * * * *.
the mail from Mexico arrives at Monclova, Tuesday, in the
morning, and leaves Wednesday at night.
8th.—Left Monclova at 7½ A. M. arrived at the Hacienda de
Dos Hermanas and slept there.
9th.—To Lamparos, 5 leagues, (well water); to Laura, 5
leagues, (well water); good roads, all level, and good pasture.
lOth.--To the river Sabinas at La Hacienda de Soledad,
5 leagues; to San Juan, also Hacienda, 1 league; to San Jose,
9 leagues; good roads and pasture.
11th.--To the Cabezeras de Sta. Rita, 7 leagues, (running
water); to San Miguel de Allende, 4 leagues; good roads and
pasture; high hills.
12th.--We arrived at Rio Grande, having left Nava 14 leagues
to the left; road good and level; pasture, but no water until
reaching the river.
13th.--At the Rio Grande; weather stormy; thermometer 51°;
the Americans burnt the bridge over the river Nueces; the
Division left the day before under the command of Sr. Sesma.
14th.—At the Rio Grande; the weather moderates; ther-
mometer 46°; our baggage arrived at 6 P. M. after dark.
15th.--At the Rio Grande; weather good; thermometer 56°;
fine weather for traveling; despatched
a
part
of
the
corre
-
spondence.
16th.--At 4½ P. M. started from Rio Grande, after writing
until 3 in the afternoon; arrived at La Peña 11 o'clock at
night; distance 12 leagues.
17th.--Exceedingly hot at mid-day on the Nueces; from
La Peña to La Espantora, 5 leagues; to the river Nueces 1½,
and to La Fortuga [Tortuga], 3 leagues.
18th.--To La Leona, 8 leagues; to No lo Digas, 4 leagues;
no water.
19th.--At the Rio Frio, 5 leagues; found there in the morning
the Division of Sr. Ramirez; little pasture; made a new bridge;
the division crossed in the afternoon.
20th.--Started for Arroyo Seco, 4 leagues; to Tahuacan,
2 leagues; to Rio Hondo, 2 leagues, making 8 leagues. The night
was clear and pleasant, morning cloudy, 72° of Farenheit;
day cloudy, misty, no rain.
The publication of this authentic document, will be interesting
on many accounts. The question of Texian Independence, is
rapidly becoming the absorbing topic of the present day. Mex-
ico, the United States, Great Britain, and France will all take
a deep interest in the astounding events of the last six months.
The creation of a new nation by the arms of a few brave men,
will establish a new principle of action among mankind. The
romantic enterprizes of Cortez and Pizarro, are about to be
renewed by a different race, and under a new auspices. Religion
was the impulse that overthrew the ancient races of this con-
tinent, and established a fresh people over their ruins. Liberty
is now the watchword, that may drive Spanish superstition
and Spanish cruelty, not only from Texas, but from all South
America.
Under the date of the 7th, we have left a gap in the Journal.
This is done on purpose. In the original, the names are given
at full length, to whom Almonte wrote. They are persons now
residing in New York and Philadelphia, some of them of great
respectability. During their sejour
in this country, we do not
wish to endanger their peace. The intelligence and views which
Almonte communicated to them, is also known to persons here.
It has a close and intimate connection with various movements
of various men and prints both in New York and Philadelphia.
Robt. Walsh, the editor of the National Gazette--Charles King,
of the New York American--and several other persons have
been conspicuous for their sympathy with the enemies of
American liberty in Texas. We could a tale unfold, connected
with these personages and the Mexican intriguants here--
but we stop a little while, and give them time to repent. The
day will soon be here, when we may feel it our duty to fill up
the blank from the original manuscript, which out of generosity
and kindness, feelings, very probably, which they cannot ap-
preciate, is
for
the
present
suppressed.
Another remarkable fact is known. In Almonte's correspond-
ence with persons in New York and Philadelphia, it is certain,
that some persons who have been speculating in Texas Land
Companies, have been trying to keep on the kindly side of
both the chiefs of the Mexican, and those of the Texian armies.
They had made arrangements of such a nature, that whatever
might be the issue of the contest, they should, like cats, fall
on their feet. The
same
people
have
been,
and
are
on
the
fence.
Has any person in New York or Philadelphia been advancing
funds on the Mexican interest? Have such persons refused
to aid the Texians? These questions will be solved in proper time.
This portion of the journal brings down the Mexican army
to the eastern bank of the Rio Frio, only a short distance from
San Antonio. It begins at Soltillo [Saltillo] or Leona Vicario, in
the State of New Leon. The descriptions of the scenery are brief,
pithy, and correspond exactly with the accounts we have re-
ceived personally from travellers. The next portion of the
journal will bring us down to the assault of the Alamo.
We continue our translations from the "Journal." The first
portion was all preparation and diplomacy--this is all war and
bloodshed. The account of the investing and storming oí the
Alamo is quite interesting. To the general reader it will be
more pleasant reading than the first part. We have some further
remarks to make--but we reserve them for another day.
Feb.—
Sunday
21st--At 7½ A. M. left Arroyo Hondo-
weather cloudy--slight showers--not cold--wind south east.
To Francisco Perez 4 leagues, (a stream of water very distant,
but not on the road) To Arroyo del Chacon, good water, 3
leagues. To the river Medina 2 leagues; all good road, but
broken by large hills. At ¼ before 2 o'clock the President ar-
rived. The day completely overcast; the whole division at 5
o'clock, when it commenced raining heavily--all wet but
baggage dry, at 12 o'clock at night it cleared some.
Monday,
22d--Commenced cloudy, but cleared at 10 o'clock.
The troops cleared their arms and dryed their clothes; no de-
sertions whatever or sickness. We passed the day at Medina
to rest the troops. Two men from the Ranchos near Bexar ar-
rived, one menchaca [Menchaca] and another; killed a beef; va-
rious other persons came in, reviewed the troops. Sr. Ramirez
y Sermer [Sesma], marched to cut off the retreat of the enemy
with dragoons. It was believed the enemy discovered our
movements.
Tuesday
23—At 7½ A. M. the army was put in march—To the
Potranca 1½ leagues—To the Creek of Leon or Del Medio, 3½
leagues—To Bexar 3 leagues, in all 8 leagues. At half a league,
from Bexar the division halted on the hills of Alazán at 12½
o'clock. General Sesma arrived at 7 A. M. and did not ad-
vance to reconnoitre because he expected an advance of the
enemy which was about to be made according to accounts given
by a spy of the enemy who was caught. There was water, though
little, in the stream of Las Lomas del Alazán. At 2 the army
took up their march, the President and his staff in the van.
The enemy, as soon as the march of the division was seen, hoisted
the tri-colored flag with two stars, designed to represent Coahuila
and Texas. The President with all his staff advanced to Campo
Santo (burying ground.) The enemy lowered the flag and fled,
and possession was taken of Bexar without firing a shot.
At 3 P. M. the enemy filed off to the fort of Alamo, where there
was pieces of artillery; among them one 13 pounder: I[t]
appeared they had 130 men; during the afternoon 4 grenades
were fired at them. The firing was suspended in order to re-
ceive a messenger, who brought a dispatch the contents of
which appears in No. 1, and the answer which was given will
be found in No. 2. I conversed with the bearer who was Jameson
(G. B.) and he informed me of the bad state they were in at
the Alamo, and manifested a wish that some honorable con-
ditions should be proposed for a surrender. Another messenger
afterwards came, (Martin) late a clerk in a house in New
Orleans. He stated to me what Mr. Travis said, "that if I
wished to speak with him, he would receive me with much
pleasure." I answered that it did not become the Mexican Gov-
ernment to make any propositions through me, and that I
had only permission to hear such as might be made on the
part of the rebels. After these contestations night came on,
and there was no more firing. In the night another small battery
was made up the river near the house of Veremenda. I lodged
in the house of Nixon, (Major) with Urriza and Marcil Aguirre.
An inventory of the effects taken was made; many curious
papers were found. One Smith, carpenter and cabinet maker,
they say was the owner of the effects. I did not sleep all
night, having to attend to the enemy and the property, the charge
of which of which [sic] was entrusted to me; its value was
about $3000.
Wednesday,
24th.--Very early this morning a new battery
was commenced on the bank of the river, about 350 yards from
the Alamo. It was finished in the afternoon, and a brisk fire
was kept up from it until the 18 pounder and another piece
was dismounted. The President reconnoitered on horseback,
passing within musket shot of the fort. According to a spy,
four of the enemy were killed. At evening the music struck up,
and went to entertain the enemy with it
and some grenades.
In the night, according to the statement of a spy, 30 men ar-
rived at the fort from Gonzales.
Thursday,
25th.--The firing from our batteries was com-
menced early. The General in Chief, with the batallion de
Cazadores, crossed the river and posted themselves in the
Alamo--that is to say, in the houses near the fort. A new forti-
fication was commenced by us near the house of McMullen. In
the random firing the enemy wounded 4 of the Cazadores de
Matamoros battalion, and 2 of the battalion of Jimenes, and
killed one corporal and a soldier of the battalion of Matamoros.
Our fire ceased in the afternoon. In the night two batteries
were erected by us on the other side of the river in the Alameda
of the Alamo--the battalion of Matamoros was also posted
there, and the cavalry was posted on the hills to the east of the
enemy, and in the road from Gonzales at the Casa Mata Antigua.
At half past eleven at night we retired. The enemy, in the night,
burnt the straw and wooden houses in their vicinity, but did
not attempt to set fire with their guns to those in our rear.
A strong north wind commenced at nine at night.
Friday,
26th.--The northern wind continued very strong;
the thermometer fell to 39°, and during the rest of the day
remained at 60°. At daylight there was a slight skirmish be-
tween the enemy and a small party of the division of the east,
under command of General Sesma. During the day the firing
from our cannon was continued. The enemy did not reply, except
now and then. At night the enemy burnt the small houses near
the parapet of the battalion of San Luis, on the other side of
the river. Some sentinels were advanced. In the course of the
day the enemy sallied out for wood and water, and were opposed
by our marksmen. The northern wind continues.
ALMONTE'S JOURNAL OF THE MEXICAN CAMPAIGN.
NO. 3
Taking of Bexar--Reinforcement of the Enemy from La
Bahía--Firing from the Alamo-Almonte's opinion of the
Campaign--Capture of San Patricio--Council of War
on Assaulting the Alamo--Santa Anna Undecided.
We continue our translations from this highly interesting
document. Some of the opinions and transactions recorded are
quite curious. This portion of the Journal brings us down to the
Council of War at which was deliberated the assault of the
Alamo, in which Travis and his brave companions were
massacred.
Saturday
27th.--The northern wind was strong at day break,
and continued all the night. Thermometer at 39°. Lieutenant
Manuel Menchacho was sent with a party of men for the corn,
cattle, and hogs at the Ranchos (small farms) of Seguin and
Flores. It was determined to cut off the water from the enemy
on the side next to the old mill. There was little firing from
either side during the day. The enemy worked hard to repair
some entrenchments. In the afternoon the President was ob-
served by the enemy and fired at. In the night a courier ex-
traordinary was dispatched to the city of Mexico, informing
the Government of the taking of Bexar, [1] and also to Gen'ls
Urrea, Filisola, Cos & Vital Fernandez. No private letters were
sent.
Sunday,
28th.--The weather abated somewhat. Thermometer
at 40° at 7 A. M. News were received that a reinforcement
to the enemy was coming by the road from La Bahia, in number
200. [2] It was not true. The canonading was continued.
Monday
29th.--The weather changed--thermometer at 55°;
in the night it commenced blowing hard from the west. In
the afternoon the battalion of Allende took post at the east of
the Alamo. The President reconnoitered. One of our soldiers
was killed in the night. The wind changed to the north at mid-
night, about that time Gen. Sesma left the camp with the cavalry
of Dolores and the infantry of Allende to meet the enemy com-
ing from La Bahia or Goliad to the aid of the Alamo. Gen'l
Castrillon on guard.
March
1st.--The wind subsided, but the weather continued
cold--thermometer at 36° in the morning--day clear. Early
in the morning Gen. Sesma wrote from the Mission de la Espador
that there was no such enemy, and that he reconnoitered as
far as the Tinaja, without finding any traces of them. The
cavalry returned to camp, and the infantry to this city. At
12 o'clock the President went out to reconnoitre the mill site
to the north west of the Alamo. Lieut. Col. Ampudia was com-
missioned to construct more trenches.--In the afternoon the
enemy fired two 12 pound shots at the house of the President,
one of which struck the house, and the other passed it. [3]
Nothing more of consequence occurred. Night cold—thermometer
34° Farenheit, and 1 Reaumur.
Wednesday,
2d.--Commenced clear and pleasant—thermom-
patches from Arroyo Hondo, dated 1st inst.; in reply, he was
ordered to leave the river Medina, and arrive the next day at
12 or 1 o'clock. Gen. J. Ramirez came to breakfast with the
President. Information was received that there was corn at the
farm of Sequin [Seguin], and Lieut. Menchaca was sent with a
party for it. The President discovered, in the afternoon, a covered
road within pistol shot of the Alamo, and posted the battalion
of Jimenes there. At 5 A. M. Bringas went out to meet Gaona.
Thursday,
3d.--Commenced clear, at 40°, without wind. The
enemy fired a few cannon and musket shots at the city. I wrote
to Mexico and to my sister, directed them to send their letters
to Bexar, and that before 3 months the campaign would be
ended. [4] The General-in-Chief went out to reconnoitre. A
battery was erected on the north of the Alamo within musket
shot. Official despatches were received from Gen. Urrea, an-
nouncing that he had routed the colonists at San Patricio--kill-
ing 16 and taking 21 prisoners. [5] The bells were rung. The
battalions of Zapaderes, Aldama, and Toluca arrived. The
enemy attempted a sally in the night at the Sugar Mill, but
were repulsed by our advance.
Friday,
4th.--The day commenced windy, but not cold--
thermometer 42°. Commenced firing very early, which the
enemy did not return. In the afternoon one or two shots were
fired by them. A meeting of Generals and Colonels was held, at
which Generals Cos, Sesma, and Castrillon were present; (Gen-
erals Amador and Ventura Mora did not attend--the former
having been suspended, and the latter being in active commis-
sion.) Also present, Colonels Francisco Duque, battalion of
Toluca--Orisñuela, battalion of Aldama--Romero, battalion
of Matamoros--Arnat, battalion of Zapadores, and the Major
of battalion of San Luis.--The Colonels of battalions of Jimenes
and San Luis did not attend, being engaged in actual commission.
I was also called. After a long conference, [6] Cos, Castrillon,
Orisñuela, and Romero were of the opinion that the Alamo
should be assaulted--first opening a breach with the two cannon
of -- and the two mortars, and that they should wait the
arrival of the two 12 pounders expected on Monday the 7th.
The President, Gen. Ramirez, and I were of opinion that that
[sic] the 12 pounders should not be waited for, but the as-
sault made.--Colonels Duque and Arnat, and the Major of the
San Luis battalion did not give any definite opinion about
either of the two modes of assault proposed. In this state
things remained--the General not making any definite resola-
tion [sic]. In the night the north parapet was advanced towards
the enemy through the water course. A Lieutenant of Engineers
conducted the entrenchment. A messenger was despatched to
Urrea.
[1] "Taking of Bexar"--this was the first signal victory
gained by Santa Anna himself over the Texians. It appears to
have chee'red up their spirits wonderfully. So overjoyed were
they that no private letters were written--no time--all was
"pomp and circumstance of glorious war."
[2] La Bahia or Goliad was situated on the west side of the
river San Antonio, on the banks of one of whose tributaries is
Bexar or the Alamo. Col. Fannin's command was stationed at
Goliad--the main Texian army under Gen'l Houston had re-
treated at that time to the east of the Colorado.
[3] These twelve pounders came very near levelling Santa
Anna in the dust. Travis in this showed them good gunnery.
[4] "Wrote to my sister"--"before three months the cam-
paign will be ended." What a flood of reflections these recorded
sentiments of poor Almonte create! At the last accounts he
was a close prisoner of war at Velasco on the mouth of the
Brassos. When his sister hears of his sad fate what a burst
of grief and sisterly affection! Even in the midst of war these
sentiments cannot be controuled. "Wrote to my sister!" This
simple passage has raised Almonte higher in our estimation
than all his talents--his brief--energetic mind. He was the
sole cause and occasion of the war in Texas. He stimulated
Santa Anna to that expedition. Standing before the Alamo--
measuring over his various fortunes--he exultingly predicts
that Texas will be reduced in three months--and that he will
return in triumph to Mexico, where he can embrace with the
affection of a brother his beloved sister. With all his errors,
Almonte's heart breaks out in the right spot--honorable to
himself and to human nature.
[5] This was their second victory and their ringing the
bells is highly characteristic. San Patricio is a small place on
the eastern bank of the Rio de las Nueces near the bay of that
name. It formed the extreme right of the base of Santa Anna's
operations.
[6] "After a long conference, &c." Here is a remarkable
disclosure. Cos who had been released by the Texians on
parole,
is the first to advise an assault upon the handful of
brave men in the Alamo. Almonte also is for immediate assault.
This disclosure ought to decide the question of life and death
as affecting Gen. Cos. He has justly forfeited his life according
to the rules of war.
The next portion will contain a brief and energetic description
of the assault on the Alamo itself.
[The New York Herald,
June 27, 1836]
ALMONTE'S JOURNAL—NO. 4
In the annexed portion there are several important par-
ticulars, both political and military.
The assault of the Alamo is very briefly given. It will be
observed that Almonte's account differs very essentially from
what we received at the time through the Texas Papers.
Another point is the account of the news from Mexico of the
election of M. Corro as President ad
interim,
instead of General
Bravo, who was the candidate of Santa Anna. This singular
fact shews that during Santa Anna's absence, his political op-
ponents had gained a majority of votes in the Senate of Mexico.
Here is the germ of the revolution which we expect to hear
of every day from Vera Cruz. A New-Orleans paper, in the
Mexican interest, stated very recently that Gen. Bravo was
assembling an army of 10,000 men to recapture Texas. We
doubt very much the accuracy of such statements, and wait
with impatience to hear of the events which must follow Santa
Anna's discomfiture at San Jacinto.
Saturday,
March
5th.--The day commenced very moderate--
thermometer 50°--weather clear. A brisk fire was commenced
from our north battery against the enemy, which was not
answered, except now and then. At mid-day the thermometer
rose to 68°.--The President determined to make the assault;
and it was agreed that the four columns of attack were to be
commanded by Generals Cos, Duque, Romero, and Morales, and
second in command, Generals Castrillon, Amador, and Miñón.
For this purpose the points of attack were examined by the
commanding officers, and they came to the conclusion that they
should muster at 12 o'clock tonight, and at 4 o'clock to morrow
morning (Sunday, 6th) the attack should be made.
Sunday,
6th—At 5 A. M. the columns were posted at their
respective stations, and at half past 5 the attack or assault
was made, and continued until 6 A. M. when the enemy at-
tempted in vain to fly, but they were overtaken and put
to
the
sword,
and
only
five
women,
one
Mexican
soldier
(prisoner,)
and
a
black
slave
escaped
from
instant
death.
On the part of the
enemy the result was, 250 killed, and 17 pieces of artillery--
a flag; muskets and fire-arms taken. Our loss was 60 soldiers
and 5 officers killed, and 198 soldiers and 25 officers wounded
--2 of the latter General officers. The battalion of Toluca lost
98 men between the wounded and killed. I
was
robbed
by
our
soldiers.
Monday,
7th.--Commenced with a north wind. A special
despatch was received from Gen. Urrea, dated 3d March, from
San Patricio, in which he communicated that the preceding
day, at a place called Los Cohates, he attacked Dr. Grant and
his party, and killed Dr. Grant and 41 of his men, and after-
wards 2 out of 5 who fled. There was no loss on our side.
By the 14th General Urrea would be in Goliad. The greater
part of the 1st brigade arrived under command of General
Gaona. The mail arrived from Matamoros and Mexico--dates
to the 2d and 3d of February.
Tuesday,
8th.--Fine clear day, but cold. Letters were written
to Mexico under date of 6th inst. Commenced blowing hard. I
wrote to * * * *. Official reports were forwarded to-day.
Wednesday,
9th. Commenced with a violent north wind,
weather not very cold. Generals Filisola, Araga, &c., &c., ar-
rived. Orders to march were given to Gen'l Sesma and Colonel
Gonzales. Two persons arrived from the interior to see the
President. The wind continued all night.
Thursday,
10th. Day broke mild, but soon the cold north
wind commenced blowing, though with clear weather. The cav-
alry under command of General Audrade [sic] came in. They
were quartered in the Alamo. The Commissary and the Treasury
of the Army arrived.
Friday,
11th. Day pleasant, but somewhat windy. Gen'l
Tolsa came in with the 3rd brigade, but the divisions of Sesma
and Gonzales had already marched with four six pounders and
one howitzer. Marches detailed being 9 days to Goliad, 5 to
Gonzales and 14 to San Felipe.
Saturday,
12th. Day broke mild--became windy--but clear
and temperate. We consumed many fish. Sesma wrote from
El Salado, giving the details—-Romero likewise. The troops were
reviewed in the afternoon in the Square.
Sunday,
13th. Day clear but windy. Heard
mass
in
the
Square.
Very warm in the afternoon. Thermometer 85°. Nothing
particular.
Monday,
14th. Cloudy and windy, and warm.--Weather
cleared and the wind abated a little. The correspondence from
Mexico, Monterey and Matamoros was received, and a despatch
from Gen'l Urrea stating that he would be at Goliad the 14th,
that is to-day.--Orders to march were issued to the battalion
of Tres Villas.
Tuesday,
15th. Windy and warm. The battalion of Queretaro
was ordered to march to Goliad, with one 12 pounder and the
corresponding munition. To-morrow the two battalions of
Queretaro and Tres Villas will march. In the afternoon the
courrier was despatched to Gen'l Urrea. Accounts came from
Gonzales by a Mexican that the Americans,
in
number
500
fled
as
soon
as
they
heard
of
the
taking
of
the
Alamo
and the ap-
proach of our troops, leaving their stores and many goods,
and throwing two cannon in the water, &c.&c. This was Sunday
in the afternoon. The same man said that the Convention had
met at Washington and declared the independence of Texas.
The battalions of Guerrero and Mexico were ordered to get
ready to march to Gonzales to-morrow with about 200 horses
selected from Dolores and Tampico. A courier extraordinary
arrived with accounts of the sickness of Gen'l Barragar [Bar-
ragan] and the election of Mr. Corro as President, ad interim by
27 votes. For Bravo 18 votes, and Parres 8. This
election
did
not
please
Gen'l
Santa
Anna;
he
preferred
Gen'l
Bravo.
It is said that
Gen'l Michilena voted for Bravo.
Wednesday,
16th. Accounts were received from Gen'l Ra-
mirez--it was determined that Gen'l Tolsa should march with
two battalions to Goliad, and he started at 3 o'clock P. M. It
was also determined that I should join Sesma. Montoga left
with two batallions for Goliad, to reach there in seven days.
Wind continues.
We continue our translations from this interesting journal.
Some of the distant papers doubt the authenticity of this curious
document. Fools! what do they imagine us to be? The old line
newspaper editors in this and every other large city, have
entered into a league to discountenance and run down the small
daily press. Now it happens that I was for years an editor of
the largest paper in the country, and had to cut my connections
with these pompous blockheads, because they were too ignorant
and too stupid to make any improvement in newspapers, or
to know what talent was. The efficiency of the Parisian press
of New York, will soon be universally acknowledged.
As to the authenticity of Almonte's Journal, the original
went on yesterday to Washington, to be exhibited to his Ex-
cellency, the President of the United States.
The following portion brings the Mexican army down to
the banks of the Colorado:—
Thursday,
March
17th.--A Courier Extraordinary was des-
patched to Tolsa and Sesma, and to Matamoras; one for Mexico
will start to-morrow; by it go my letters for Mexico and the
United States; I could not start to-day, because the mules did
not arrive in time.
Friday,
18th.--At 10 A. M. we started from Bejar; at 3
leagues from Cibelo [Cibolo], we met a soldier of the company of
Bejar, with dispatches from the President; he said that General
Sesma left yesterday (17th) for San Felipe. General Tolsa started
this afternoon from Cibelo; it was supposed he will not reach
Carrizo; one and a half leagues before reaching Cibelo, we
saw a large drove of horses; at half past 5 P. M., we arrived
at Cibelo; encamped on the side towards Bexar about 100 yards
from the river; on the other side, the grass was burnt, and the
track of two persons on foot, who had been down to the river;
nothing occurred during the night; we passed Rosio creek and
the Tinaja; day windy and rainy.
Saturday,
19th.—At
8 A. M., left Cibelo. To the Tinaja or
El Cuchillo, four leagues; to the stream of Carrizal, four leagues,
--making eight leagues. We arrived at half past 3 P. M. It
rained during the march. About a league and a half before
arriving, we noticed a cross and bench on which it appeared
some person had been shot. Rained all night. Nothing now
[new?] occured. One horse was found to be tired out. We stopped
one league short of the Carrizo.
Sunday,
20th.--No rain. No sun. Met a soldier who was re-
turning. Found water the whole of the road. At La Perra, (farm
of Judge Williams,) the houses were burnt. At half past 4 P. M.,
we arrived at the crossing of the river. I spoke with General
Tolsa, who had not yet crossed the river. I did not cross. We
killed a beef. Lost four mules, (tired out,) and one yesterday.
General Tolsa collected some cattle, which were sent across
the river. It rained at night until half past 9 o'clock. In the
afternoon two pigs were killed.--Journeyed eight leagues.
Monday,
21st--Commenced cloudy, but cleared soon. Crossed
the river with difficulty. We joined the brigade of General
Tolsa and left Gonzales at 12 o'clock. We arrived at Tejoates
or El Durasno, at 3 P. M. Found no people; but an individual
was seen at the side of the road, who appeared like an American,
and although he was followed until he lost his horse near a
farm a league and a half from Gonzales, he escaped by a road
which branched off at the farm. Night clear. Nothing new.
Made three leagues. Passed about 9 houses on the road.
Tuesday,
22d—Commenced with a north wind, but the day
clear. At night the wind fell. We started at 8, A.M., and ar-
rived at River La Baca, at 3 P. M., only five leagues. The farm
was abandoned before the revolution. We made two halts of
an hour and a half for the baggage to come up, which
had been left a long distance in the rear of the division. We
passed the small branch of Piedras, (abandoned.) In the night,
Capt. Montoya arrived with 100 mules, which General Sesma
had ordered to meet us. Two mails also arrived. The enemy
were seen on the Colorado yesterday afternoon, and three
persons, Americans, showed themselves at the River Navidad.
At La Baca, coming from Gonzales, and about a mile from the
farm, the road from Goliad passes to Washington and Nacog-
doches. On the same side, but in front of the farm, the road
goes to the mouth of the La Baca, a small harbor where the ar-
ticles destined to Gonzales arrived. All along the La Baca, (be-
low,) the're are small farms about two leagues apart, with cattle,
hogs, good pasture, and wood.
Wednesday,
23d.—-Started at 8 o'clock; in this journey (on
Saturday 19th,) the Americans surprised the scouts of General
Sesma, and killed two men and wounded one; we found water
along the wood; at two and a half leagues we breakfasted at
the stream of La Piedra, (a farm abandoned) ; at 3 P. M. ar-
rived at La Navidad, 2 and a half leagues; the mules were a
long time crossing, notwithstanding it was not miry; farms
abandoned and with stock; at the farm de los Coates there is
a good house, (abandoned) good water, and pasture; at the
farms of the Navidad the road to Washington branches off as
was seen by the wagon tracks; it crosses the Colorado about
7 leagues higher up than where the division was; from La
Navidad to the Colorado there are 7 leagues, with three or
four farms on the road.
Thursday,
24th.—A Cloudy day; left the farm at quarter
past 8 o'clock and at 4 P.M.; arrived at our camp on the
Colorado, passing by the farm of Los Nogales, the streams of
the Alamo and San Autonito [Antoñito], which is lined with a
thick wood; about a league before coming to the river, the road
from Atascosito and La Bahia, of Espiritu Santo separates; in the
night the Major General reconnoitered; made six leagues.
Friday,
25th.—The day clear and temperate. The division
cleaned their arms. An express was sent at night to the Pres-
ident, at Bejar. In the afternoon about 50 cavalry of the
enemy started off in small parties, and carried with them about
12 cattle that were grazing in the plain, within sight. Nothing
occurred during the night excepting a small fire in the camp.
Saturday,
26th.—Cloudy but temperate; at 6 A.M. com-
menced moving, and at half past 10 o'clock started from the
camp on the river, for Atascosito. On the march, received the
express from the President, dated 23 inst. in which he advised
the taking of Goliad. The enemy burnt some houses up the
river in the morning, and in the night, it was believed the
house of Mr. Wright was burnt, from whence we had started;
at three leagues we encamped at 4 o'clock, having made three
halts; the enemy came to reconnoitre us; the mail carrier
arrived alone, and said that General Pavon remained in Gon-
zales, collecting the cattle and corn from the neighboring farms;
the place we encamped at was on the banks of the stream
de San Antonito, about one and a half leagues from the pass
of Atascosito.
Sunday,
27th.--At 7 A.M. commenced the march for the pass
of Atascosito; day cloudy and showery; the road miry; at
11 o'clock we halted a quarter of a league from the river Colorado,
having made 2 leagues; as soon as it cleared (at 12 o'clock)
we reconnoitred; discovered none of the enemy; at 3 o'clock
commenced the rafts and finished at 10 o'clock at night; we
tried the crossing and worked until half past 12 o'clock without
much success; it rained in the night, and the troops were
drenched; no general order.
Monday,
28th.--Commenced cloudy, and rained until 8 o'clock,
and afterwards at intervals; a violent gust of wind passed
over the camp in the night; continued working at the rafts,
and at a bridge for the infantry, but little was done at the
rafts, and the bridge could not be made on account of the
strength of the current; notwithstanding, we succeeded in
crossing the vanguard of the Cazadores in a small canoe, after
working all day; none of the enemy's scouts made their ap-
pearance; a large canoe was found in the afternoon, about half
a league from the c'rossing, down the river, which was ordered
to be brought up; the reserve retired to the camp on the plain,
at 12 o'clock (noon,) the 2d brigade only remaining at the
river and on the other side, as stated above, the van-guard of
the Cazadores. The General in Chief and I slept in the camp
on the plain. There was no general order issued, as each camp
had its commander.
[The New York Herald,
July 1, 1836]
ALMONTE'S JOURNAL—NO. 6.
We had intended to have accompanied the last portion of
this curious Journal, with some remarks of our own--but
want of room compels us to put the purpose off to another day.
The question of Texas will soon occupy the attention of the
world.
Tuesday,
29th March.—
Weather cleared, and the day was
warm. The remainder of the Cazadores, and the Battalions of
Matamoros and Toluca, and one piece of artillery were Crossed.
A new raft was finished, and a canoe found. The river com-
menced rising in the night, and half past 9 o'clock, had already
risen 4½ feet. The camp on the other side was reconnoitered,
and signs of the enemy's camp, (apparently of about 50 men
md a small cannon,) were discovered. The enemy, it appeared,
had abandoned the pass the same day we arrived. A courier
was dispatched to General Urrea, named Herrera, who spoke
English.
Wednesday,
30th.--At daylight, the river had risen 3¼ yards,
and the crossing ropes were broken 4 times. The battalion of
Aldama crossed. Several showers fell. A courier was despatched
to the President, advising him of the freshet. A messenger ar-
rived from General Santa Anna, bringing an answer to an
official communication, which General Sesma sent to him from
this river, the 24th instant. The answer was dated the 26th.
To me he says, he had marched, (I infer,) to Goliad. Lieut.
Ramirez went out with 17 men to reconnoitre.
Thursday,
31st.--Commenced cloudy. The river fell some.
It rained some during the day. The remainder of the battalion
of Aldama crossed with its baggage and supplies; the artillery
and park likewise. A courier arrived from General Urrea
from the Village of Victoria, bringing dates of the 27th March,
stating that by the 29th or 30th, he would start for Matagorda.
A reply was dispatched the same day, stating that we should
be in San Felipe by the 5th of April. A canoe and a boat
were discovered; also some cattle on the other side of the river,
and two Americans about half a league distant. Guerrero came
to the crossing place.
Friday,
April
1st.--Commenced with a little rain. The weather
continued temperate. The cattle, pack saddles, the rest of the
division of Aldama, the supplies, horses, mules, and the Con-
ductor General of the Equipage were all crossed. Six Amer-
icans were discovered up the river on the other side, who
took to the woods; three were on foot, and three on horseback.
Two or three cows were caught. Proceedings were instituted
against Captain Ruiz, Purveyor of the division. In the night,
an American was caught, called Smith, supposed to be of those
who were routed at Goliad.
Saturday,
2d.--Commenced with rain. The prisoner was
brought out; nothing was ascertained from him; he said he
knew nothing of the taking of Goliad, nor where the army of
the Colonists was. A courier with dispatches from General
Urrea arrived, dated at Victoria, 30th March, and stating that
he would be at Matagorda by the 4th. Two soldiers were
drowned by the upsetting of a canoe. Two negroes (slaves,)
a man and woman presented themselves. They discovered where
there was corn and salt. The Purveyor still remained suspended.
Sunday,
3d.--Fine weather--day clear. Dates were received
from the General in Chief from Bexar, of 29th March, in reply
to dispatches of the 25th, and stating that he was coming on
with 600 men, and a howitzer, which would start the 31st.
The Courier said he saw some cattle on the other side of the
river, and that he caught 8 mules and a mare--that the mes-
senger, who went from here to Bexar on the 30th, was followed
by some Americans, and was obliged to abandon his horse. We
all crossed the river, and the division finished crossing at about
12 o'clock. We sent one of the American prisoners (Smith)
to reconnoitre the pass of Luis, and he returned about 5 o'clock
in the afternoon, saying, that the Americans had abandoned
the country, and the trenches which they had made on the
bank of the river, and had taken the road to San Felipe de
Austin, with cattle, &c.--that they had not burnt the houses,
and that he did not see a single inhabitant on the road, nor a
single track.
Monday,
4th--At 6 A.M., the division took up its march
for the pass at Louis or Dewes or Mosely, about 4 leagues from
Atascosito; road good for 3 leagues, and 1 league, from Mosely's
to the river, bad and miry. The night overtook us on the bad
road, and we slept there. General Wall remained at the river
exploring. The ferry at Madame Beeson is 2½ leagues from
Atascosito, and 1½ leagues from Mosely's or Dewe's and from
there to the river 1 league. Some iron tools, and 2 cables were
found in the house of Mosely. The President arrived at Atas-
cosita in the night.
Tuesday,
5th.--The division returned, and the President
was now in the camp, with his staff. General Wall did not come
in until half past 10 o'clock, A.M., nor did the 2 Americans.
In the night, the President's baggage arrived.
Wednesday,
6th.--Heavy thick clouds. A courier came in
from General Gaona with despatches, dated on the Colorado,
(Bastrop.) According to the courier's statement, he had taken
various effects. At a quarter past 9 o'clock we started from the
river, and at 12 we arrived at the stream of San Bernardo, 5
leagues distant. The infantry arrived at 3 o'clock. We camped
on the side of the road, on the left bank of the river.
Thursday,
7th.--At 2 in the morning General Santa Anna
advanced towards San Felipe with 80 horses and 200 of the
Cazadores, for the purpose of taking the town by surprise by
daylight. But his object was defeated, as day broke before
reaching it. Took a prisoner notwithstanding, who gave us in-
formation about the enemy: that they were 70 in number on
the other side of the river, and from 700 to 800 were higher up
the river, at the house of Mr. Gross. They had thrown up a
breastwork -- two of their men were killed by grape shot.
The division arrived at half past 10—distance 5½ leagues.
Friday,
8th.—In San Felipe. At daylight commenced en-
trenchment on the bank of the river opposite to the enemy,
where were placed two six pounders.--Yesterday began two
rafts. It was determined to march on.
Saturday,
9th.--At 5 A.M., we left San Felipe with the choice
companies of Guerreros, Matamoras, Mexico, and Toluca, and
50 cavalry of the regiment of Tampico and Dolores. At half
past 12 o'clock we arrived at the farm of Colls, and another
a mile beyond -- in all 6½ leagues. Three Americans were seen
who took the road to Marion, or Orazimba, (Old Fort,) and
leading to Thompson's ferry. We found at the farm a family
from La Baca, who came by the way of the Brassos. -- Various
articles were also found. The husband of the woman was a
mulatto, the woman white. We sent Wilson (the mulatto) to
reconnoitre at Marion, that is, at the ferry. He did not return.
It rained some in the night, and the wind changed to the north.
Sunday
10th.--We remained at Coll's farm, waiting for our
scout. The farm is on the left bank of the river San Bernardo.
At a house 7 leagues from the farm, on the road leading to the
Colorado, there were 500 fanegas of corn and 20 barrels of
sugar. In the afternoon the scout returned, and confirmed the
accounts we had received of the position of the enemy. At a
quarter before 4 o'clock P. M. we took up our march for Marion,
or Old Fort, on the road from Brazoria. At half past 5 o'clock
we made a short halt at the farm of the widow Powell, or rather
at stream called Guajolota, from thence, leaving the road from
Brazoria on our right, we took the left, following the wagon
tracks to Marion. We marched until half past 9 at night, and
made another short halt. Night dark. At 2 in the morning we
commenced the march on foot, from the President down to the
soldier, leaving the baggage and cavalry, for the purpose of
surprising the enemy who defended the crossing place before
daylight. We did not succeed, as we found the distance double
what we supposed it to be. Day broke upon us at a quarter of
a league from the ferry and frustrated our plan. We then
placed the men in ambush. The stream of Guajolota is 7½
leagues from Marion, road level, with some miry places.
Monday,
11th.--Still in ambush. A negro passed at a short
distance and was taken. He conducted us to the place he had
crossed at, and having obtained a canoe we crossed without
being perceived, a little below the principal crossing place. In
the mean time the cavalry arrived at Marion and took possession
of the houses. The enemy retired on the other side, and kept
up a fire for a long time, until the Cazadores under command
of Bringas crossed at the lower ford, and ascending the river,
and were about to take them in the rear, when they abandoned
Marion, and we remained in possession of the ferry, one canoe,
and a flat boat. A courier was dispatched to General Sesma,
with orders that he should come up with the whole division.
The Cazadores slept on the other side of the river. Rain during
the night.
Tuesday,
12th.—-Day clear and fine. Was occupied in pro-
curing the canoes and going up in the flat boat to Thompson's
ferry. A Mexican and a Prussian came in. The Mexican is the
son of Delgardo. In the afternoon the boat was injured. A
courier came in from Guadaloupe and from General Sesma.
Wrote to Urrea at Matagorda.
Wednesday,
13th--The boat was repaired. The division of
General Sesma arrived. Many articles were found. General
Urrea and F. V. Fernandez were written to. Despatches ar-
rived from Urrea and Filisola.
Thursday,
14th.--We crossed the river early with our beds
only and provisions for the road. At 3 in the afternoon we
started from Thompson's ferry.
Friday,
15th.-—At Harrisburg. [in pencil.]
Saturday,
16th.—At Lynchburg. [in pencil.]
FOOTNOTES:
died in Paris, France, March 20, 1869. He was reputed to be the son
of the patriot Mexican priest Morelos. Almonte was a typical Mexican sol-
dier of fortune and statesman. Educated in the United States, he became a
lifelong follower of Santa Anna. In the 1836 campaign against the
Texans, his services were manifold -- something more than an aide-de-
camp's, and more than a confidential secretary's. Almonte's brief,
apt style is worthy of note; there is not an ideological phrase in it. For
his life, see Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, I, 59, and for
a more extensive account see Helen Willits Harris, The Public Life
of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, Ph.D. dissertation, The University of
Texas, 1935.
New York Herald, May 6, 1835, a penny daily. He was still "editor,
reporter, proof-reader, folder, carrier," etc., in June, 1836, when he pub-
lished Almonte's Journal in the Herald from a cellar at 20 Wall Street.
Bennett was a Spanish translator but did not translate this Journal.
His staunch support of Texas from the Revolution onward deserves a
memorial far more than many who received it. See Dictionary of American
Biography, II, 195-199.
David
Gouverneur Burnet,
Satirist
A BIOLOGIST, working on the history of his science, often
encounters materials of interest to colleagues in the more
formal fields of social and political history. When working in the
Yale Library, for example, I took time to run over the printed
and manuscript materials in the alumni collection of Ashbel
Smith's class (that of 1824) to see what materials on his life
existed that had been unworked. My pleasure was unbounded
to find in that collection an early autograph-album effusion
of Smith, and abundant other materials on the formative period
of Smith's sojourn at Yale. If anyone in the future works on
the life of Ashbel Smith, I recommend this collection as worthy
of the closest attention. Ashbel Smith (besides his notable
work as Texan statesman and patriot) was a well-trained
scientist. He took Phi Beta Kappa at Yale in the Class of
1824 and his M.D. degree at Yale in 1828. This training was
followed by work at the Necker Hospital in Paris; and he
came to Texas with an admirable training in the spirit and
method of science which even the leveling influences of the
frontier could not crush. He was one of the founders of the
Philosophical Society of Texas (1837), of the Texas Literary
Institute (1846), of Galveston College (1852), of the Houston
Scientific Institute (1866), and numerous other educational
organizations. He was, of course, first president of the board
of regents of The University of Texas. He made a number of
important publications on the epidemic diseases of early Texas
(1839, 1850, 1854), and published an important paper on the
geography of Texas, in the bulletin of the Geographical Society
of Paris, in 1844.
Again, when four years ago I was working on the publica-
tions of Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in the library of the
Gray Herbarium in Cambridge, I came upon some exceedingly
rare material on the life of David G. Burnet (1788-1870).
Because of its rarity, because it casts light on an early Texan
statesman, and because it also deals with an early American
naturalist who has been a major interest with me over many
years, I present it to readers of the Quarterly.
Regarding David G. Burnet's early life, a great deal is known;
and I shall here make no attempt to cover the ground of his
life. It will be recalled that Burnet came to Texas from Cin-
cinnati, where his older brother, Jacob Burnet (1770-1853),
was one of the leading men of the city, interested in educational
and cultural movements. David G. Burnet's father, William
Burnet, was a surgeon-general in the Revolutionary Army, and
the boy certainly had the advantages of a cultured home. He
early came to Natchitoches, Louisiana, to engage in trade with
the Indians but, developing tuberculosis, went (in the fall of
1817) to live with the Comanche Indians on the upper reaches of
the Colorado River in Texas. He lived with the Indians for
(?) eighteen months, and recovered his health completely. Out
of his Indian experiences, he wrote a series of letters to Colo-
nel John Jamison, Indian Agent for the United States Govern-
ment at Natchitoches. The first of these is dated from Nacog-
doches, in August, 1818. Four letters only, as far as I know, were
written, for Colonel Jamison appears to have died in October of
the next year.
In 1824 there was established at Cincinnati the short-lived
Cincinnati
Literary
Gazette,
to which Rafinesque, world-
renowned naturalist (then a professor at Transylvania Uni-
versity) made contributions. Rafinesque wrote a great number
and variety of papers, some of them showing the highest and
rarest genius, and some of exceedingly slender merit. "His
extraordinary genius, his encyclopaedic knowledge, and his
mind thinking thoughts forty years ahead of his time, won re-
spect for Rafinesque's scholarship; but his habit of parading
his professional connections brought him into ridicule. On
the title-pages of his many pamphlets he would set forth with
a pompous pedantry, common enough in his day, the list of the
scientific and learned societies of which he was a member, so
that the real name of the author 'bore the proportion to his
scientific title, as a paper kite to the length of its tail.' Thomas
Peirce of Cincinnati pasquinaded him as 'Professor Muscle-
shellorum' in his satirical The
Odes
of
Horace
in
Cincinnati
(1822). Sorry wit, of course, but fortunate for Peirce, who
the'reby gained a certain immortality. He
lampooned
Rafinesque."
Rafinesque, in the Cincinnati
Literary
Gazette
I (1824), 170,
(in an article entitled "Clio, No. IV. Ancient History of North
America.--Biography of the American Solomon"), printed what
was purported to be a biography of Nazahual, tenth king of
Tezcuco, in the region of Anáhuac [Mexico]. (The date of
the Gazette
issue is May 29, 1824.) In the next issue (June 5,
1824) the following card appeared:
A Card To C. S. Rafinesque, D.P., &c. &c. Modern Catesby, P.B.T.U.D.K.,
&c. Sir;--The readers of the Literary Gazette in Cincinnati, have been
highly pleased with the perusal of your late Biographical sketch of the
"American Solomon, King Nazahual," who
governed
the
Acolhuans
in
the
region
of
Anahuac,
vulgarly
called
Mexico,
in
the
early
part
of
the
fifteenth
century.
No doubt is entertained of the correctness of your
statement, in saying that this American
Solomon,
was a greater man
than the Asiatic
Solomon:
indeed, this is fully proved by his having
caused
paintings
to
be
made
of
all
the
stars, animals, and
plants in
Anahuac,
--a devotion to natural history, that did not mark the character
of the old
Bible
Solomon.
I am sorry, however, to inform you that some
persons in this city, affect to doubt whether this Big
Solomon
of yours was
in reality a deist, as you have asserted: others declare that his
temple
which you say was nine
stories in height, was but eight
and
three
quarters
:
and I am still more sorrowful to tell you that I have met with one or
two persons, so incredulous and obstinately perverse, as to declare a
total disbelief
in the existence of any such man as you have described
except in your fertile imagination.
Now to settle this matter will you, my good sir, be so kind as to
furnish for the Literary Gazette, your authorities for the statements
about the "American
Solomon"
If you knew "King Nazahual" personally,
and have made your sketch from actual observation, the question will
of course be satisfactorily settled. Yours respectfully, B.
To which Rafinesque (who utterly lacked a sense of humor, and
was one of the most literal-minded men that ever lived) re-
sponded, June 19, 1824, in "Clio No. V. On Nazuahal, the
Nabijos [Navahoes] and Comanchees" (Cincinnati
Literary
Gazette
I (1824), 202) as follows:
I have been called upon, to give my authorities for the Biographical
sketch of Nazahual the first: although the demand was anonymous
and indecorous, therefore unworthy of notice; since it has been admitted
into your pages, it requires a short answer. . . . [Here he gives Clavigero
and A. von Humboldt as his authorities.] ... I have been much pleased
with the accounts of the Comanchees and Nabijos, lately inserted in the
Literary Gazette, and derived some additional facts from both; but I
have to regret that the writers have totally neglected to notice the
languages of those nations, although this ought to claim the first at-
tention in any account of Indian nations, "being often the only clue to
trace their origin and history. It is also wrong to give anonymous details
of historical facts, while so much depends upon personal authority. . . .
Just before this time, Burnet's series of letters to Colonel
Jamison had appeared in the Literary
Gazette,
in five install-
ments: Vol. I, 145-146; 154-155; 162-163; 177-178; and 186-187.
Stimulated by Rafinesque's inquiry on Comanche vocabularies,
Burnet published in the July 3, 1824, number [Vol. 11, 3-4]
"Indians of Texas," which included a section, "Brief desultory
and imperfect Vocabulary of the Comanchee language; re-
spectfully dedicated to Professor Rafinesque of Transylvania
University." The introductory remarks (which lack a heading)
were devastating;,
but doubtless lost their point against the
impervious armor of the absorbed and unsuspecting professor.
Rafinesque was proof against irony: he could not understand
how anyone could be less interested in naturalia
than himself:
a defect that was to cause him much bitter grief in his later
experiences. Burnet wrote:
The very erudite and worthy Professor Rafinesque, of Transylvania
University, regrets that the language
of the Comanchees should have
been neglected in my account of that tribe of Indians, recently published
in your paper. I must dissent from one part of the learned gentleman's
argument on this point. That the language of any Indian tribe now
extant, can in any case, be considered a safe or even a verisimilar
"clue to trace their origin and history" is highly questionable, provided
the figments of fancy are to be excluded from our historical researches.
In all probability there is not at this day, a single tribe on the continent,
whose original vernacular tongue, has not been altogether corrupted,
and radically changed by innumerable admixtures with other tongues,
together with such other incidental variations as must naturally result
from the defect of some permanent and determinate standard by which
alone the etymology, orthography[,] and legitimate meaning of words can
be preserved. The rude hieroglyphical paintings of the Mexicans, who
partake so much of the Professor[']s veneration, and who were con-
fessedly in the days of Cortez the most polished and cultivated of all
the nations of the new continent, cannot be considered as furnishing
such a standard. If they are so considered, they have certainly failed
of their proper effect; for the language of ancient Mexico, alias Anahuac,
has become entirely extinct. There is not a solitary distinctive, living
vestige of it to be found.
I am sensible, however, that language is always an article of im-
portance in "an account of Indian nations," & if I had possessed a com-
petent acquaintance with the dialect of the Comanchees, I should not
have omitted noticing it in my desultory remarks upon them. If the
subjoined very crude and imperfect vocabulary will afford any satisfaction
or impart any thing "new" to the very learned professor, [sic] I
shall be proud of having added one item more, to his prodigious stock
of knowledge. The words and the interpretation of them, were taken
hastily, without premeditation, and without any thought of publication,
from one of the most intelligent chiefs of the nation, who spoke Spanish
with great fluency, but who notwithstanding, was unable to comprehend
how his
language could be reduced to visible intelligible signs, so as to
enable a stranger to pronounce it with correctness.
Mr. Rafinesque evidently supposes me to be the author of what he
styles "an anonymous and indecorous" demand,
that was made upon
him for his authorities for certain very edifying researches into the
history of the renowned "American Solomon" King Nazahual of Tezcuco
in Anahuac. This error in the learned Professor is venial, and quite
pardonable, although it has subjected me to a very severe and overwhelming
ebullition of his ink horn. It has presented another evidence that exquisite
humor is not incompatible with profound erudition, and that deep re-
search does not always deaden the fancy, nor obtund the edge of the most
delicate wit. The waggish author of the demand
gave an insidious
plausibility to the suspicion, by adopting my anonymous signature. This
he did, probably with a view to trying the Professor[']s skill, or with
a more provoking intent towards myself, of eliciting from the able anti-
quarian, a criticism upon my unpretending letters on the Indians of Texas.
The worthy Professor must allow me to adhere to my original plan of
concealment, and to satisfy him on the score of "personal authority," I
must refer him to yourself [the editor.]--To affix my proper name would
be introducing a stranger, who has no pretentions to the literary celebrity
and deep-drawn lore that render the name of Rafinesque a sufficient
guarantee for any "historical details," without extorting the mortifying
confession that they are borrowed from Clavigero, Humboldt, or the more
recent Bonnycastle. B.
The last paragraph, of course, lets "the knowing ones" into
the secret, but not Rafinesque. He had the simplicity and
naïveté of a child, and probably never understood the nature
of his castigation. To one who sees with half an eye, we have
a spectacle as edifying as the flogging of a suckling child.
One is glad that in later years Burnet, in Sam Houston, found
a foeman worthy of his steel.
FOOTNOTES:
chief at Tuck-a-bach-ee entertained him well, and asked him many ques-
tions in reference to his Great Father, and spoke of a visit he had made
in the company with his interpreter, "Davy Barnett." Is it possible that
this was David G. Burnet?
at Transylvania College, see Transylvania College Bulletin, XV (1942), 7.
A brief documented account of Rafinesque at Transylvania University is
given in Geiser, Southwest Review, XVIII, 67-69. The quotation below
is from that paper.
Check List of Texas Imprints
1846-1876
Edited by
E. W. WINKLER
Editor's
Note:
The following is the sixth installment of Mr. Winkler's "Check List of
Texas Imprints, 1846-1876." In the first installment, which appeared in the April, 1943,
Quarterly,
Mr. Winkler requests any person having knowledge of any additional item which
should appear on the list to write him care of The University of Texas Library, Austin 12,
Texas. It is expected that any information thus received will be utilized in subsequent re-
printings of this bibliography.
Austin College. Huntsville, Texas
Catalogue of Austin college, at Huntsville, Walker county,
Texas, for the academical year 1853-54. Huntsville: "Texas
Presbyterian," print. 1854. 15 p. 20 cm. 460
TxU (photostat)
Austin, Texas. Citizens
Circular. . . . [At a meeting of the friends of education
on January 23, 1854, a central educational committee was ap-
pointed to correspond with friends throughout the State, and
to call a State educational convention.] [Austin?] Folder with
one page of print. 31 cm. 461*
John W. Phillips, chairman, William M. Baker, corr. sec'y, B. J. Smith,
Daniel Baker, E. Walbridge, L. C. Cunningham, Andrew Neill, committee.
TxU
Baptists. Texas.
Minutes of the fourth annual session of the Central
Baptist
association,
held with Union church, Nacogdoches county, Texas,
October 8, 10 and 11, A. D. 1853. Published by the association.
Nacogdoches: Printed at the "Chronicle" office. 1854. 16 p.
23 cm. 462
NHC-S.
Minutes of the eighth anniversary of the Colorado
Baptist
association,
held with the church at Old Caney, Wharton county,
Texas, September 8, 9, and 11, A. D. 1854. Printed at "The
Monument" office, La Grange, 1854. 16 p. 20 cm. 463
TxFwSB.
The Sister
Grove
United
Baptist
association,
held with the
church at Bonham, Fannin county, Texas, September 29th,
1854. [n. p.] 4 p. 21 cm. 464
PCA. TxFwSB.
Minutes of the seventh annual session of the Baptist
State
convention
of Texas. Held at Palestine, Anderson county, in
June, 1854. Anderson, Texas: Printed at the "Central Texian"
office. 1854. 21 p. 1 l. 20 cm. 465
NHC-S. TxFwSB. TxU (microfilm). TxWB.
Minutes of the fifteenth annual meeting of the Union
Baptist
association,
held with Prospect church, Burleson county, Texas,
commencing September 29th, and closing October 3rd, 1854.
Austin: Printed at "The State Gazette" job office. 1854. 1 p.
l., 15 p. 1 fold, table. 22 cm. 466
NHC-S, TxFwSB. TxU
Baylor University. Independence, Texas
Laws of the Baylor University, Independence, Washington
county, Texas. Austin: Published by J. W. Hampton, State
Gazette office. 1854. 9 p. 22.5 cm. ppw. 467
TxU.
Brownsville and Rio Grande railroad company
Proceedings of the board of commissioners for the Browns-
ville and Rio Grande railroad company. With original and
amended charter, statistics, etc. Brownsville, Texas. American
Flag print. 1854. 18 p. 13 cm. 468
Cover title. TxU.
Chambers, T. J
Memorial of T. J. Chambers, to the honorable Legislature
of the State of Texas. 469*
Not seen; the memorial was reprinted, with additions, in 1856
Combs, Leslie.
Address of General Leslie Combs, delivered before the Public
debt committee of the Legislature of Texas, January 12, 1854.
Austin: Printed by J. W. Hampton, state printer. [1854.] 20 p.
22 cm. 47O*
TxU.
Substance of an address made by Gen. Leslie Combs to the
Public debt committee of the Texas Legislature, January 12,
1854. [n. p. 1854.] 11 p. 24.5 cm. 47l
Caption title. DLC. MH.
To his excellency, E. M. Pease, Governor of the State of
Texas, the Memorial of Leslie Combs, of Kentucky. 472*
Not seen; 200 copies were ordered to be printed. (House
Journal,
5th
Legislature.
Part II, p. 91.) Governor Pease's message, December 31, 1853,
together with Combs' Memorial is printed in the House Journal. Ibid.,
p. 88-91.
Edwards, Haden H.
Administrator's notice. . . . [Sale of properties, a part of
the estate of Charles Chevallier, deceased]. Haden H. Edwards,
administrator. [Nacogdoches Chronicle print. 1854.] Broad-
side. 1 p. 22.5 x 58.5 cm. (15.5 x 53 cm.) 473*
Tx.
Freemasons. Texas.
By-laws of El
Paso
lodge,
number CXXX, of Ancient Free
and Accepted masons, held at San Elizario, El Paso county,
Texas. Stated meetings the first Saturday of the month. Seguin:
Printed at the office of the Texan Mercury. 1854. 8 p. 22 cm. 474
TxU.
Proceedings of the M. W. Grand
lodge
of Texas, at its seven-
teenth annual communication. Held in the town of Rusk, Chero-
kee Co., Texas, commencing on the 3d Monday of Jan., A. D.
1854, A. L. 5854. Ordered to be read in all the lodges under
this jurisdiction for the information of the brethren. Wm. M.
Taylor, G. M., Crockett; A. S. Ruthven, G. S., Houston. Hunts-
ville: Printed by A. J. McGown, 1854. 312 p. 20.5 cm. 475
IaCrM. LNMas. MBFM. TxHSJM. TxWFM.
Constitution of the Grand
Royal
Arch
chapter
of Texas.
Huntsville: Printed at the Presbyterian office. 1854. 36 p. 21 cm.
IaCrM. 476
Proceedings of the Grand
Royal
Arch
chapter
of the State
of Texas, at the fifth annual convention, held at the town of
Huntsville, commencing June 22, A. D. 1854, and of the order
2388: Together with the Proceedings of the council of the
Order of high priesthood for the State of Texas. James M. Hall,
Grand secretary, Crockett, Houston county, Texas. Huntsville:
Published by A. J. McGown. 1854. 108, [1] p. 21.5 cm. ppw. 477
IaCrM. LNMas, NNFM. TxU.
Galveston. Vedder & Sydnor.
[Announcement of partnership of Vedder & Sydnor as mer-
chants of dry goods.] J. S. Vedder, John B. Sydnor. Galveston.
February 1, 1854. Folder with one page of print. 19.6 x 25.2 cm.
(17.4 x 9.4 cm.) 478*
TxHSJM.
German Emigration company.
Texas and German Emigration company certificate of stock.
[Galveston? 1854.] Broadside. 1 p. 23 x 28 cm. (19 x 24.5 cm.)
TxU. 479*
A glance at the "Life of Sam Houston," the would have been
nominee for the presidency; with a defence of misrepresented
settlers in Austin's colony. By a Texian. Galveston, January,
1854. [n. p.] 16 p. 23 cm. 480
NcU.
Gray, P. W.
To the people of the seventh Judicial district. . . . [An-
nouncement of his candidacy.] P. W. Gray. Houston, July
5, 1854. Folder with one page of print. 18.9 x 24.3 cm. (17.3 x 9.1
cm.). 481*
TxHSJM.
Green, Thomas J.
Address of Gen. Thomas J. Green, upon the breaking of
July, 1854, at the city of Marshall. [Marshall:] Printed at the
Meridian office. 1854. 13 p. 23 cm. 482
CU-B.
Hamilton vs. Avery.
Agument in the Supreme court of Texas, at Austin, November
term, 1854, by W. S. Oldham. For appellee. Austin: Gazette job
office--Oldham & Marshall, printers. 1854. 22 p. 22cm. 482
a*
TxU.
Howard association. Galveston, Texas.
Constitution and by-laws of the Howard association, of Gal-
veston, with the report of the association for the year 1853.
Incorporated January 18th, 1854. Galveston: Printed at the
Civilian office, 1854. 21 p. 1 l. 26.5 cm. 483
TxGR (photostat)
Hoyt, Nathaniel.
To the Hon. Legislature of the State of Texas. . . . [Memorial
praying for relief]. Nathaniel Hoyt. Printed at the Civilian book
and job office, Galveston. [1854.] Broadside. 1 p. 19.5 x 31 cm.
(16 x 22.5 cm.) 484
Tx.
Jefferson, Texas.
Charter, by-laws and ordinances of the town of Jefferson.
Jefferson: Printed at the office of the Jefferson Herald. March,
1854. 10 p. 19.8 cm. 484a*
TxU.
Medical association of Texas.
Constitution and by-laws of the Medical association of Texas;
instituted, January 17, 1853--incorporated by the fifth Legis-
lature, 1853-'54; Proceedings of the last annual meeting,
together with the anniversary address, delivered by George Cup-
pies, M. D., November, 1853. Austin: Texas State Times office
—Jo. Walker, printer. 1854. 30 p. 22.5 cm. ppw. 485
NNAM. Tx. TxDaM. TxElp. TxU,
Mississippi and Pacific railroad company.
An act to provide for the construction of the Mississippi and
Pacific railroad. Approved December 21, 1853. [n. p. 1854?]
3 p. 22 cm. 486
On pages 7 and 8 is printed an "Extract from the Louisville Journal,
February 7, 1854," on the advantages a railroad to the Pacific on the
El Paso route would have over a more northerly line.
CU-B.
DLC. TxU.
North vs. Shearn.
James E. North, et al., appellants, vs. John Shearn and wife,
appellees. Brief of appellees. Statement of the case. To the
Hon. Supreme court of Texas, [n. p.] 16 p. 21.5 cm. 487
Caption title.
At end: J. Randolph Burns, of Councel for appellees.
TxSC.
Odd-fellows. Texas.
Proceedings of the R. W. Grand lodge, I. 0. 0. F. of the
State of Texas. Annual communication, held at Galveston, Feb-
ruary 6th, 1854. Galveston: Printed at the Civilian book and
job office. 1854. p. [265]-314. 22 cm. ppw. 488*
Capital lodge, no. 23.
Proceedings of the R. W. Grand lodge, I. O. 0. F. of the State
of Texas. Semi-annual communication, held at Washington, on
the Brazos, August 7th, 1854. Galveston: Printed at the Civilian
book and job office. 1854. p. 318-352, 1 l. 20.5 cm. 489
TxWB.
Presbyterian church. Texas.
Minutes of the proceedings of the presbytery of Central
Texas, at its regular fall meeting, held in the String Prairie
church, Burleson county, October, 1854. Austin: Printed at
"The Texas State Times" office. 1854. 9p. 22 cm. ppw. 490*
Tx.
Protestant Episcopal church. Texas.
Printed at the Telegraph office. 1854. 42 p. 21.7 cm. ppw. 491
CU. MB. MBD. MiD-B. NBuDD. Tx. TxU.
Review of railroad charters, granted by the Legislature of
Texas, prior to January 4, 1854. Austin: Printed by J. W. Hamp-
ton, state printer. 1854. 11 p. 1 l.[?] 18cm. 492*
Cover title.
The pamphlet contains a brief synopsis of 23 charters. The resolution
to print this Review was introduced by Ben C. Franklin, who may have
been the compiler of the same.
TxU.
Root, John B.
Post offices, counties and post masters in the State of Texas.
—1854. Printed at The Daily Times office, for John B. Root,
P. M., Galveston. Broadside. 1 p., printed in four columns.
35.7 x 43.2 cm. (34.5 x 34.2 cm.) 492a
Hynes.
St. Paul's college. Anderson, Texas.
St. Paul's college, Anderson, Texas. . . . [Announcement,
rates of tuition.] Rev. Hannibal Pratt, rector. Anderson, Septem-
ber 1st, 1854. [n. p.] Broadside. 1 p. 19 x 24.5 cm. (18 x 22 cm.)
Tx. 493
San Antonio v. Nathaniel Lewis.
Texas Supreme court, Austin district, November term, 1854.
(Appeals from Bexar.) The City of San Antonio, plaintiff and
appellant, vs. Nathaniel Lewis, defendant and appellee. The
City of San Antonio, Plaintiff and appellant, vs. Bryan Callaghan
defendant and appellee. The City of San Antonio, plaintiff and
appellant, vs. Andrew Odin, defendant and appellee. Argument
for the city, by Geo. W. Paschal. Geo. W. Paschal, Austin;
I. A. Paschal, Thos. H. Stribling, San Antonio, for appellants.
Austin: "Texas State Times" print, 1854. 33 p. 21.3 cm. 494*
TxU.
Seguin, Texas. Citizens.
Circular. . . . [Proceedings of a meeting on August 26,
1854, to take steps to put an end to trafficking with slaves and
their escape beyond the Rio Grande.] [Seguin, 1854.] Broad-
side. 2 p. 20 x 24.5 cm. (17.5 x 19.8 cm.) 495
Tx.
Stewart vs. Crosby, Com'r G. L. O.
Willis Stewart, et al., vs. Stephen Crosby, et al. Argument
in the Supreme court of Texas, at Austin, November term,
1854, by Geo. W. Paschal. For plaintiffs, Geo. W. Paschal and
Thos H. Duval, Austin. I. A. Paschal and Thos. H. Stribling,
San Antonio. Austin: Gazette job office--Oldham & Marshall,
printers. 1854. 32 p. 22 cm. 496*
TxU.
Argument of John A. & R. Green, for the appellees in the
Supreme court of the State of Texas, November term, 1854.
In the case of Willis Stewart, and others, trustees of the Texan
Emigration and Land company vs. Stephen Crosby, and others.
Austin: 1854. 497*
Heartman's Catalog no. 55. January, 1943.
Talliaferro, R. H.
An oration delivered at Baylor university, before the Ero-
sophian and Philomathesian societies. Austin, The E. & P. So-
cieties, 1854. 498
Cover title.
MH.
Texas. Comptroller. (James B. Shaw.)
Circular. To Assessors and Collectors. . . . [General instruc-
tions.] James B. Shaw, comptroller. Austin, February 25, 1854.
Broadside. 1 p. 19.5 x 24.7 cm. (16 x 17.2 cm.) 499
TxHSJM.
[List of county taxes assessed in 1854 and due each county
as follows:] [n. p. n. d.] Broadside. 1 p., printed in three columns.
20.4 x 31.7 cm. (16.5 x 24.7 cm.) 500
TxHSJM.
To Assessors and Collectors of Taxes. . . . [Transmits blank
forms.] James B. Shaw, comptroller. Austin, April 15, 1854.
[n. p.] Folder with one page of print. 19.9 x 25.2 cm. (15.9 x 14.4
cm.) 501
TxHSJM.
Report of the Comptroller of Texas, to the fifth Legislature.
1852-3. Austin: Printed by J. W. Hampton, state printer. 1854.
242 [245] p. 2 fold, tables. 21 cm. 501a*
Tx.
Texas. General land office. District surveyor.
List of land certificates on file in the office of the district
surveyor of Travis district. . . . H. L. Upshur, district sur-
veyor. Austin, Jan. 18, 1854. [n. p.] Broadside. 1 p., printed in
two columns. 40 x 60 cm. (27.5 x 53 cm.) 502*
Tx. TxU.
Texas. Governor, 1853-1855. (E. M. Pease.)
Mensaje del gobernador de Texas, pasado a las dos camaras
de la Legislatura, en 23 de Diciembre de 1853. Traducido al
Castellano. Austin: J. W. Hampton, impresor del Estado. 1854.
15 p. 22.5 cm. 503*
TxU.
Message of the Governor of Texas, to the fifth Legislature.
Communicated January 3, 1854. Austin: Published by J. W.
Hampton, state printer. 1854: 4 p. 21.5 cm. 504
TxU.
Proclamation, by the Governor of the State of Texas. . . .
[Orders a general election to be held August 7, 1854.] E. M.
Pease. Austin, June 17, 1854. [n. p.] Broadside 1 p. 23.5 x 31 cm.
(16.1 x 23.8 cm.) 505
Tx. TxU.
Proclamation by the Governor of the State of Texas. . . .
[Orders an election to be held August 7, 1854, in the 20th rep-
resentative district to fill the vacancy created by the death of
John B. Mallard.] E. M. Pease. Austin, July 3, 1854. Broadside.
1 p. 21 x 30.5 cm. (16.1 x 17 cm.) 506*
Tx.
Proclamation by the Governor of the State of Texas. . . .
[Orders an election to be held August 7, 1854, to fill the vacancy
in the seventh Judicial district caused by the resignation of
Constantine W. Buckley.] E. M. Pease. Austin, July 3, 1854.
Broadside. 1 p. 21 x 30.5 cm. (16 x 21.2 cm.) 507*
Tx.
Proclamation by the Governor of Texas. . . . [General Per-
sifer F. Smith, commanding the Department of Texas, has req-
uisitioned the governor for six companies of mounted men,
to be mustered into the service on the first day of November,
1854, for twelve months. Applicants must be able-bodied, sup-
plied with a good horse, a good rifle and a brace of pistols.]
E. M. Pease. Austin, August 18, 1854. Broadside. 1 p., printed
in two columns. 23.5 x 30.5 cm. (19.7 x 25.6 cm.) 508
Tx.
Circular. To Captains Giles S. Boggess, William Fitzhugh,
John G. Walker, Charles E. Travis and William Henry. . . .
[The War Department has countermanded Gen. Smith's requisi-
tion.] E. M. Pease. Austin, Texas. 2d Nov. 1854. Broadside.
1 p., printed in two columns. 30.5 x 46.5 cm. (19.5 x 30 cm.) 508a*
Tx
Same. State Times--Extra. Austin, Friday morning, No-
vember 3, 1854. Broadside. 1 p., printed in two columns. 15 x 47.5
cm. (12.3 x 42.5 cm.) 508b*
Tx.
Texas Journal of education.
Texas Journal of education. Houston, Texas, July, 1854. v. 1,
no. 1. Published monthly by the committee appointed by the
State educational convention, 8 p., printed in three columns.
29 cm. 508c*
All published?
TxU.
Proclamation by the Governor of the State of Texas. . . .
[The contract between the Governor of the State of Texas and
Robert J. Walker, T. Butler King and others, dated Aug. 31,
1854, for the construction of the Mississippi and Pacific railroad,
has become null and void by the failure of the contractors to
make the required deposit of $300,000. Proposals for a new
contract will be received until May 1, 1855.] E. M. Pease. Austin,
December 1, 1854. [n. p.] Broadside. 1 p. 13 x 22 cm. (9.7 x 11
cm.) 509
Tx.
Texas. Laws, statutes, etc.
Laws of the fifth Legislature, of the State of Texas, passed
at its session, convened November 7, 1853. By authority. Austin:
Printed by J. W. Hampton, state printer. 1854. 125, [1], xvi
p. 19 cm. 510
C-L. CU-L. Ia. IaU-L. In-SC. Ky. MdBB. Mi-L. Mo. NNLI.
Nb. Nc-S. Nj. Nv. OCLaw. RPL. Tx. TxDaN. TxU. TxU-L.
USIC. W. WaU.
Special laws of the State of Texas, passed by the fifth Legis-
lature, convened November 7, 1853. By authority. Austin:
Printed by J. W. Hampton, state printer. 1854. 172, [1], iv
p. 20 cm. 511
Ky. Mi-L. Mo. NNLI. Nb. Nc-S. Nj. OCLaw. TxDaCiA.
TxDaN. TxU-L. W.
Allgemeine und besondere Gesetze der am 7. November 1853
zusammengetretenen fünften gesetzgebenden Versammlung des
Staates Texas. Im Auftrage der Regierung übersetzt von Alex-
ander Rossy. San Antonio. Druck der San Antonio-Zeitungs-of-
fice. 1854. 156, xv p. 21.8 cm. 512
Printed in German type.
Tx.
Texas. 5th Legislature. (Nov. 7-Feb. 13, 1854.) Senate.
Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas: Fifth Legislature.
By authority. Austin: Published by J. W. Hampton, state
printer. 1853 [1854.] 205, 334 p. 21 cm. 518
Mi. NcU. Nj. TxH. Tx. TxU.
Report of the Special committee of the Senate, relative to a
bill entitled an act to promote internal improvements, by
carrying out the contract with Frederick Dawson. [Austin?
1854] 10 p. 22.5 cm. 514*
TxU.
Texas. 5th Legislature. House of Representatives.
A bill to be entitled an act to encourage the construction of
railroads in Texas, by donations of land. 515*
Not seen; 200 copies were ordered to be printed. (House
Journal,
5th
Legislature,
Part II, p. 146.)
Not seen; 200 were ordered to be printed. Ibid.,
p. 219.
Report of the Special committee, to whom was referred a
bill to be entitled an act to promote internal improvements
by carrying out the contract with Frederick Dawson. 517*
Not seen; 100 copies were ordered to be printed. Ibid.,
p. 225. The report
is also printed in the House Journal. Ibid.,
p. 220-225.
. . . Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the consti-
tution so as to provide for the adoption of an internal improve-
ment system by the State, [n. p. n. d.] 5 p. 32 cm. 518*
Caption title.
At head: House. 100 copies.
TxU.
Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of
Texas, fifth Legislature. By authority. Austin: Printed by J. W.
Hampton, public printer. 1853 [1854.] 207, 461 p. 20.5 cm. 519
Mi. Nj. Tx. TxCsA. TxH.
Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives,
fifth Legislature. Austin: Printed by J. W. Hampton, state
printer. 1853 [1854.] 375 p. 3 fold, tables. 20.5 cm. 520
The Appendix, pages [3]-128 inclusive, is identical with "Documents
accompanying the Governor's message." pages [3]-128, no. 412 above.
Report of the Joint select committee, appointed to examine the Treasury,
Dec. 20, 1853. pp. 128-130.
Letter of Attorney-general Jennings to the Governor of Texas, relative
to Peters' Colony contracts. December 10, 1853. pp [131]-146.
Statistical tables accompanying the report of the Comptroller, ending
on page 102 of this volume, pp. [147]-375. 2 fold, tables.
Tx.
Texas State Gazette. Austin, Texas.
Carrier's address to the patrons of the "Texas State Gazette."
[Austin, 1854?] Broadside. 1 p., printed in two columns.
31.5 x 50 cm. (29 x 45 cm.) 521
Tx. TxU.
Texas State Times. Austin, Texas.
Carrier's address to the patrons of the Texas State Times.
Austin, Texas, January 1, 1855. [Texas State Times print, 1854?]
Broadside. 1 p.; printed in two columns. 30.5x48 cm.
(26 x 45 cm.) 522
TxU.
Texas. Supreme court.
Reports of cases argued and decided in the Supreme court
of the State of Texas during Austin term, 1853, and Galveston
term, 1854. By 0. C. & R. K. Hartley. Vol. XI. Galveston:
Printed at the Civilian book office. 1854. vii, 836 p. 23 cm. 523
G. Ia. IaDaGL. In-SC. L. McBB. Me-LR. Mi-L. NN. Nb. Nc-S.
Nj. Nv. OrSC. PPiAL. PPB. RPL. Tx-SC. TxWB-L. USIC. W.
Texas. Treasurer, and ex-officio Superintendent of common
schools. (Jas. H. Raymond.)
An act to establish a system of schools. Approved January
31, 1854. With instructions and forms for the use of school
officers. Jas. H. Raymond, State treasurer and ex-officio sup't.
of common schools. Austin, March 31, 1854. Austin: Printed
by J. W. Hampton, state printer, 1854. 15 p. 19.5 cm. 524
Also appears on pages 264-272 of Education
in
Texas:
source
materials.
Compiled by Frederick Eby. (Austin, 1918.)
TxElp.
Same. Austin: Printed at the "Texas State Times" job office.
1854. 16 p. 21 cm. 524
a*
TxU.
Thomas, David.
To the honorable, the County court of county.
. . . [Proposal to locate school lands for $100 per league, paying
all expenses of surveying, recording and patenting.] David
Thomas. City of Austin, February 7th, 1854. [n. p.] Broad-
side. 1 p. 20 x 25 cm. (9.5 x 19 cm.) 525
TxU.
Life of General Don Manuel de
Mier y Terán
as it affected Texas-Mexican Relations
Stephen F. Austin furnished manuscript copies of his map of
Texas to various Mexican officials, ranging from the political
chief at Béxar to the president at Mexico City. Mier y Terán
received a copy, at Tampico, on the day the Spaniards capitu-
lated. "My duties that day," he wrote to Austin, "were quite
different from the ones you saw me discharging in connection
with my peaceful trip to Texas." He informed Austin, in this
same letter, that in all probability he would soon return to
Texas, as his health was failing in the fever-ridden region of
Tampico. At that time he expected early relief from his duties
in Tamaulipas and even feared for his life if it did not come
soon, but he was to remain in the vicinity until early in Jan-
uary, 1830.
The dictatorial powers which congress granted to President
Guerrero during the period of the Spanish invasion aroused
unfavorable comment in Texas. An editorial in The
Texas
Gazette
states that the people of Texas disapproved of these
extraordinary powers because they were unconstitutional and
"an usurpation of power in Congress to give him or any other
man such facilities." The Anglo-Americans in Texas con-
sidered the observance of constitutional provisions imperative.
Among the few people in Mexico who feared that the United
States was getting a hold on Texas through Mexico's liberal
colonization policy was General José María Tornel, who had
considerable influence over President Guerrero. He felt that
the abolition of slavery would probably check the Anglo-
American movement into Texas; consequently, he persuaded
Guerrero to use his extraordinary powers to that end, and on
September 15, 1829, he obtained the presidential signature to
a decree abolishing slavery in the republic of Mexico. A copy
of the decree was sent to Ramón Músquiz, departmental chief
at Béxar, who withheld its publication until he could write to
Governor Viesca and request that the department of Texas be
exempt from its provisions. Músquiz emphasized in his letter
that the colonization laws had guaranteed the property rights
of the colonists, and that the slaves had been considered prop-
erty before they were brought to Texas.
Although on October 29 Músquiz informed Austin of the
decree, and urged that he not discuss the matter, somehow the
news leaked out at Nacogdoches. Colonel de las Piedras wrote
Músquiz that many people there had heard about the decree
and wanted to know if the rumor were authentic. John Durst,
a prominent citizen of Nacogdoches, in a letter to Austin con-
cluded with a statement which just about summarizes the feel-
ings of the colonists toward the matter, so important was
slavery to the early Texans: ". . .--we are ruined for ever
Should this Measure be adopted."
Meanwhile, Governor Viesca asked the general government
to exempt Texas from the decree, expressing fear that the pub-
lication of the law would result in disturbances which the state
of Coahuila and Texas could not well withstand. Guerrero's
minister of relations, succeeding Bocanegra, was Agustín Viesca,
a brother of the governor of Coahuila and Texas. On December
2 he obtained from Guerrero authority to allow the decree to
be inoperative in Texas.
Several days, however, before this letter was written, Presi-
dent Guerrero, in reply to a letter from Mier y Terán, had
authorized him to inform Austin and others in Texas that the
decree in question did not comprehend that department. On
November 20, Mier y Terán wrote Austin to that effect.
This letter of November 20 has brought forth some interest-
ing discussion. The two extracts which follow attempt to
explain Guerrero's reasons for exempting Texas from the decree
and are both of incidental interest to a study of Mier y Terán:
Terán's letter is dated at Tampico, November 20,
1829, which raises an interesting question of chronol-
ogy. Terán declared that the president's instruction
to him was in the form of a private letter [carta par
-
ticular]
and that it was in response to a letter of his
own. From this it would appear that the decision to
except Texas from the decree was formed several
weeks before the petitions of local authorities were re-
ceived, and perhaps before the Texans even knew that
the decree had been issued. While that need not imply
consideration for the Texans, but simply the desire to
avoid certain opposition from them, it would at least
prove that the suspension was not decreed under the
menace of insurrection.
Since this letter was dated November 20, twelve
days earlier than the communication of the Minister
of Relations to Governor Viesca, it appears that
Guerrero may have learned from a source other than
the governor that the decree had caused agitation in
Texas and thought that he could send news to the
settlements more quickly through the military authori-
ties.
ferred to his letter to Austin. These facts seem to indicate
that the date, November 20, is correct, and not an inadvertent
slip for December 20. "Indeed, there is some evidence that
before the petitions from San Antonio and Saltillo reached the
capital Guerrero had already lifted the decree from Texas in
response to a letter from General Terán."
By the time the Texans received the news that their holdings
in slaves were secure as far as the Mexican government was
concerned, the regime of Guerrero had been overthrown. The
Bustamante government took charge of affairs on January 1,
1830. Much confusion developed in the various state govern-
ments over the interpretations of Article 4 of the Plan of
Jalapa; and what really happened was that those state officials
who were in accord with the Bustamante faction were retained
and those who opposed it were turned out. This applied to leg-
islators, governors, and in fact, all public functionaries. Small
revolutionary movements occurred in all the states; some of
these were put down by force; in other cases, elections, maneu-
vered by partisans of Bustamante, brought about the desired
changes with at least a show of legality. The task of establish-
ing the Bustamante government in Tamaulipas necessitated
Mier y Terán's leaving Tampico the first week in January and
making his way northward to Victoria, the capital, where he
remained until the new government was installed and the Plan
of Jalapa was accepted without reservation on the part of the
officials. His troops were in a pitiful condition, without proper
clothing, many sick or convalescent, and all on foot. Their
armaments were almost useless and their supply of ammunition
was practically exhausted. It is possibly for this reason that
Mier y Terán decided at Villa de Casas, January 13, to go into
Victoria, accompanied only by his secretary, and attempt to
establish order by a mere assertion of his authority as the duly
appointed commander of the eastern states, approved by both
the Guerrero and Bustamante governments, The plan worked,
and on January 14, a committee from the state congress in-
formed the commandant that the state officials accepted without
"any restrictions or exceptions" the Plan of Jalapa and the
Bustamante government. Thus, without any bloodshed, but
at the risk of his life, Mier y Terán accomplished alone what he
might not have done with a weak, poorly-equipped army.
With order established in Tamaulipas, Mier y Teran now
turned his attention to Texas. It is necessary to go back for
just a moment. The Spaniards willingly complied with the
terms of their capitulation and relieved the commander in
charge of any anxiety along that line. Hence, he was able to
begin plans for the district now under his command. The states
of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, and the southern division of Coa-
huila and Texas were organized and needed little attention; it
was the department of Texas that caused him concern. That he
had given much thought to it is shown by a long communication
to the Minister of War and Navy, written November 14, 1829:
In reply to the supreme order of October 28, which
you sent me relative to an expedition to be made into
Texas, I have the honor to inform your Excellency that
this is a matter of serious importance, interest, and at
present, the most costly to the Mexican federation, and
for that reason demands from me a manifestation to
the Supreme Government which I ask your Excellency
to consider very carefully that it may contribute to the
national prosperity, to the conservation of national
territory, to the lustre of the President and to the in-
dividual honor of his ministers.
The department of Texas is contiguous to the most
avid nation in the world. The North Americans have
conquered whatever territory adjoins them. In less
than half a century, they have become masters of ex-
tensive colonies which formerly belonged to Spain and
France, and of even more spacious territories from
which have disappeared the former owners, the Indian
tribes. There is no Power like that to the north, which
by silent means, has made conquests of momentous
importance. Such dexterity, such constancy in their
designs, such uniformity of means of execution which
always are completely successful, arouses admiration.
Instead of armies, battles, or invasions, which make a
great noise and for the most part are unsuccessful,
these men lay hands on means, which, if considered
one by one, would be rejected as slow, ineffective, and
at times palpably absurd. They begin by assuming
rights, as in Texas, which it is impossible to sustain
in a serious discussion, making ridiculous pretensions
based on historical incidents which no one admits--
such as the voyage of La Salle, which was an absurd
fiasco, but serves as a basis for their claim to Texas.
Such extravagant claims as these are now being pre-
sented for the first time to the public by dissembling
writers; the efforts that others make to submit proofs
and reasons are by these men employed in reiterations
and in enlarging upon matters of administration in
order to attract the attention of their fellow-country-
men, not to the justice of the claim, but to the profit
to be gained from admitting it. At this stage it is
alleged that there is a national demand for the step
which the government meditates. In the meantime, the
territory against which these machinations are di-
rected, and which has usually remained unsettled, be-
gins to be visited by adventurers and empresarios;
some of these take up their residence in the country,
pretending that their location has no bearing upon the
question of their government's claim or the boundary
disputes; shortly, some of these forerunners develop
an interest which complicates the political administra-
tion of the coveted territory; complaints, even threats,
begin to be heard, working on the loyalty of the legiti-
mate settlers, discrediting the efficiency of the existing
authority and administration; and the matter having
arrived at this stage--which is precisely that of Texas
at this moment--diplomatic maneuvers begin: They
incite uprisings in the territory in question and usually
manifest a deep concern for the rights of the inhabi-
tants. There follows a matter of notes in which are
found equitable and moderate phrases, until with the
aid of other incidents, which are never lacking in the
course of diplomatic relations, comes finally the desired
conclusion of a transaction as onerous for one side as
advantageous for the other. They used such a method
to dispossess the Powers of Europe of vast territories,
which under the name of colonies, they once possessed
in America, but which were of secondary interest.
The question with respect to Mexico is quite different.
It is a matter of attacking primary interests intimate-
ly tied up with the political existence of our country.
Mexico, imitating the conduct of France and Spain,
might alienate or cede unproductive lands in Africa
or Asia. But, how can it be expected to cut itself off
from its own soil, give up to a rival Power territory
advantageously placed in the extremity of its states,
which joins some of them and serves as a buffer to
all? How can it be expected to alienate two hundred
and fifty leagues of coast, leaving on them vast re-
sources for the construction of boats, the shortest
channels for commerce and navigation, the most fertile
lands, and the most copious elements for providing
means of attack and defense? If Mexico should consent
to this base act, it would degenerate from the most
elevated class of the American Powers to that of a con-
temptible mediocrity, reduced to the necessity of buy-
ing a precarious existence at the cost of many humilia-
tions. In the act of ceding Texas it would have to re-
nounce all pretensions of having its own industries
with which to maintain and enrich its eight million
inhabitants, who within a few years could not avoid
seeing the bread and sugar, and even the maize and
beans consumed in the federal district, furnished by
the foreign harvest of Texas. The sale of this depart-
ment would reduce the territorial property, it would
reduce the value of land in all the rest of Mexico by
one half of that which it now has. These assertions,
which carry their own evidence, should be manifest to
such an extent, as space will not permit my enlarging
upon them, that they will establish a conviction in
every Mexican heart that he who consents to and does
not oppose the loss of Texas is an execrable traitor
who ought to be punished with every kind of death.
Coming now to the measures which your Excel-
lency ordered for the security of Texas, I have the
honor to inform your Excellency that I do not have at
my disposal a suitable corps for an immediate expedi-
tion: . . .
Mier y Terán then furnished a report on the troops under
him at Tampico at that time. They consisted of one battalion
of infantry and parts of three squadrons of cavalry. He insisted
that it would be necessary to increase the forces on the frontier,
and to maintain them on a firm basis for a long time. The
reasons for this recommendation will be brought out presently.
To continue with the letter,
If war should break out, it would be expedient to
suppress it in a single campaign--a less expensive
method than to be always on the defensive. But even
this would be useless until a colony of one thousand
native Mexican families is planted there, an economical
measure when it is remembered that the funds spent
once in establishing a colony would be spent many
times in maintaining garrisons.
The remainder of this letter is in the form of a private [muy
reservado]
report:
The Twelfth Battalion of infantry contains 150
men. It is on duty at Nacogdoches, and should be in-
creased to 500 men; to do this, it will be necessary to
make use of the contingents of deserters from the
states of San Luis, Guanajuato, and Zacatecas, or else
make a levy on the regular troops. It would not be
wise to relieve the Twelfth, for the reason that if an-
other battalion were sent, even though it should set out
with more than the full enrollment, it would arrive in
the same condition as the Twelfth and have to be re-
inforced.
The Ninth Regiment of cavalry has 250 men fit for
duty; its full complement is urgently needed. The duty
of this regiment is a continuous activity in Tamaulipas
and Texas. There are on hand arms and equipment
for the full number. The members who have survived
are acclimated and familiar with the country, and can
be depended upon; wherefore, it would be more prac-
ticable to fill out this body than to send another.
The Eleventh Battalion of infantry, with 100 men,
more or less, remains on guard in the Port of Tampico
de Tamaulipas; if it is not raised to its full number,
its effectiveness as a guard will be of small account,
a danger to the safety of one of our most important
seaports. To lessen the utter uselessness of this body,
I have detained here the Tenth Infantry; but it should
be at the rear, becoming acclimated in Victoria; for
to station it at once in Tampico will be to lose those
still surviving. It has 150 men reported as fit for duty,
but the truth is, all are sick.
The town of Matamoros is a most important mari-
time point; yet it lacks the most ordinary defence;
wherefore, it seems necessary to form a company of
coast guards numbering 150 men, who shall constitute
a part of the infantry militia, and in addition to this
a body of 40 artillerymen of the same class. These
bodies can easily be raised in the department of the
north [Texas]. This matter is so urgent that extra-
ordinary powers should be conferred upon the presi-
dent for the purpose of its execution. It is wholly an
accordance with his plans.
At the same time that the garrison of Nacogdoches
and the regular troops of Béxar and La Bahía are
being put in good condition, there should be placed at
Bexar a battalion—which I suggest should be the
Ninth or some other of not less than 500,—and also
a squadron with two field pieces. This unusual re-
inforcement, most urgent at this moment, would yet
be sufficient to cut short all those intrigues by which
the Department of Texas is undeniably agitated. To
avoid desertion, the above mentioned battalion should
embark at Vera Cruz and land at Matamoros, where
I will await it to conduct it to Béxar. It might be well
to make some stir over this movement, letting it ap-
pear that it is an expedition of 500 or 600 men, or
more, if the truth be known, from San Luís and
Guanajuato to Texas; perhaps by such means the con-
conclusion of the treaty may be hastened.
Why all this excitement and talk of an expedition to Texas?
The letter just referred to begins by citing a supreme order of
October 28, relative to an expedition to be made into Texas.
The contents of this order are not known, nor the occasion for
its being issued, but we do know that a number of influences
were operating on the fears of the Mexican government--fears
which had been sharpened since the Fredonian incident. The
boundary question was still not settled; Poinsett had been re-
called ; Andrew Jackson, who the Mexicans felt had designs on
Texas, was president of the United States. In August, 1829, a
widespread propaganda was launched in the United States by
the pro-Jackson press urging and foretelling the early acquisi-
tion of Texas. This was met in Mexico by indignant articles
declaring that the cession of Texas would degrade the republic
and disgrace the minister who consented to it.
Mier y Terán's fears for the safety of Texas were aroused
early in the summer. His communication to the Minister of
War, July 24, 1829, has already been cited. Poinsett, before he
left Mexico, declared that General Mier y Terán had never
ceased to excite the fears of the government regarding the at-
titude of the United States towards Texas. Frequent insinua-
tions by Europeans, according to Poinsett, confirmed these
fears. He reported that he had seen a letter of June 3, from
the head of the boundary commission, "who has always been
attached to the English interests." "This person," wrote Poin-
sett, "assures the government in his last despatches that we are
making vast preparations to attack that country and have al-
ready fifteen thousand men on the frontier. Terán enlarged
on the great size, fertility and natural resources of Texas and
the consequent reasons why Mexico should never yield pos-
session."
The revolution growing out of the proclamation of the Plan
of Jalapa in December, 1829, interrupted temporarily the prepa-
rations for an expedition to Texas, but additional reasons for
such an expedition seemed to be piling up. On December 8,
Colonel de las Piedras wrote to Mier y Terán, from Nacog-
doches, that the United States was moving troops to the frontier
and that hundreds of North Americans were entering Texas;
he was sure that not all of these were colonists. He had also
heard that men were being recruited in New Orleans to start
a revolution in Texas. The main topic of conversation on the
frontier, according to the commander at Nacogdoches, was
President Jackson and his views on Texas. Less than a week
later, news of a more disturbing nature came to the command-
ant general. Late in October and early in November, 1829, two
boats carrying twenty-six families landed on the Texas coast.
They were supposed to be Irish immigrants, but it seemed that
they were all North Americans directly from New York.
Furthermore, many of the colonists already in Texas, as well
as those recently arriving, were evading the religious restric-
tion requiring colonists to be Catholics. "In complying with
my duty," wrote Mier y Terán to the Minister of War, "I con-
sider it necessary to inform the Supreme Government through
you that if the colonization contracts in Texas by North Amer-
icans are not suspended, and if the conditions of the establish-
ments are not watched, it is necessary to say that the province
is already definitely delivered to the foreigners."
The success of the Bustamante revolution brought about a
change in ministers; and as soon as it became evident that his
old friend, Facio, would be the new Minister of War, Mier y
Terán prepared a more elaborate and complete report on the
Texas situation. The unsettled state of the country made the
ordinary means of communication unsafe, and for this reason
Constantino Tarnava, a member of the boundary commission
who, with Batres, had joined his chief at Tampico, was sent to
Mexico City to deliver the report in person and to enlarge upon
any part of it which might not be clearly stated. Tarnava and
Batres, it will be remembered, were both lieutenant-colonels in
the Mexican army. They arrived at Matamoros from Béxar
several days after Mier y Terán had gone to Tampico, but both
joined him at that place later. The report consisted in an even
more emphatic reiteration of the views and recommendations
which Mier y Terán had expressed in his letter to the Minister
of War and Navy of November 14th, with detailed suggestions
for combating the imminent loss of Texas to the Anglo-
American menace through the establishment of garrisons and
the fomentation of Mexican and European settlement. The
report is preserved in a letter written in its exposition by
Tarnava to Facio under date of January 6. A few days later,
Tarnava added other reflections and suggestions to this report.
Whether these were his own, or had been transmitted to him
by Mier y Terán, is not known. The plan of colonization should
be continued for many years; it should keep pace with the west-
ward expansion of the North Americans and eventually should
contemplate the establishment of settlements on the Red and
Arkansas rivers. Tarnava asked if England could not be in-
duced to make a declaration against the designs of the United
States on Texas, such as the United States had made against
the conquest of Cuba by Mexico and Colombia. He suggested
that a Mexican consul should be placed at New Orleans to keep
an eye on the preparations of North Americans at that place.
Finally, the newspapers of Mexico should intimate that in case
of war any means would be justifiable against "so perfidious
an enemy," even to the stirring up of an insurrection of slaves
in Louisiana, thus retaliating with the same measures employed
by the North Americans in inciting the colonists and the Chero-
kee Indians to revolt in Texas (it was hard to forget the
Fredonian Rebellion!) "Louisiana is an open country, and its
extension along our frontier makes it an easy matter to pene-
trate it with a force even smaller than that of the enemy, and
by burning their own homes perhaps diminish the number of
those advocating the conquest of Texas."
The chief purpose, then, of placing more troops in Texas was
defense--defense against the designs of the United States and
to "cut short those intrigues by which the department of Texas
is undeniably agitated." Before he had time to learn what
action the government might take on his report and recom-
mendations, Mier y Terán assumed his duties as commandant
general. He wanted to return to Matamoros as soon as possible
and take over the affairs of the office which Felipe de la Garza
had vacated so hurriedly when news of the Spanish invasion
reached him. It is not clear just what were de la Garza's con-
nections with the Bustamante government, but the records
show that he did everything in his power to hinder the progress
of his successor in the office of commandant general of the
Eastern Interior Provinces. In reports to the Minister of War,
Mier y Terán charged de la Garza with interfering with his
attempts to discipline the troops under his command, with
seducing them to insubordination, and with urging them not to
allow themselves to be sent on a useless expedition to Texas.
These reports brought an order to de la Garza to do all in his
power to encourage the disaffected troops to be ready to start
upon the expedition to Texas when ordered to do so, and a
warning to the effect that failure to execute federal orders
might result in great danger to the welfare of the Republic.
On February 1, Mier y Terán made his final plea for action.
He informed the federal government that he had learned that
armed parties of North Americans were entering Texas and
he believed it necessary to move troops there immediately. He
further stated that he intended to go in a few days and look
the situation over for himself and see what should be done to
save the department. He left Victoria on February 4, but if
he really intended to go to Texas at this time, his health did not
permit it. He reached San Fernando on February 10, and was
forced to remain a month at that place, being unable to do more
than attend to the most necessary correspondence.
Meanwhile, however, his friends in Mexico City were securing
action on at least a part of his recommendations. Facio, the
Minister of War, wrote him on January 30 that he was sending
at once the supplies and recruits for the Ninth Cavalry and
Tenth Infantry to Matamoros. He followed this information
six days later with a notice that he was naming Mier y Terán
general in chief of the division of troops which would operate
in Texas. This would necessitate the appointment of a second
in command for the Eastern Interior Provinces, and Felipe de
la Garza, who knew the duties already, was to receive this ap-
pointment. The following day the governors of Guadalajara,
Guanajuato, Zacatecas, and Durango were ordered to send
troops to the commandant general at Monterrey; there he would
distribute them as he saw fit among the Eleventh and Twelfth
Infantry and the Ninth Cavalry. This demand was repeated a
week later and Facio wrote Mier y Terán, ". . . his Excellency,
the Vice-president, hopes that your known ability and patriotism
will move you to the immediate execution of your plan simul-
taneously to occupy the points of Béxar and La Bahía before
the disloyal colonists rise in revolt and possess themselves of
the said points; but at the same time do not lose sight of the
safety of Matamoros, a highly important point in case the
enemy should attempt an invasion by way of the tributary
Santiago."33
Had Facio's plans worked out, and had the state governors
shown a willingness to aid in the projected expedition, there
would have been a total of 2,965 men in the division which
would operate in Texas. As a matter of fact, the number was
far below the proposed total. The states were slow in com-
plying with the order to send troops to Mier y Terán, and the
governor of Zacatecas refused outright, declaring that the fed-
eral government could not constitutionally order militia of one
state to do service in another.
On February 20, Mier y Terán informed de la Garza of his
appointment as ad interim commander of the Eastern Interior
Provinces, and instructed him to proceed to Matamoros and
receive the command "with all the formalities which the cir-
cumstances would permit." Matters were now rapidly reach-
ing a crisis between these two men. Turning his attention next
to the action which had thus far been taken on his suggestions,
the commandant general wrote a long letter to Facio. He
acknowledged his appointment as general in chief of the Texas
division of troops and reported that he had informed de la
Garza of his appointment to act during his absence. Then he
asked that the government recall the measures which he had
proposed. The essential differences between these measures and
the government's proposals were such that Mier y Terán could
not hide his disappointment. He was perfectly willing to head
the division which was to operate in Texas, but he did not like
the plan of operation which would place it under the control
of the commandant general of the Eastern Interior Provinces.
Facio's proposals would place the Texas expedition under de la
Garza's supervision. "The success of this expedition demands
that the person who directs it maintain over the country which
produces the resources with which he must work, not only a
direct influence, but an authority without the least impediment."
He should not have to depend upon the good will of another
military chief whose interests possibly would be in another
direction. He should have full control of the revenue from the
custom houses of Tamaulipas and Matamoros. "All means of
transportation," argued the commandant general, "the purchase
of mounts, the building of military roads, the replacement of
men, will depend upon the whims of a person removed in a
physical sense from the needs. In a word, the commandancy of
Texas is now subject to an inevitable dependency upon Tamau-
lipas." He cited instances during the period of the Spanish
invasion when the troops suffered because certain state officials
intercepted money, supplies, and even medicine destined for the
defending army. He then reiterated his willingness to proceed
under the proposed plan in spite of its defects and stated that
he was leaving for Matamoros as soon as his health would
permit. He did wish, however, that it might be so arranged
that all revenue from Texas could be used to support the troops
operating in that department. "The only real defense of Texas,"
he concluded, "is a permanent occupation."
Either as an after-thought or as a compromise measure, a
week later, Mier y Terán recommended the division of the
Eastern Interior Provinces into two military districts, one to
consist of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León, and the other of Coa-
huila and Texas. He wrote that a center of military control
nearer the settled portion of Texas would enable the command-
ant to handle that department much more effectively than was
possible under the existing organization. De la Garza, mean-
while, wrote from Soto la Marina that an ailment in his chest
prevented his assuming command immediately and that he
would much prefer that Mier y Terán remain in command and
that he be allowed to serve under him. It is to be hoped that
he was sincere in this expression of preference, because it is
exactly what he obtained in a few days. Mier y Terán's sug-
gestion to divide the district was immediately rejected; his ob-
jections to the proposal of the War Department to place him
under de la Garza were sustained, and on March 17, Facio
informed him that he was to remain in charge of the Eastern
Interior Provinces as commandant general; that the three states,
Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, and Coahuila and Texas were to be
united under his command; that de la Garza was to be second
in command in Tamaulipas only, during the absence of the
commandant general in Texas. The reason for this provision
was that it was felt that some military leader should be near
the coast in case of another Spanish invasion. Facio, on behalf
of the general government, thanked de la Garza for his services
in the past and expressed a hope that he would be as "zealous
in his future activities on behalf of his country."40
FOOTNOTES:
E. C. Barker, ed., The Austin Papers, II, 260-261.
the paragraphs following on the question of slavery in Texas, see E. C.
Barker, The Life of Stephen F. Austin, 243-250; E. C. Barker, "The Influ-
ence of Slavery in the Colonization of Texas," in The Southwestern His -
torical Quarterly, XXVIII, 1-33. An earlier study is that of Lester G.
Bugbee, "Slavery in Early Texas," in Political Science Quarterly, XIII,
389-412, 648-668.
Texas Gazette, January 23, 1830.
II, 285; E. C. Barker, The Life of Stephen F. Austin, 246.
in The Texas Gazette, January 30, 1830.
Gazette, January 30, 1830.
in The Austin Papers, II, 290.
terly, XIII, 655-658.
Land Office of Texas, Vol. 57, page 130.
in the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, XXVIII, 23-24.
Patriot, 1782-1831, MS. (Doctoral dissertation), The University of Texas
Library, 1934, 228.
1822-1846, II, 150-151; F. de Paula de Arrangoiz, Méjico desde 1808 hasta
1867, II, 198.
tionary story in Tamaulipas from January 1 to January 14, 1830. See
Francisco Vital Fernández, Inspector of Militia, to Commandant General
of the States of the East, Victoria, January 1; Enrique Camilo Suárez,
Vice-governor of Tamaulipas, to Manuel de Mier y Terán, Victoria, Jan-
uary 1; Mier y Terán to Fernández, Rancho de Panocha, January 10; Mier
y Terán to Suárez, January 10; Suárez to Mier y Terán, January 12, Mier
y Terán to Suárez, Villa de Casas, January 13; Suárez to Mier y Terán,
January 13 and 14; and Juan Guerra and Garza García to Mier y Terán,
Victoria, January 14, in Archivo General de México, Guerra, Frac. 1, Leg.
14, op. mil., 1830. The University of Texas (Hatcher) Transcripts.
Guerra de Tejas, I, 155-156.
Archivo General de Mexico, Guerra, Frac. 1, Leg. 14, op. mil. 1830, Cuaderno
3, No. 102. The University of Texas (Hatcher) Transcripts. Extracts from
this letter and the private military report are translated by Alleine Howren
in her "Causes and Origin of the Decree of April 6, 1830," in The South -
western Historical Quarterly, XVI, 400-402, and wherever practicable, her
translation has been used. Some changes in the spelling of proper names
have been made in the translation above, as for example, the substitution of
the letter "j" for "x" in Guanajuato.
E. C. Barker, in The Life of Stephen F. Austin, 303, n. 11, in referring
to the statement of Mier y Terán that, "Such extravagant claims as these
are now being presented for the first time to the public by dissembling
writers; . . . ," says, "Knowledge of the facts gives one a good deal of
sympathy with Mexican impatience of American claims to Texas, but of
course Teran was in error in saying that the claim was now first presented."
The writer of this article makes reference to a similar expression of feeling
noted in El Sol, November 4, 1829.
and the Boundary Issue, 1822-1829," in The Southwestern Historical
Quarterly, XVII, 217-261.
Translations of Empresario Contracts, 343, General Land Office of Texas.
Piedras was also considerably disturbed over the arrival in Texas of
numerous bands of Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians from the United States.
Same to Same, December 20, 1829, Archivo General de Mexico, Guerra, Frac.
1, Leg. 14, op. mil. 1830, The University of Texas (Hatcher) Transcripts.
Relations, Mexico City, January 23, 1830. Facio quotes extracts from a
letter which Mier y Terán wrote him, November 14, 1829, from Tampico,
in which he included letters from Mariano Corio, Matagorda, October 31,
and Aranzazua, November 2, 1829, and Antonio Elosua, Béxar, November
9, 1829. All this correspondence is in The University of Texas Transcripts
from Department of Fomento, México, Legajo 5, Expediente 34.
January 6, 1830, in Alleine Howren, "Causes and Origin of the Decree of
April 6, 1830," in Southwestern Historical Quarterly, XVI, 403-404, and
407-413.
Transcripts from Department of Fomento, México, Legajo 5, Expediente 30.
Alamán, in a letter to Vice-president Bustamante written the same day,
treats the suggestions of Tarnava as having come from Mier y Terán.
MS., in Archivo General de la Nación, México, Guerra, Frac. 1, Leg. 7, op.
mil., 1836.
Archivo General de México, Guerra, Frac. 1, Leg. 14, op. mil. 1830, The
University of Texas (Hatcher) Transcripts.
General de la Nación, Legajo 14, op. mil. 1830.
to Minister of War, Mexico City, March 12, 1830, MS., Ibid.
1830, MS., Ibid.
and 13, 1830; Mier y Terán to Minister of War, San Fernando, February 20,
1830, MS., Ibid.
for Texas, Facio sent Alamán the following on February 16: "Federal
Infantry: The Twelfth Batallion, 250; State Troops (Infantry) : From San
Luis Potosi, 600; from Zacatecas, 400; from Nuevo León, 300; from Tamau-
lipas, 300; from Coahuila-Texas, 200; Federal Cavalry: the Ninth Regi-
ment, 315; the Ninth Company of Presidiales of the Eastern Interior States,
300; State Troops (Cavalry): from San Luis Potosi, 300; Total, 2,965.
Alleine Howren, "Causes and Origin of the Decree of April 6, 1830," in
The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, XVI, 404-405.
General de México, Guerra, Frac. 1, Leg. 14, op. mil. 1830, The University
of Texas (Hatcher) Transcripts.
military authority in Tamaulipas; it was he who executed Iturbide. Busta-
mante had named him to the Eastern Interior commandancy, and Santa
Anna had deprived him of this command. While Mier y Terán does not
mention him by name, it is clear that the "dependency upon Tamaulipas"
refers to de la Garza. This naturally raises the question of the sincerity of
Mier y Terán's objections. Was he objecting to the plan of the War Depart-
ment or to the person who would be exercising authority over him?
Ibid.
Terán and de la Garza, but the idea was not being proposed for the first
time. A similar recommendation had been made in his communication of
October 20, 1829. Mier y Terán to Minister of War, Tampico, October 20,
1829, and San Fernando, February 27, 1830, Ibid.
Terán to Garza, San Fernando, March 2, and to Minister of War, March 7,
1830, Ibid.
1830; Mier y Terán to Minister of War, Matamoros, March 30, 1830, Ibid.
Letters and Documents
Dr. John Sibley and the Louisiana-
Texas Frontier, 1803-1814
Natchitoches Nov. 30th. 1810
Sir
This Side of the Mississippi River is very much Invested with
Vagabond parties of Choctaw Indians, of whose Ill Conduct
Complaints are Continually made. Something more than a
Year Ago a party of Seven of them Murdered two Nandaco
Women on the River Sabine without Any provocation whatever.
Since a Camp of theirs was found between this place & the
Sabine Consisting of about thirty Men, a Frenchman in the
Months of April or May last Carried Some Taffia Amongst
them, they got to fighting & Killed a Chief & Seven Young
Men & wounded Others, but their Camp and the greater part
of them went over the Sabine River into the Spanish Dominion.
There is a Village of them in the Parish of Washita who are
very troublesome to the Inhabitants; A man found one of them
stealing in his Corn field, attempted to put him Out, the Indian
resisted & would have Killed the owner of the field If he had
not have Saved himself by Running, the Owner of the field got
some Neighbours returned, Caught the Indian tied him &
whiped him & let him go. The Indian with an armed party
next day Came to the Mans House to Kill him, he hid, they
Committed great Outrage at his House, put his family in Such
fear, they abandoned their Home, & the Inhabitant dare not
go to his Own House without An Armed party of his Neighbours
to protect him from the Indians. This Case has been represented
to me in a letter from the Judges of the Parish of Washita: where
they live is on high land & of an Inferior quality of Soil where
they plant their Corn, & their Crops Suffered for want of rain
they applied to a Chief who promised to Make it rain for a
Certain quantity of articles to be raised for him by Contribution.
The articles were procured & delivered to him, it did not rain As
was Expected & Another Chief was applied to, who told them
he Could make it rain; but to appease the rain maker, the
Chief who had first undertaken it must be Killed, he was killed.
Accordingly, his friends Killed the Chief who Advised his death;
& they went on Killing till Thirteen Chiefs & head Man were
destroyed.
About a Month Ago a Party of seven or eight Rambling
Choctaws from the Village on the East of the Mississippi Called
Tellehatche, little goose or little Yazaw, which means all the
Same, Came to the rancheria of a Mr. Lamber a French gentle-
man about ten Miles from this place, where they Murdered a
Mulatto Man a slave of Mr. Lamber & an Indian Woman of the
Aiche Tribe, who had been raised from a Child Amongst the
white People & had put off the Indian Manners, dress, etc. The
Mulatto Man was shott in the House, & the Woman as the
Coroners Inquest believed had her Brains Knocked Out in
Attempting to Make her escape out at the Windows. No other
persons were there about the place, the Indians were Seen
going from it, met a Mr. Fulsome on their flight Over the
Mississippi again, Near the Walnut Hills to whom they Confessed
the Murder. There is a party of them On the Bayou Chico
in the Parish of Oppelousas [Opelousas], Against whom great
Complaints are made for their Insulting Insolence, Killing the
Cattle, Hoggs, etc. of the Inhabitants, Stealing Horses, Robbing
fields etc., they are generally regarded by all white People as
great Pests, & detested by all other Indians & their Conduct of
late has excited great uneasiness, & requires a remedy, to effect
which I have had it in Contemplation to Endeavour to Collect
& Settle them all at one place. Cause them to nominate their
Own Chiefs or rulers, who will be responsible for the Conduct
in Some degree Over whom they are appointed, to adopt for
them Some Laws & Regulations, to treat those who Conform
& behave well Kindly, furnish them with some Tools of agri-
culture etc: but to do nothing for those who refuse to become
Members of that Society; in their present Lawless Vagabond
State. If we punish one for a Theft or any Crime Against
white people, such is their Notion of government that they
attempt to retaliate upon the administrators of Our Laws upon
them; I have hitherto made it a rule to treat Kindly all Indians
who Come here on business; but at present I am Convinced
of the Necessity of making a distinction between the good &
the Ill behaved.
I have very little trouble with Any other tribes of Indians on
Account of their Ill Conduct, a few Chickesaws Excepted, who
are of a similar description; They are generally Peaceably dis-
posed & well affected towards the Government of the United
States. I have had Occasion to regret that the factory here has
not been well Supplied with Amunition & Some Other Articles
of the first Necessity for Indians.
Enclosed is An Account of the expenditures of this Agency
for the time therein mentioned, Except of some few Articles
I have received for Indians of Mr Linnard the Factor the Acct.
of which will be forwarded when he furnishes me with it. the
Blacksmith's Accounts I have been prevented from Sending,
On Account of the One I used to employ going off a Mine hunt-
ing some hundred Of Miles Back before I Could get them of him,
I have my Own Shop in opperation. But find it difficult finding
a Smith to my liking to manage it, & from the Expense of
Iron, Steele, Coals, & the purchasing of some Tools (the Set
you Ordered me being not Complete for gunwork) will not for
the present allow much saving; but I now get the work done,
much better, Sooner, & more of it.
A man by the Name of Jonathan Hill Platts, who says he is a
Native of Boxford in Massachusetts, & has been a prisoner in
the Interior of the Province of Taxus [Texas] in the Spanish
Dominion Since last May has just Come here from St. Antonio,
he has been with me today from whom I have received the fol-
lowing Information. That the Country at & towards Mexico
is in a State of Revolution
the Parties opposed to Each Other
are for Compleat independance from all the world on repub-
lican principles the later are for Ferdinand the Seventh & Mon-
archy. That there has been a good deal of fighting Amongst
them & that it was Said in St. Antonio about Seventeen Thou-
sand lives on both Sides had been lost, the republican or Inde-
pendent party were like to prevail. That all the regular Troops
(consisting of about 300 Men) at St. Antonio had Received
Orders to repair to Saltee [Saltillo] in order to Support the
Monarchist who were like to be Overpowered by the repub-
licans. That an Ecclesiastic headed them, that a Republican
Congress was to meet at Mexico, a Priest (a Young Man) had
been Elected representative for St. Antonio who openly de-
clared himself in favour of Independence. Governor Cordero
had refused to take a part or Act against the republicans, who
is Esteemed a Man of great Capacity & a popular Character.—
A Spanish gentleman from St. Antonio passed through this place
yesterday On his way to New Orleans, tis said on govt. Business.
This gentleman Confirms Substantially the Account I Received
from Mr Platt. This day I Received the Enclosed letter from
Mr P. B. Laffitte a very Intelligent gentleman who lives in the
Province of Taxus, who has every Means of Information & on
whose Veracity I Rely. It Corroborates Other Accounts. It is
generally thought here that in this State of our Neighbouring
Country Some precautionary measures on this frontier would
be proper.
I Shall Consider it my duty in future to inform you of Such
Accounts from time to time as I may receive from that coun-
try to be Relied on.--A Most Inveterate hatred Exists Between
the Native Americans or Creoles & the European Spaniards,
Amongst the later all Public Offices have always been distributed.
I am
with great Esteem
Your Obt. Servant
John Sibley
The Hon.ble William Eustis
Account of Expenditures of Indian department in the Agency
of John Sibley of Natchitoches T. Orleans from July 1st. 1809,
to September 30th. 1810. (viz).
Expenses of Indian department in the Agency of the Territory
of Orleans West of the Mississippi for the quarter ending the
31.st of December 1810 ... viz
John Sibley Indn. Agent
FOOTNOTES:
called them Ais. They lived near Nacogdoches about twelve miles West of
the Sabine, were formerly a large tribe, but at this time they were almost
extinct. Bolton, Athanase De Méziéres, I, 118, II, 340; Hackett, Pichardo's
Treatise, II, 153.
Mexicans to the revolutionary struggle, calling them to free themselves
from the rule of the Spaniards. They were to establish a government
controlled by Americans (natives of New Spain, an area which embraced
all territory possessed by the Spanish king in North America). Americans
would rule in the interest of the people, the holy religion, and their King
Ferdinand VII. The Mexicans were told that the Spaniards were attempt-
ing to surrender New Spain to the French, who had occupied Spain and
held their king, Ferdinand VII, a prisoner in France. The Mexicans
declared they would preserve their country and themselves for Ferdinand
VII. The Spaniards, their property, and the cities of Mexico became
the prizes of rebels as they plundered southward from the Indian town
of Dolores to Mexico City. Then the tide turned; they retreated north-
ward driven by General Calleja, leading an army of loyalists, who sup-
ported Spain's authority. The rebels had organized as the "Army of
America" with Hidalgo as generalissimo. Hidalgo took up quarters in
Guadalajara; meanwhile, Mariano Jimenez had been sent to revolutionize
the Northern Provinces of Mexico, and the Interior Provinces of Coahuila
and Texas. For an account of the revolution see Bancroft, History of
Mexico, IV, 102-240.
plete independence; at this time the rebels did not seek independence from
Spain but freedom from the rule of European Spaniards. They declared
that they were capable of governing Mexico and that they would rule
their country in the interest of Mexicans and Ferdinand VII. Priestly, The
Mexican Nation, 208-210.
marching north toward Coahuila. Salcedo, fearing that revolutionary-
propaganda had reached Texas, appealed to that province to remain loyal,
and not give ear to the false charges made by Hidalgo, while the junta
in Béxar made ready to send Texas troops to save Coahuila. Alamán,
Historia de Méjico, II, 94-95; M. Salcedo to the Faithful Inhabitants of
Texas, January 6, 1811, MS., Béxar Archives, The University of Texas
(hereafter, Béxar Archives will be cited as B.A.); Report of the Junta of
Béxar, January 8, 1811, MS., B.A.
to a congress. However, this may indicate that the plans of the rebel club
in Querétaro, which early in 1810 had plotted the revolution and planned
to call a national congress, had reached Texas; and that Texas rebels
anticipated the fulfillment of the plan for a congress. Bancroft, History of
Mexico, IV, 107-163.
Affairs of the Association
THE forty-eighth Annual Meeting of the Association was
held in Austin on April 28-29. Many expressions were
made that this was the best meeting ever held by the Association.
A list of the donors to the book auction is given in the "Texas
Collection." Almost twice as many books were sold this year
as last, and the Association is indebted to all who contributed to
the success of the G. B. Dealey Auction of Texana, either by
gift, purchase, or services. A copy of the program follows:
Maximilian
Room
-- Driskill
Hotel
9:30 A.M.
R. L. Biesele, Presiding
Dr. Federico Zerván P.I. Nixon
Major George W. Littlefield Maurice Dowell
Elliot Roosevelt's Visit to Texas in 1876.... Col. M. L. Crimmins
10:30 A.M.
L. W. Kemp, Presiding
Meeting of the Executive Council of the Association
Private Dining Room -- Driskill Hotel
12:00 M.
Herbert P. Gambrell, Presiding
The Affairs of the Association Walter Prescott Webb
Discussion
Maximilian
Room
-- Driskill
Hotel
2:00 P. M.
John E. Owens, Presiding
The First Capitol of Texas L. W. Kemp
The G. B. Dealey Auction of Texana
5:00 P.M.
The University Research Lecture in History for 1944
Homer P. Rainey, Presiding
Frontier Factors in World Civilization Walter Prescott Webb
Crystal Ball Room -- Driskill Hotel
7:30 P.M.
L. W. Kemp, Presiding
Old Tascosa, Cowboy Capital of the Panhandle John McCarty
Maximilian Room -- Driskill Hotel
9:30 A.M.
Eugene C. Barker, Presiding
Recollections of a Texas Ranger W. H. Roberts
The Unsolved Murder of Ben Thompson, Pistoleer Extraor-
dinary Paul Adams
The
Texas
Almanac
in Texas History, 1857-1873
Stuart McGregor
Maximilian
Room
-- Driskill
Hotel
2:00 P.M.
Norton McGiffin, Presiding
Captain Charles Schreiner Gene Hollon
George Washington Miller -- Founder of the One Hundred
and One Ranch -- And His Sporadic Financial Forays
Into Texas Chris Emmett
David G. Burnet Dorothy Louise Fields
Business Meeting President L. W. Kemp, Presiding
Mr. W. H. Roberts was unable to attend the meeting and
J. Evetts Haley spoke extemporaneously in Mr. Roberts' place.
As shown by the register, the following persons were in at-
tendance at the meeting:
Dr. C. L. Sonnichsen
Dr. Donald Day
Mr. R. B. Blake
Mr. Duncan Robinson
Mrs. Marian B. Stoner
Dr. Rex. W. Strickland
Mr. L. W. Kemp
Mr. Houston Wade
Dr. S. W. Geiser
Dr. Valin R. Woodward
Mr. William Eilers, Sr.
Mr. Henry Biederman
Dr. and Mrs. P. I. Nixon
Mrs. Harriett N. Leary
Miss Alice Lee
Rev. Joseph Schmitz
Miss Mamie Raborn
Mr. A. F. Edwards
Mr. Herbert Gambrell
Mr. Charlie Jeffries
Mr. J. W. Saxon
Mr. Anton H. Berkman
Mrs. E. R. Miller
Mr. John McCarty
Mrs. Sybil Jordan
Miss Betty Matthews
Miss Audrey La Vergne
Miss Doris Littlefield
Miss Jane Bullock
Miss Lela McClurg
Mr. S. G. Reed
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Emmett
Miss Frances Donecker
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Holbrook
Dr. R. L. Biesele
Mrs. Lydia W. Magruder
Dr. Harold Schoen
Mr. J. W. Williams
Miss Melissa A. Castle
Mrs. Eleanor D. Pace
Mr. and Mrs. Maurice H. Dowell
Mr. N. C. Belk
Mrs. Olive T. Walker
Miss Genevieve Ferguson
Miss Genevieve Thompson
Mr. Stuart McGregor
Dr. C. W. Hackett
Dr. Gene Hollon
Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Carroll
Mr. S. E. Asbury
Dr. J. L. Waller
Mr. Dan Ferguson
Mr. and Mrs. C. Stanley Banks
Miss Virgie Sanders
Dr. and Mrs. W. P. Webb
Mr. Frank Caldwell
Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Burress
Mrs. Coral Tullis
Mr. and Mrs. Harbert Davenport
Mrs. Margaret K. Kress
Mrs. H. B. Dunagan, Jr.
Dr. Dade Sparks
Dr. Lewis W. Newton
Dr. C. A. Bridges
Miss Fannie Wilcox
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Naylor
Mr. Andrew Forest Muir
Mr. Harry Benge Crozier
Mrs. Tom Johnson
Mrs. Ada C. Penn
Miss Jean Pinckney
Mr. George Isbell
Mr. R. Niles Graham
Miss Kay A. Walker
Miss Eleanor Patrick
Dr. 0. Fisher Allen
Mr. Jesse A. Ziegler
Dr. Al B. Nelson
Mrs. Nella Mae Dieter
Dr. E. C. Barksdale
Dr. E. M. Coulter
Judge C. V. Terrell
Judge C. L. Greenwood
Mr. W. V. Howerton
Mr. Worth S. Ray
Mr. Edmunds Travis
Col. M. L. Crimmins
Mr. Harwood Stacy
Mr. Ken Barnes
Mr. Marshall Sheppard, Jr.
Mr. Bob Bryant
Miss Retta Murphy
Miss Lena Clara Koch
Mrs. Ruth Morgan
Mr. Skipper Morgan
Mr. J. Evetts Haley
Miss Emma Gewell Ross
Miss Grace Bitner
Dr. E. C. Barker
Mr. J. P. Morgan
Dr. Ralph Steen
All officers and members of the Executive Council were re-
elected, and the purchase of a $5,000 War Bond (face value)
was authorized by the Council. The treasurer's report follows:
The Spirit of Santa Rita
Under the auspices of Santa Rita, Saint of the Impossible,
on May 27, 1923, the first oil well on University land
blew in, out of control, and to the utter amazement of the
operators who had toiled for so long and so patiently with un-
remitting faith, courage, and persistence.
The Santa Rita well in Reagan County was the University
discovery well in the great Permian Basin, and its literal
eruption was the most fortuitous combination of the forces
of nature and the labors of man, heralding a new economic
and social era in a vast and largely undeveloped domain, the
full significance and beneficence of which is even now hardly
comprehensible.
The royalties to The University of Texas ensuing from this
and subsequent discoveries, and the wise use to which the same
have been and are now being devoted, and the changes wrought
in the course of the history of Texas, have made this modest
celebration of the Twenty-first Anniversary of the event an
appropriate occasion for the members of the Texas oil industry
to appraise the event, and also do honor to two great Texas
institutions: The University of Texas and the Texas State
Historical Association.
These two institutions are devoted to the exaltation of the
spirit, cultivation of the mind, and activation of a virile and
dynamic patriotism through the dissemination of knowledge
of the experiences of the past, and the advancement of our
material well-being under a political system that enlists the
fullest expression of the freedom of man and the subserviency
of the State to that inviolate freedom. They are each in part
custodians of the fruits of this achievement, and worthily
have they performed their trust.
But the event which we are gathered to celebrate is not
the product of miraculous occurrence, royal beneficence, dic-
tator's edict, or socialized planning. It is the natural conse-
quence of a continuing expression of the fundamental truths
that have become manifest through the ageless experience of
mankind in its upward surge throughout the centuries for
its most cherished aspiration--freedom.
It is a happy concomitance, then, that education, history,
and the free enterprise of the individual citizen find mutual
satisfaction, justification, and renewed strength in the con-
tinuance of achievements alike unto that celebrated upon
this day.
Santa Rita and all of its beneficent consequences are no
more the result of accident than the consequences of the estab-
lishment of this great seat of general education at Austin, or
the accumulated influence of this great learned society in
the field of historical and patriotic endeavor. Each of these
crowning accomplishments have come from the natural, yet
expected, fruition of a wise, far-seeing, and humanistic policy,
rooted deep in the consciousness of the founders of the Republic
of Texas, and eloquently expressed in the sapient and pro-
found message of President Mirabeau B. Lamar to the Congress
of the Republic of Texas in December, 1833, which is, in part,
as follows:
If
we
desire
to
establish
a
republican
government
upon
a
broad
and
permanent
basis,
it
will
be
our
duty
to
adopt
a
comprehensive
and
well
-
regulated
system
of
mental
and
moral
culture.
Education is a subject
in which every citizen and especially every parent, feels a deep and
lively concern. It is one in which no jarring interests are involved, and
no acrimonious political feelings excited; for its benefits are so universal
that all parties can unite in advancing it. It
is
admitted
by
all
that
the
cultivated
mind
is
the
guardian
genius
of
democracy
and,
while
guided
and
controlled
by
virtue,
is
the
noblest
attribute
of
man.
It
is
the
only
dictator
that
freemen
acknowledge
and
the
only
security
that
freemen
desire.
The
influence
of
education
in
the
moral
world,
as
in
the
physical,
renders
luminous
what
was
before
obscure.
It opens a wide field for
the exercise and improvement of all the faculties of man, and imparts
vigor and clearness to those important truths in the science of govern-
ment, as well as of morals, which would otherwise be lost in the darkness
of ignorance. Without its aid how perilous and insufficient would be
the deliberations of a government like ours! How ignoble and useless
its legislation for all the purposes of happiness! How fragile and in-
secure its liberties! War
would
be
conducted
without
the
science
neces
-
sary
to
secure
success,
and
its
bitterness
and
calamities
would
be
un
-
relieved by the ameliorating circumstances which the improved con-
dition of man has imparted to it. Peace would be joyless, because its
train would be unattended by that civilization and refinement which alone
can give zest to social and domestic enjoyments; and how shall we protect
our rights if we do not comprehend them? And can we comprehend them
unless we acquire a knowledge of the past and present condition of things,
and practice the habit of enlightened reflection? Cultivation is necessary
to the supply of rich intellectual and moral fruits, as are the labors
of the husbandman to bring forth the valuable productions of the earth.
But it would be superfluous to offer this honorable congress any ex-
tended argument to enforce the practical importance of this subject. I
feel fully assured that it will, in that liberal spirit of improvement which
pervades the social world, lose not the auspicious opportunity to pro-
vide for literary instructions, with an influence commensurate with our
future destinies. To patronize the general diffusion of knowledge, industry
and charity, has been near to the heart of the good and wise of all
nations, while the ambitious and the ignorant would fain have threatened
a policy so pure and laudable. But the rich domes and spires of edifices
consecrated to these objects, which are continually increasing in numbers,
throwing their scenic splendor over civilization and attesting the patriotism
of their founders, show that this unhallowed purpose has not been ac-
complished. Our
young
republic
has
been
formed
by
a
Spartan
spirit.
Let
it
progress
and
ripen
into
Roman
firmness
and
Athenian
gracefulness
and
wisdom.
Let those names which have been inscribed on the standard
of her national glory be found also on the pages of her history, associated
with that profound and enlightened policy which is to make our country
a bright link in that chain of free states which will some day encircle
and unite in harmony the American continent. Thus, and thus only, will
true glory be perfected; and our nation, which has sprung from the
harsh trump of war, be matured into the refinements and tranquil
happiness of peace.
Let me, therefore, urge upon you, gentlemen, not to postpone the matter
too long. The
present
is
a
propitious
moment
to
lay
the
foundation
of
a
great
moral
and
intellectual
edifice,
which
will
in
after
ages
be
hailed
as
the
chief
ornament
and
blessing
of
Texas.
A suitable appropriation
of lands to the purpose of general education can be made at this time,
without inconvenience to the government or the people; but defer it until
the public domain shall have passed from our hands, and the uneducated
youths of Texas will constitute the living monuments of our neglect
and remissness.
To appraise faithfully the paramount and enduring per-
formances that have eventuated from this chartered course,
outlined for the infant Republic, we must briefly examine
the stormy past of Texas in contrast with the future evolved
in the climate of enlightened freedom so soundly portrayed
and so eloquently and wisely adjured.
Frank Pickrell, Haymon Krupp, Rupert Ricker, Hugh
camp near the waters of the Concho in an enterprise re-
quiring courage, vision, hardihood, intrepidity, and skill, but
they were clearly envisioned in the enlightened concept of
President Lamar. The Indians that first occupied this region
in undisturbed possession were "unattended by that civiliza-
tion and refinement which alone can give zest to social and
domestic enjoyments," and they did not hold to the truth that
"the cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy, and
while guided and controlled by virtue, is the noblest attribute
of man."
The advent of civilized people to the region of Santa Rita
and the Concho was not on a mission of peace, but upon an
enterprise of conquest, and the Conquistadores were not the
exponents of a republican form of government for free men,
but were the paladins of a royal autocracy.
The primary purpose of Coronado and the early Conquista-
dores was the conquest of new lands, actually or supposedly
rich in hard mineral wealth; the seizure of the gold and silver;
the subjugation and pacification of those peopling such lands;
and, in many instances, to their enduring credit, the paralleling
effort of courageous and zealous priests to accomplish an ex-
tension of the Christian faith.
Over four hundred years ago, Hernando Cortés, Captain-
General of New Spain, was occupying his palace at Cuernavaca.
He was the Conqueror of a New World, but he was the subject
of the Crown of Spain and the servant of the Council of the
Indies. In his intrepid explorations in search of mineral wealth
for his Royal Master, he surveyed wide areas, gathered vast
riches, and paid to Royalty its bountiful dues.
Notwithstanding the wealth in bullion poured into Royal
Spanish coffers by the Conquistadores in Mexico, Peru, and in
the Indies, a restless and untiring spirit of daring and adventure
kept exploration, conquest, seizure, and pacification the rule of
procedure under Royal Commissions for centuries, with the
extension of the Faith a subsidiary and largely separate phase,
although notable in its accomplishments.
The early Conquistador Cortés conquered the Valley of Mex-
ico and subjugated the Mayas; Coronado sought the fabled
Seven Cities of Cibola, intent upon the confiscation of fabulous
mineral wealth, leaving a long trail of failure and disappoint-
ment; but Pickrell, Krupp, Ricker, Tucker, and Cromwell,
and their contemporaries and successors, by the employment
of the arts of peace, science and industry, have penetrated the
realms of the Permian, the Ordovician, and other geologic
regions with an incomparably greater yield in riches, and ac-
tually found the veritable Seven Cities of Cibola in Big Lake,
in the Pecos, in Hobbs, in Yates, in Winkler, in McCamey,
in Texon, and in numerous subterranean provinces of un-
imagined wealth.
The early Conquistador Juan de Oñate engaged in the search
for the mythical Straits of Anián, which were believed to
connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and an intermediate
"North Sea," the harbors of which were to be carefully mapped,
but not used until appropriate regulations could be prescribed
therefor, with the usual eventuality of pursuing false rumor;
but Pickrell and his pioneering associates reduced to possession
the fruits of a successful exploration of the actual "North
Sea" -- the Permian Basin.
The galleons of old, laden with gold and silver, brought their
wealth to Spanish royalty; but the dues paid to the viceroy
and the council of the Indies, and the total exactions of
Spanish royalty and all of the prizes of the gold hunters' era
are dwarfed into insignificance compared to the royalties ac-
cruing to the sovereign citizens of our State and their great
educational institution, and were a mere triviality compared
with the one billion, seven hundred million dollars paid during
the past twenty-one years in lease rentals and royalties to
the farmers and ranchers and landowners of our State, and
the sum of one billion, three hundred and fifty million dollars
paid during the same period in various forms of taxes to our
State and local governments.
During this period of time the oil industry of Texas has paid
in taxes, for the support of the public schools of this State, a
grand total of over two hundred and forty-three million dollars.
In the past twenty-one years oil has accomplished prodigious
changes:
(1) Average daily production in May, 1923, of approximately three
hundred thousand barrels per day is now approximately two mil-
lion barrels per day.
(2) A similar increase in refining capacity has merged into its mani-
fold activities hundreds of millions of dollars invested in aviation
gasoline and synthetic rubber plants.
(3) Great trunk line transportation systems now traverse the inland
and overland routes to the Great Lakes, the Gulf, and the Atlantic
Ocean.
(4) Natural gas has been discovered, developed, and distributed in an
expansion paralleling the prodigious performances in oil.
(5) Twenty-three oil fields are now yielding: royalty revenues to The
University of Texas, from University lands in Andrews, Crane,
Crockett, Ector, Pecos, Reagan, and Ward counties.
(6) Increased wealth widely diffused throughout our entire population
has made itself manifest in the almost miraculous statistics of
population increase, added property values, astounding expansion
of life insurance, the migration of related and associated indus-
tries and manufacturing enterprises to Texas, the total effect
of which is typified by the striking contrast between The University
of Texas of today and over twenty-one years ago.
The history of the accomplishment of the oil industry in
Texas during the past twenty-one years can only be hinted at
in this brief resume. The advancements in technology have
even exceeded, in proportion, the comparative production in
volume and the comparative proven reserves in quantity. The
improvement in quality, and the increased yields in gasoline
content due to improved refining methods, are only matched
by the reduced retail price of gasoline, exclusive of tax.
All of this has been a necessary progression in every phase
of the industry as an indispensable prelude to the maximum
effort now being expended by the oil industry in Texas as a
contribution to the winning of a war completely mechanized and
motorized, whose bomber and fighter planes, whose battleships,
cruisers, submarines, transports, and landing ships, and whose
tanks, tank destroyers, and artillery are all propelled by the
products of oil.
But it is not of material resources alone and the accomplish-
ments of industry and science, that I would speak. There has
been nurtured and preserved in the mind and heart of our
people that indomitable attitude toward life that is "Texian,"
and that has its truest reflection in an unchallenged position
of primacy in the number of volunteers in the Army, the
Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Corps in this War, and
the courage and heroism that they have exhibited upon the
seven seas and throughout the earth. The spirit of the pioneer
is still within them, --- undiminished, undaunted, and unfraid.
possible. As I said upon another occasion of Dad Joiner, I
may with equal truth say of Frank Pickrell and his comrades:
No chart of government pointed the way. No managed economy under-
wrote the risk. No authoritarian regulation measured the prospect. No
bureaucracy supplied the incentive, by mandate or bounty; and not even
contemporaneous geologic concept furnished the inspiration. The true
spirit of the pioneer, -- the independent enterprise of a free American
citizen who still believed in and cherished the opportunities that America
affords; the same courage and self-reliance and indomitable will that
conquered the wilderness of earlier years, that peopled the plains and the
mountains beyond the far horizons for the beneficent uses of America
today, that still guide and animate and propel the sturdy, pioneering
Americans of this day, for whom the simple frontiers of our pioneer
fathers have been multiplied, many times over, in incalculable number,
variety and opportunity, resided in the spirit, and in the heart, and the
will of Frank Pickrell. Let us pray that these United States may throughout
the future, as in the past, nurture and preserve, and proudly cherish
the pioneer and let his courageous, undaunted, and unterrified spirit and
faith forever remain the heart and the core of free America.
FOOTNOTES:
Rita Discovery Well, delivered at Austin, Texas, May 27, 1944, at a
dinner of the Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, honoring The
University of Texas and the Texas State Historical Association.
20, 1838; the Lamar Papers, Charles Gulick, Jr. (ed.), II, 348-349, give the
date as December 21, 1838.
A Plea for More History
in
Business
THE Texas State Historical Association comes into this
pleasant celebration appropriately by way of a book. The
book is Martin Schwettmann's Santa
Rita,
which the Asso-
ciation recently published. It is a history of the completion of
the discovery well which opened the University's oil empire
in West Texas. Wholly incidentally, it is also a monument to
the courage and dogged determination which has characterized
individual enterprise in American industry. We need more such
books. We need them for an understanding of the complex
strands of American civilization. We need them also for a
fair appreciation of the services of big and little business.
This brings me to the text of my sermon, which is a plea
for more history in business. From the historians' point of
view, business men—and particularly business organizations--
are too reticent. We suspect that they are too reticent for their
own good. Explanations of their policy leap to mind: partly,
no doubt, it is a survival of the buccaneering era of "the public
be damned"; partly it is due to the competitive character of
business and the natural desire to withhold information from
rivals. Whatever the cause may be, the policy creates an at-
mosphere that is inhospitable to historical investigators, facil-
itates propaganda that is hostile to business, and stimulates
public suspicion.
There is a problem here. The blankest page in Texas history
today is that which ought to tell of the growth and contribution
of business and industry in the building of the state. The page
is blank, not because historians do not appreciate the im-
portance of the subject, but because they can rarely learn
enough of the record to enable them to put pen to paper and
write. The same is true of industry in the nation. To be sure,
there is no lack of reports that corporations and associations
are required to file with state and federal governments; but
these are the dry skin and bones of history. They become the
basis of some textbooks and of speculative discourses on trends,
but the average citizen cannot understand them, and they are
easily misconstrued. We need a knowledge of the human facts
behind the figures. Perhaps we shall never get them, but
business men and their legal advisers—some of whom are
excellent historians--might profitably devise a system for giv-
ing us more than we have. For example, what do we know, or
what could we learn, about the Texon Company, its successors
and assigns after Ricker and Pickrell and Krupp and Crom-
well played their respective roles in the history of Santa Rita?
There must be other dramatic and heroic chapters in the story.
I offer three suggestions for the consideration of business:
Follow the example of the Army and Navy and employ a
historical staff for each important unit, or open the records
to historians with as few reservations as possible, or deposit
the records--or selected blocks of records--in public depositories.
The University of Texas and the Texas State Historical As-
sociation would gladly receive such deposits and would ad-
minister them faithfully.
FOOTNOTES:
Rita Discovery Well, delivered at Austin, Texas, May 27, 1944, at a dinner
of the Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, honoring The Univer-
sity of Texas and the Texas State Historical Association.
Texas Collection
MAY 27 was the twenty-first birthday of Santa Rita, The
University of Texas discovery oil well in the Reagan
County area. The anniversary was observed with fitting cere-
monies in Austin. About a month before the May 27 date,
George C. Gibbons, Executive Vice-President of Texas Mid-
Continent Oil and Gas Association, called from Dallas to say
that his Association considered Martin Schwettmann's book
Santa
Rita
one of the greatest tributes ever paid to the oil
industry, and that his Association was interested in paying
tribute upon the anniversary date to the Historical Association,
The University of Texas, and the original enterprisers con-
nected with the well.
The story of Santa Rita and of the founding of the University
was written in a radio script by J. Edward Morrow, Oil Editor
of the Dallas News.
The script was produced by Mrs. Edith
Beale Hamilton of Radio House at the University and was broad-
cast over the Texas Quality Network at 12:30 on Saturday, May
27. Climaxing the day's activities was a dinner in the Maxi-
milian Room of the Driskill Hotel given by the Texas Mid-
Continent Oil and Gas Association honoring the Texas State
Historical Association and The University of Texas. It was a
party that Life
magazine should have attended. Beauford Jester,
chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission and a former
member of the Board of Regents of the University, was master
of ceremonies. President Homer P. Rainey spoke for the Uni-
versity and called attention to the fact that the permanent fund
of the University is now approaching $44,000,000 and that
most of these funds have been derived from oil income. George
A. Hill, Jr., President of the Houston Oil Company and Vice-
President of the Association, spoke as the representative of
the petroleum industry. Among the hundred or more persons
present at the dinner were Mrs. Carl Cromwell, wife of the
Santa Rita driller, and Mrs. W. E. Peavy, Jr., his daughter,
Carlene. Frank T. Pickrell, one of the partners in the company
which drilled the well, flew in from California to be present
on the occasion. His impromptu speech telling of the Santa Rita
development was one of the highlights of the program. Dr.
Eugene C. Barker spoke as the representative of the Association,
making a talk which impressed all present with the necessity
for having more history in business. The text of Dr. Barker's
and of Mr. Hill's addresses are carried as separate articles in
this issue of the Quarterly.
Some three years or more ago the Santa Rita derrick was
transported from Texon to the campus of the University. It
was first expected that the derrick would be re-erected in the
mall between two engineering buildings then being constructed.
Later, plans appear to have been changed and the regents seem
not to have made a designation for a new spot upon which the
derrick is to be erected. It is hoped, however, that this can be
accomplished quite soon. The University of Texas could not
do anything more proper in expressing its appreciation of the
contribution Santa Rita has made to the life and material re-
sources of the University.
* * *
It was most fortunate for me to be called to the Rio Grande
Valley in the latter part of May, for I was able to make a re-
acquaintance with a section of Texas which previously I had
encountered in only the briefest and most superficial manner.
The Valley is frequently referred to as the Magic Valley, and
it is just that. It is a section apart, and yet it is Texas and
deserves to be understood and appreciated by all Texans. When
I first crossed the Nueces, the thought which was uppermost
in my mind was that I was entering the birthplace of the cattle
kingdom, for it was between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
that the method of handling cattle on horseback developed, was
institutionalized, and from there spread to the rest of Texas and
eventually to the western half of America. That was approxi-
mately a century ago, but on the upper levels of the Valley the
Longhorn has been replaced by the sacred white cows of India --
not so sacred now in the Valley -- but entirely functional. But the
Brahmas do in general seem to have preserved something of
their heritage, because they have a sort of philosophical aloofness
as they graze alongside the Herefords or the Santa Gertrudis
cattle -- descendants of old Monkey.
Getting into the Valley proper one leaves the remnants of
the cattle kingdom and goes into an entirely new world, where
a finger of Texas reaches for the tropics. Land of towering
palms where citrus fruit and vegetable gardening now predom-
inate, the Valley is magical in the way in which it produces.
The citrus crop consists mainly of oranges and grapefruit, but
in lesser numbers are to be found also limes, lemons, tangerines,
and other varieties. The 1944 citrus crop of the Valley grossed
$53,000,000, and at about the same time the tomato crop
added yet another $18,000,000. The Valley is still a new frontier,
for it reproduces today something of the boom times of other
years. Fortunes are still made or lost almost overnight in land
speculation and development; but the processes of stabilization
are also definitely beginning. I saw something like a thousand
acres of carrots which had been plowed under and a new swift
try made with cotton. The Valley is a place which works
feverishly against deadlines. There is a deadline in irrigation,
and unless one is ready to take the water as it flows in the ir-
rigation ditches, then one loses the opportunity for the watering
of the land. The citrus crop must be got out against the dead-
line when the Mexican fruit fly puts in its appearance. And
tomatoes must be pulled green at exactly the correct time or
they lose much of their export value as they go into "ripes."
There is also the frenzied hurry in the further clearing of land.
Here the industrial revolution has come to the Valley, and the
cactus and mesquite thickets are now swiftly cleared by giant
cats and bulldozers which pull up and push out the trees and
pulverize the land to a depth of four and five feet, making it
ready for new seedling trees. And the patient Mexican labor,
which formerly grubbed out of the ground more undergrowth
than was above the topsoil, now goes into other channels.
The Valley is conscious of its opening into the Gulf, and
conversation flows as easily to tarpon, Spanish mackerel, and
flounder as does the patient river which feeds three levels of
irrigated land.
As much as anything else the Valley proves the great di-
versity of Texas. The Valley is cosmopolitan. One is almost
overcome with the wealth of contrast between the natural
manifestations to be seen there and those that exist still around
J. Evetts Haley's JH Ranch along the Canadian in the brakes
and on the High Plains of Texas. Certainly the contrasts are
equally as sharp there as those which might be found from
east to west in Texas -- as from Lufkin to El Paso.
mingling with the fragrance, a packing house stench of a
thousand acres of cabbages rotting in the fields. In the swift
tempo of the Valley something happened, and the cabbages
were not quite got out in time.
I was also interested to find in the Valley yet another distinc-
tive Texas hotel. The Casa de Palmas in McAllen, with its
thoroughly authentic Spanish architecture and its spacious 111
rooms, belongs in any such category. The Casa de Palmas was
built in 1918 but apparently has been discovered by northern
and eastern tourists more than by Texans. Also the Valley
has a distinctive newspaper -- a community sheet more in-
terested in its own locality and what is news there than in
settling Washington's international problems or advancing
a cosmic view for the Tasmanian peoples. This is the Mission
Times,
edited by Joe T. Cook, who was about a dozen years ago
editor of The
Daily
Texan.
Last year the paper was awarded the
Dallas News
trophy for being "the most excellent weekly news-
paper in Texas."
The record the Valley has recently made and is making today
should be preserved for Texas history while it still has the
pioneer flavor. I earnestly hope that along the Broadway of
America there may be developed the Rio Grande Valley Historical
Society. The lower Valley needs an interpreter who can do for
it what Harvey Fergusson did for the upper reaches in his book,
Rio
Grande.
The Valley should pause to consider that it is as
essential to preserve the record as it is to make it. Judge Harbert
Davenport of Brownsville would be an ideal person around
whom an interest in the historical past of the Valley might
be institutionalized. The Association would welcome such de-
velopment and would be glad to assist as far as limited facilities
will permit.
From Pvt. George Crawbuck, Fighter Training Center, 2
Fighter Trading Squadron, A. P. 0. No. 762, c/o Postmaster,
New York -- now in North Africa -- has come a request for
a listing of all the articles in the Quarterly
relating to South-
western Indians and particularly to those of Texas. Thinking
that if the list were wanted in North Africa, it might also
be of interest to numbers of persons in Texas, I am appending
it below. The list is also an excellent testimonial to the wide
variety of materials available on Texas in the files of the
Quarterly.
ARTICLES IN THE SOUTHWESTERN
HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
RELATING TO SOUTHWESTERN AND TEXAS INDIANS
Hackett, Charles W., "The Revolt of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico
in 1680," XV, 93-147.
Hatcher, Mattie Austin, "Description of the Tejas or Asinai Indians,
1691-1722," XXX, 206-218, 283-304; XXXI, 50-62, 150-180.
Kenney, M. M., "Tribal Society Among Texas Indians," I, 26-34; an
error corrected, I, 226-227.
Roberts, O. M., "Prehistoric Races in Texas," I, 145-150.
Winkler, E. W., "The Cherokee Indians in Texas," VII, 94-165.
Any person who has driven across Tennessee, Virginia, or
Kansas--to pick but three examples -- needs no argument
that Texas has not integrated her history and natural wonders
with her system of modern highways and transportation as
well as have some of the other states. I previously mentioned in
other "Texas Collection" items the advisability of bringing
the Texas Highway Department and the Association into closer
contacts so that visitors to the state and our own citizens may
receive useful and authentic information regarding the historic
places of Texas. A short time before the Annual Meeting
this subject was discussed in a conference between D. C. Greer,
State Highway Engineer, Charles Simons of the Texas Good
Roads Association, President L. W. Kemp, and the writer. All of
us agreed that more ought to be done in pointing out and
marking historic trails, roads, natural wonders, and places
of interest in the state. Where a modern road has been built
along an ancient highway, the information to that effect will
add to the appreciation of the traveller thereon. After the
conference Mr. Greer wrote a letter to the office, es-
pecially commending J. W. Williams' "The National Road
of the Republic of Texas" which appeared in the January num-
ber of the Quarterly.
. . .
The source of the F. B. E. Browne map published in the
January, 1944, Quarterly,
opposite p. 306, has finally been run
to earth by Judge C. L. Greenwood of Austin. Judge Greenwood
will also contribute in the "Notes and Documents" section of a
following issue additional accounts dealing with travel across
West Texas in 1849. The Browne party is identified by the fol-
lowing note taken from the Texas
Democrat
(Austin), April
21, 1849:
A party of some twenty or thirty Californians left here on Wednesday
last for the gold region, by way of Fredericksburg and El Paso. They
were for the most part residents of the coast counties in this State, and
among them some of our most substantial citizens. We remember the
names of Col. W. J. Kyle, David S. Terry, John Hodges, Pinck. Smith,
William Bradley, and George Davis. They were well equipped in every
respect, and had with them five able bodied negro men. They expect to
pursue the route taken by Capt. Haynie and his party, who left here some
four weeks ago.
We learn also that Capt. William W. Thompson's have begun to
rendezvous at Fredericksburg, where they will all unite and proceed
thence about the Ist of May. This company will be amply provided with
wagons, and will consist of about three hundred persons--among them
several families.
Since the foregoing was written, two other parties have arrived,
bound for California. Of these, we are able to mention only the following
names: R. Dunham, Wm. Simmons, and Martin Anderson, from Bastrop
County; Capt. B. F. Hanna, of Galveston; L. S. Perkins, Dr. F. B. E.
Brown, Dr. Stone, Mr. Patton, and Mr. Turner, of Harris County; Dr.
John C. Ogburne, William Pollard, A. J. Dickson, Allen Williams, C.
Barry, and J. O'Neill, of Navarro County. As the route from this city
may now be considered as fairly opened, we may expect arrivals and
departures almost daily throughout the spring and summer.
Note that Captain William W. Thompson's party is identified
above and that it is the same one whose route is shown by
Browne from the Pecos to El Paso. Also mentioned above is
L. S. Perkins, who cooked the antelope's head as shown on the
Browne map. Now that Browne is identified as Dr. F. B. E.
Browne of Harris County, some of the students of that county
should be able to throw further light on his career. Apparently
he was back in Texas in 1851. Possibly he had gone west only
as far as El Paso.
Captain Roy F. Hall, Box 105, McKinney, Texas, has been
much interested in information concerning the locomotive
named General
Sherman
which was operated by the Buffalo
Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway Company. Captain Hall
is interested in any picture of the locomotive which may have
survived. Andrew F. Muir, 946 Courtlandt Place, Houston,
Texas, who has made extensive researches in the early railroad
history of Texas, has furnished the following information on
the locomotive.
The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway Company locomotive
General
Sherman
was the first introduced into Texas.l It was purchased
second-hand in Massachusetts, probably from one of the railroads in
which Jonathan F. Barrett, the first president of the company, owned
stock. Though second-hand, it was considered substantial, serviceable,
and efficient. It weighed twelve or thirteen tons, had inside connections,
and was capable of running thirty-five miles an hour. In 1857, it and
its tender were valued at $4000.
The locomotive arrived in Galveston in November, 1852, and Galveston
townspeople gave a dinner for Sidney Sherman in recognition of his
bringing it to Texas. Late in November or early in December, 1852,
a storm at Galveston injured it. The damage was repaired and steam
raised on the locomotive in January, 1853. It was in bad running order
in 1855. On July 24, 1861, mobs damaged four locomotives of the
B. B. B. & C., and the General
Sherman
may have been one of these.
The locomotive was owned by the company as late as June 11, 1874, when
the property of the B. B. B. & C. was sold to the Galveston, Harrisburg
and San Antonio Railway Company.l3
graph of the locomotive be furnished?
The following significant information regarding the state
flower of Texas was taken from the Tyler Courier-Times-
Telegraph
of April 2, 1944.
The bluebonnet, state flower of Texas, has already begun to open
early blooms in Tyler and in a few weeks more, the flowers will be
at the height of their beauty. What few people know is that a native-born
Tyler woman, Mrs. Sawnie Robertson, was the first person to conceive
the idea of having the bonnet-shaped blossom made the State flower.
The information that Mrs. Robertson was responsible for the blue-
bonnet being adopted as the state flower, was revealed Saturday in an
old Texas Scrapbook printed by the Texas Scrap Book Society of Dallas.
Pace's Texas
Scrap
Book,
as the edition is called, was given recently
to the Tyler Junior College library, along with another Texas literary
collection, by Hampson Gary, formerly of Tyler, but now Solicitor in the
Export-Import Bank in Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Robertson got the Texas chapter of the Colonial Dames of America,
of which she was a member, to petition the Legislature officially to declare
the bluebonnet as state flower. She asked Senator Barry Miller of
Dallas to present the petition and introduce an appropriate concurrent
resolution. This was done, and the Senate and House of Representatives
passed the resolution in the 27th Legislature in 1901.
Born and reared in Tyler, Mrs. Robertson was originally Miss Ellen
Boren, daughter of Samuel H. Boren, East Texas pioneer. She married
Sawnie Robertson, a young Tyler lawyer, and they built and resided in
a home on the present site of Judge P. W. Fischer's residence on the
Noonday Road. They moved to Dallas in 1878 where Robertson attained
statewide fame as a lawyer and was for several years associate justice
of the Supreme Court of Texas. His son, John C. Robertson, was born
in Tyler, and is one of the leading attorneys in Dallas at the present.
Mrs. Robertson's brother, James N. Boren, was a lieutenant in the
heroic First Texas battery of Artillery, CSA, organized and led throughout
the War Between the States by Major James P. Douglas of Tyler and
John J. Goode of Dallas. Lieutenant Boren was killed in action in the
battle of Richmond, Ky. Many older citizens of Tyler recall his and Mrs.
Robertson's sisters who lived here, Mrs. O. Loftin, Mrs. Franklin N.
Gary, Mrs. Charles Goodman and Mrs. Mary Pegues. Two brothers, Capt.
B. N. Boren and R. L. Boren, also lived here until they moved to Dallas
in the 1880's.
The Scrapbook, which gave information about Mrs. Robertson and
her husband, was originally the property of Charles Smith of Beaumont,
a native Smith countian.
The bluebonnets were especially beautiful this spring, and
many of the men in service desired to send bouquets of the
flowers to relatives and friends in the North and East. This
led Austin florists to undertake the shipment of bluebonnets
for the first time. Professor Webb forwarded a box of blue-
bonnets to Lewis Gannett of the New York Herald
Tribune.
Mr. Gannett's reply should prove of interest to the entire
membership.
The bluebonnets arrived today--a miracle that they could stand the
long journey and keep so fresh. Some of them are already on Mrs. Van
Doren's desk, and some are in a vase awaiting the return of our Professional
Texan, Stanley Walker, who usually turns up in the office here each day.
And the rest are about to go home with me, to delight Ruth too. I'm glad
to know just what "Texas bluebonnets" look like, and our office is celebrating
Texas Week.
Ensign Nelson Klose, USNR, Com MTB, Rons, 7th Fleet,
c/o Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California, was recently
in New Guinea, from which he wrote to send in his member-
ship dues and instructions that his Quarterly
should be sent
to him at his new address. It is a remarkable testimonial to
the magazine that practically all of the old members of the
Association who have entered the service have not only kept
up their membership but have written repeatedly any new ad-
dresses so that the Quarterly
could reach them wherever sta-
tioned. Today the Quarterly
is carrying the Texas record
entirely around the world.
Colonel M. L. Crimmins, 312 Geneseo Road, San Antonio,
has an article in the June, 1944, Frontier
Times
entitled "How
Camp Creek Was Named." The article answers a question
raised by Anthony Brollier in "Place Names in Wichita County"
in the March, 1944, Junior
Historian.
A. K. Weymouth, 706 N. Hampton Road, Dallas 11, Texas,
gives the following additional information on ghost towns
of Texas:
In the January, 1944, issue of the Quarterly
you requested information
on the ghost towns of Texas for use in the Handbook.
The following is a
partial list.
Birds Fort, in Tarrant County. A few miles east of the present town
of Birdville, on what was known as Calloways Lake. Famous as site of
important council between Sam Houston and the Indians.
limits of Dallas.
Cross Timbers, in Tarrant County, fourteen miles east of Fort Worth;
site in 1867 of the Rural Academy and the Mansfield Academy.
Duck Creek and Embree, in Dallas County near Garland. In 1886,
when the Santa Fe established the station of Embree, there was a
sharp rivalry between the two towns until the citizens finally agreed
to a post office on the site of the original Duck Creek, called Garland.
Embree declined.
Fort Gates, near present town of Gatesville in Coryell County. Estab-
lished in 1849. Only town in county in 1853, but in 1854 post office
established at Gatesville and Fort Gates rapidly declined.
Golconda, once county seat of Palo Pinto County, which is one of the
few counties in Texas with complete records from date of organization.
However, there is no mention in the records of what became of Gol-
conda. Meetings of the commissioners court were held at Golconda in
May, 1858, and thereafter at Palo Pinto. As far as can be ascertained,
the name of Golconda for the county seat does not seem to have been
officially confirmed.
Grande Rancho, Palo Pinto County. In 1870 was the only post office
besides Palo Pinto; located on Palo Pinto creek and was headquarters
for cattlemen.
Howe Settlement, on Chambers Creek in Ellis County. Before organiza-
tion of Ellis County, when it was under the jurisdiction of Navarro, first
county court session of Navarro was held at this place. Later the town
of Forreston developed on this site.
Towash, in Hill County; described in 1878 as one of the principal
post office centers and having about 300 population. Situated on the
Brazos River and commanded large trade; an important Indian com-
munity prior to settlement of white people.
Mobeetie. In June, 1824, after the Adobe Walls fight, survivors settled
on Sweetwater Creek in what is now Wheeler County. They called the
place Hidetown. In 1875, Fort Elliott was established about a mile from
this town, and the name was changed to Sweetwater. It was known
as Sweetwater until 1879, when Wheeler County was organized. The
town of Sweetwater was designated as the county seat of Wheeler County,
and a post office was established there. But it was found that there
was already another post office in Texas of that name, so the name was
changed to Mobeetie, which is Comanche for Sweetwater. In 1888, when
the Fort Worth & Denver reached the Panhandle, it passed many miles
south of the old town of Mobeetie. In 1903, when the Rock Island was
built through Wheeler, a station was established called Wheeler, and later
the county seat was changed to this town. More recently old Mobeetie
has moved several miles to a new location on a railroad. This town
was for many years the chief trading point in the eastern Panhandle.
New Birmingham, in Cherokee County. Was scene of the great East
Texas iron rush in 1891. Was once prosperous community of about 3,500
and had electric lights and an electric street railway. After a brief
boom the town died. The last remaining houses were demolished a
few years ago with the building of a new highway. For many years
the pretentious structures of the iron industry stood.
Trinity Mills, near present town of Carrollton in Dallas County.
Was famous for its race track. First called Witt's Mill, then Poor's Mill,
and then Trinity Mills. When station was made at Carrollton, the old
town declined.
Washington-On-The-Brazos, in Washington County. Originally called
La Bahia. Three times capital of the Republic; first capital of the Munic-
ipality of Washington; first capital of the Jurisdiction of Brazos; first
county seat of Washington County. All public buildings and some private
residences of the old town were built of brick, some being three stories
high. The town was laid off in 1835 by John W. Hall and had a population
in the fifties of some 1,500. The refusal of the citizens of the town to
pay the Houston & Texas Central Railroad a bonus of $11,000 in 1858
caused the railroad to be built to Navasota and the old town gradually
declined until now little remains.
Old Tascosa, about forty miles northwest of Amarillo, is perhaps
the best known ghost town in Texas. Here, on the north bank of the
Canadian River, where once four blocks of business buildings served a
motley frontier population, nothing remains but the rock courthouse and
a few crumbling adobe structures. Tascosa developed from the sheep
camp called Plaza Atascosa. In 1876, Harry Kimble opened a blacksmith
shop and general merchandise store, and a saloon soon followed. A north-
bound cattle and freight trail crossed the Canadian at the old Tascosa ford.
The second town in the Panhandle, Tascosa soon won the title of "The
Cowboy Capital of the Plains," and no community of the old west ever
had a more hectic existence.
The above list is by no means complete, but I hope that it may be of
use to the Association. I have been told by early settlers in Texas of at
least one hundred towns that have faded from the scene. So far I
have only been able to check and authenticate the existence of less than
half of these ghost towns.
In a privately printed book entitled Colonel
Bill
Ted Dealey
tells the story of William Greene Sterett, charter member and
first Washington correspondent of the Dallas News.
The story
is reprinted from the October 1, 1935, Golden Jubilee Edition
of the News.
Mr. Dealey points out in the foreword that
"Colonel Bill" was one of the last of the "old time 'personal'
journalists" with whose "passing has gone some of the color
of the press." By recording the flavor of Sterett's life the
author has helped to preserve the "heritage of fine traditions
[left] to the present generation of newspaper writers" by these
old-timers. Mr. Dealey in writing the story has fulfilled his
purpose, which he states in the following words:
In this true story of a great newspaper man we hope you will find in-
spiration . . . and an increased regard for the profession to which we
both belong.
Mrs. Richard G. Halter, President of the Alamo Mission
Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, San Antonio,
Texas, sends to the Quarterly
the following letter which cor-
rects statements made in a previous Texas Collection note with
reference to John Glanton.
May I call your attention to an article (on page 430) by Colonel
M. L. Crimmins on John Glanton in the April issue of the Southwestern
Historical
Quarterly,
Vol. XLVII? It states, in the last paragraph, that
"he [John Glanton] was the grandfather of Zuleme LaCoste, who married
Ferdinand Herff."
That is incorrect. The grandfather of Zuleme LaCoste was Antonio
Mendosa. Zuleme LaCoste's mother was Antonia Manuela Mendosa who
married Jean Batiste Ducaran LaCoste of France. Zuleme Herff Simpson,
daughter of Zuleme LaCoste, is a member of our chapter of the Daughters
of the Republic.
This "scalp hunter" Glanton, Col. Crimmins speaks of married Joaquina
Mendosa, aunt of Zuleme LaCoste, so is not even blood kin.
The mistake should be corrected as a matter of genealogical record.
(Mrs. R. G.) Edith Simpson Halter.
Miss Grace Bitner, Junior Historian sponsor at San Angelo
High School, who did a thesis on Tom Green County at the
University a few years ago, recently spoke to the Knights of the
Round Table at San Angelo on the subject of Tom Green County.
Miss Bitner is now preparing an entirely new history of Tom
Green County which should be published some time within the
next twelve months.
To the constantly growing group of War Department field
records in the National Archives has recently been added the
correspondence of the Judge Advocate and Quartermaster, De-
partment of Texas, 1879-1916.
At the meeting of the Executive Council of the Association
on April 28, G. B. Dealey, publisher of the Dallas Morning
News
was elected an Honorary Life Member of the Association. This
is the highest honor which the Association can confer. Mr.
Dealey was already a charter member and a Life Member of
the Association. He joins a highly select group, as he is the
fourth person to be so honored by the Association, the others
being Judge O. W. Williams of Fort Stockton, Mrs. Hallie Bryan
Perry of Houston, and Dr. Robert T. Hill of Dallas.
The May meeting of the San Antonio Historical Association
was held on the 19th at Cos House. Martin Schwettmann, author
of Santa
Rita,
spoke on "The Discovery of the University of
Texas' Golden Flow." Also a report was made on the annual
meeting of the Association held in Austin on April 28 and 29.
A note in the Dallas Morning
News
of May 9, 1944, indicated
that Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dawson, 2105 Hickory, Texarkana,
Arkansas, are in possession of valuable information on Tram-
mel's Trace, blazed from Red River County to Nacogdoches by
Nicholas Trammel about 1820. Dr. Rex Strickland, College of
Mines, El Paso, is at present preparing an article for the
Quarterly
on Trammel's Trace.
The late Hendrick William van Loon's "Every Man a His-
torian" in the May, 1944, Rotarian,
is worth any man's reading.
Van Loon says:
... I urge my indulgent readers to lose themselves in a few first-rate
history books. It will prove wise preparation for their post-war lives.
It will reveal to them that history is not merely a vague and distant
subject that should be left to a few absentminded professors who live
obscure lives in the bowels of our libraries. On the contrary, it is the
most vital and necessary study to which a citizen who means well by
his fellowmen and the community at large can ever hope to devote himself.
For the purpose of history is to give meaning to that which otherwise
would make no sense. And sense is the basis for that reasonable and
decently human life for which we are fighting.
Brigadier General J. Watt Page of Austin, State Director of
Selective Service, has sent to the Association the Infantry
Journal
for March, 1944, which has a detailed account on page
13 of operations of Texas' 86th Division in Italy in an article
entitled "The Taking of Hills 370 and 900."
John V. Haggard, who was translator of the Bexar Archives
before he entered military service, was promoted to Captain
on April 26. Haggard is serving in the Signal Corps and may
be addressed at Box 1124, Central Station, Arlington, Virginia.
The receipt of a Scrapbook
of
Young
County:
A
Pictorial
History,
which was issued by Young County Federation of
Women's Clubs in 1938 and edited by Mrs. C. F. Marshall of
Graham, Texas, impresses me with how fugitive Texas county
history items really are. This item was not in any library from
which I drew information for Texas
County
Histories:
A
Bibliography
and was therefore overlooked and not entered.
The book is packed with information on Young County and must
contain approximately one thousand pictures. Among the pic-
tures is one of L. W. Kemp, president of the Association. It is
also pointed out that two presidents of The University of Texas
were reared in Eliasville: the late Harry Yandell Benedict and
Dr. Homer Price Rainey. Miss Lucille Gay contributed materially
to the photographic section of the book.
* * *
The Baker family is well known in connection with the
history of cattle in Texas. The following note was written by
W. H. Roberts of Llano, Texas, a nephew of Captain Dan
Roberts of Texas Ranger fame. Mr. Roberts himself had an
interesting period of service with the Rangers in the early
eighties.
James H. Baker, one of Sam Houston's men, moved a young family
to Bastrop County in the early forties and engaged in the ranching
business, raising horses and cattle. Later he settled on Onion Creek, in
Travis County, Texas. He did not live long. He was a wealthy man.
To use his wife's brief description of his career, he never touched any-
thing that did not make him money. He owned quite a lot of negro slaves
and his herd of cattle grew extensively in a few years. This all hap-
pened before the Rebellion. He was given a grant of land for his seventeen
months services with Sam Houston. He selected this location on the
San Saba River, now in San Saba County, about eight miles above
the present town of San Saba. In later years this location was known
as "Baker Valley."
In about 1856, after the death of James Baker, his young sons moved
6000 head of the Baker cattle from Travis County to the Baker Valley and
ranched them on the holdings left them by their father. These two
young boys, for such they were, were Jim Baker, Jr., and George Baker.
Neither of them was 21 years old.
To digress a little, the writer obtained this information from the
venerable Rube Gray, who had settled on Cherokee Creek, 16 miles south
of the San Saba River.
The Baker cattle was the biggest herd I ever saw on the move, and
I have seen thousands of them on the move. I asked Mr. Jim Baker
how many cattle he had in this herd and he answered about 6000. It
took them an hour to pass my place. He had a motley bunch of cow
hands, white men, Mexicans and Negroes. These cattle grew to an
alarming number in five years. In 1861 the war broke out between the
states. About that time Jim Baker was badly wounded by the Indians.
He could not serve as a soldier. George Baker went into the army
just barely a grown man. Consequently, the Baker cattle were put into
the hands of two youths, John and Tom Sloan, the increase to be divided
at the end of the war. The cattle were so numerous in a short time that
they moved about 8000 head up the river to a point just below Fort
McKavitt, leaving these cattle ranging from the mouth of the San Saba
River to the head of it. There was not much sale for cattle at that time,
hence the magnitude of the growth of this herd.
One day, during the Rebellion, about 300 Apache Indians came in,
divided into two parties, and drove the San Saba River a distance of
about ten miles, and drove approximately 8000 head of cattle off. All these
cattle were not the Baker cattle, some belonging to the other men who had
ventured out a little too far and owned cattle on the range.
The war had caused the soldiers to be moved from Fort McKavitt,
leaving the country exposed to the Indians so that they were not molested.
A few ranchmen followed the Indians at a safe distance where they
wanted to see where the Indians seemed to be going. They moved toward
the head of Devils River, supposedly headed for Mexico. These cattle
were never recovered.
Mr. John Sloan gave the writer quite a bit of information of these ad-
ventures. He also told me that Jim and George Baker were two of the finest
specimens of citizenship and frontiersmen he had ever had the pleasure
of knowing.
After the war was over, the Baker Brothers took hold of the stock
and ranch interests. To give you an idea of the size of this herd of
cattle, they were ranging from the head of the San Saba River to Onion
Creek in Travis County, a distance of over 150 miles. The Baker Brothers
drove three big herds to Trinidad, Colorado, from 1869 to 1871 and
established a ranch near that place. Their route was from San Saba,
Fort Sumner, at which place they sold a lot of beef cattle to the Gov-
ernment, then on to Trinidad, Colorado, where they established a ranch
with stock cattle.
One of these drives, while crossing the plains from the head of the
Concho to Horse Head Crossing on the Pecos, they had the misfortune
of losing a big lot of cattle, caused by a barrel of water dropping from
the water wagon and bursting. The rear cattle having smelled the water,
turned and by their awful thirst, they milled or tromped this spot of
ground until all efforts of the men to move them were exhausted. How-
ever, the lead cattle or the stronger cattle never turned back, but moved
on toward the Pecos.
This Baker Brand was considered not only one of the biggest stocks
of cattle in Texas, but also a most conspicuous brand and mark, B on
the left hip and the ear mark was grub the right and swallow fork
the left, thus:
These cattle also bore a slight nick of the tail bone, which did not
disfigure the animal. I asked Mr. George Baker why he used this con-
spicuous mark and brand. He simply informed me that as a means of
identity it was quite easy in working big round-ups. He had only to
glance at the animal's head or hip to see a very different look to any
other animal in the round-up. For instance in the early spring before
the cattle shed their winter coat of long hair, minus the right ear or
the nick tail was sufficient for identity.
Mr. Baker was a very practical man in his ranch business and very
successful. To use his words, he told me he never owned anything that
a cow did not pay for. He was very proud of his family and his occupation.
My mother was Mary Baker, a sister of Jim and George Baker, and I
claim the distinction of being the oldest descendant of the Baker family
now living in Texas.
Esther S. Wohl, 4104A Utah Street, St. Louis 16, Missouri, is
interested in compiling a list of places in Texas that have been
made famous by American writers. In addition to the informa-
tion, Miss Wohl would like pictures of such places wherever
they can be furnished. Information should be sent directly to
the inquirer.
Dr. W. Stanley Hoole, librarian of North Texas State
Teachers College at Denton, sends the following information
which should prove valuable in connection with V. E. Gibben's
article on "Lawrie's Trip to Texas in 1854 and 1855" which
is to be published in the October issue of the Quarterly:
In a relatively obscure magazine (The
Water-Cure
Journal,
XX, 80-81,
Oct., 1855) I have run across a long analysis of the "Texas Industrial
Colony," called the Société de Colonization Europeo-Américain au Texas,
organized in 1855 to settle in North Texas, Dallas County. It is signed
by the Committee of Direction: D. H. Jacques, Stephen Young, and
Milo A. Townsend. The colonization project is apparently based on the
explorations of M. Victor Considérant and Albert Brisbane. Because
this reference may help some one especially interested in colonization
I am forwarding it on to you.
Dr. H. K. Crews, 310 Florida Bank Building, Orlando, Florida,
wishes complete references on the life of Col. James W. Bullock,
who defeated Piedras at Nacogdoches in 1832. Dr. Crews would
like a complete statement of Bullock's vital statistics and the
references thereto. Information should be sent direct to the
inquirer.
Lt. Col. John W. Thomason, Jr., USMC, died at San Diego,
California, on March 12, 1944, He was born at Huntsville,
Texas, in 1893 and attained distinction as a writer, artist, and
soldier. Numbers of his original drawings are deposited in the
authors' file at The University of Texas, of which he was an
ex-student. He endeared himself to a generation of Texans --
and Americans.
Dr. Walter G. Stuck, 1426 Nix Professional Building, San
Antonio, has sent in the interesting Bowie Knife illustration
appearing below. This is a reprint from The
Illustrated
London
News
of February 17, 1844. Readers should not fail to notice
the notches in the knife of the blade shown.
All members of the Association who have not already done
so are urged to fill out the Biographical Information sheet and
return for the files. If any member has mislaid the copy sent
originally, a post card request will bring another copy promptly,
Copies received to date have been very helpful in making assign-
ments for the Handbook.
In years to come this will be an in-
valuable file of the interests, activities, and accomplishments
of the members of the Association. It will also contain vital
statistics of tremendous value. Send your record to the office
at your earliest convenience.
The January Quarterly
(p. 297) carried a list of Texas
County "Oracles." To that list should be added the following:
PERSONS INFORMED ON THE HISTORY OF
VARIOUS TEXAS COUNTIES
BASTROP COUNTY—Miss Margaret Belle Jones, Bastrop, Texas.
COLORADO COUNTY—O. A. Zumwalt, Columbus, Texas.
Washington, D. C.
The Lincoln Memorial Museum recently acknowledged two
bequests within the same week. One was from a Miss Anna
Walstrom in the amount of $500 and the other from H. Fletcher
Brown in the amount of $250,000. Both contributors believed in
the ideals of the Lincoln Memorial Foundation. Both contribu-
tions were acknowledged in about the same manner by the foun-
dation. Both contributors were memorialized in good taste be-
cause of their bequests.
There must be many Texans who believe in the program for
the preservation of the historic past of Texas for which the
Association has labored for almost a half century. The Associa-
tion's record must be good enough to warrant its being left
bequests either in the amount of $500 or $250,000 with the
confidence that such monies would be handled with every care
and the donor memorialized in an appropriate manner. In plan-
ning for the disposition of their estates Texans should give
some consideration to the Association as a worthy Texas
institution.
Further emphasis was given to this point in an article by
Charles Messer Stow in the May 12 issue of the New York Sun.
At that time Editor Stow told the story of Edward Bausch's
gift of the Rochester Museum of Arts and Science to the
people of Rochester, New York. Mr. Stow tells how much the
museum has contributed to the cultural development of
Rochester.
Texas needs a new group of Breckenridges, Littlefields, and
Schreiners -- men of great resources -- who are willing to put
some of their resources back into the cultural betterment of
Texas.
Within the last year, so many inquiries have reached the
office regarding the King Ranch of Texas that it seems advisable
to give in the Texas Collection a reference to "The World's
Biggest Ranch" in Fortune,
December, 1933, pp. 49ff. The
article is the best ever done on the ranch. It is splendidly il-
lustrated and a beautiful color map locates the three divisions of
the ranch in Texas. The King Ranch is an empire of cattle
containing 1,250,000 acres stocked with Herefords, Brahmas, and
the ranch's own special Santa Gertrudis breed. The ranch op-
erates with an annual profit of about $400,000.
Captain James Taylor, AC, 0-910883, Hq. VII AF, APO No.
953, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, California, writes from the
Gilbert Islands on March 28, that he is a long way from home --
a long way from Texas. He sends greetings, however, to all his
friends in the state and relates that he finds the Gilbert natives
friendly and interesting. He flew from Oahu to the Gilberts.
S. W. Geiser, of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, sends
the following inquiry to this department regarding a noted
horse-tamer, who was in Texas in 1855.
A recent volume, Bookmen's
Holiday
(Deoch Fulton (ed.), The New
York Public Library, 1943), has lately come into my hands. It is a
book in honor of Harry Miller Lydenberg, long-time member of the
staff, and from 1935 to 1941 Director of the library. Among its many
fine essays (chiefly on bibliographical subjects) is one by Robert W.
Henderson on JOHN SOLOMON RAREY (1827-66), world-famous horse-tamer
and -trainer.
I confess to delight in this essay. For many years I have been interested
in Rarey because of his "apprenticeship" in early Texas. His life has
been written by contemporaries, and the Dictionary
of
American
Biography
has a sketch of him. T. B. Thorpe (1861) published an account of
Rarey, and obituary notices appeared in the New York Times
(Oct. 8,
1866, p. 5, col. 2), the New York Tribune
(Oct. 9, 1866, p. 9, col. 5),
and Turf,
Field
&
Farm
(Oct. 13, 1866). There is a sketch in Appleton's
Cyclopaedia
of
American
Biography,
and in John S. Hart's The
School
Room
(1868), ch. xxi. There is also an account of Rarey's demonstration
of his remarkable abilities as a horse-tamer before Queen Victoria, the
Prince Consort, and the English Court, at the royal stables at Windsor.
Sara Lowe Brown, in her "Rarey, the Horse's Master and Friend,"
and her book, The
Horse
Cruiser
(1925), has also given much of the
greatest interest on the life of this remarkable man. Yet certain chapters
in the all-too-brief life of Rarey [he died at the age of 39] are still in-
adequately known.
My particular interest in Rarey is this: In 1855, after having worked
out his "system" of horse-taming in Ohio, Rarey's "success was so
positive that the true magnitude of the field before him opened on his
view, and now he felt that he must in turn become a student. With this
modest idea he left Ohio [with one Captain Atkinson] for the distant
plains of Texas, where upon the wild inhabitants of the prairies he
found his law of kindness operated 'as a charm.' On his return [from
Texas] he gave his first public exhibition at Columbus [Ohio]. . . ."
(Thorpe, Harper's
New
Monthly
Magazine,
XXII, 618). Rarey, in
a letter to the London Times,
states that he "passed a length of time
experimenting [in Texas] on wild horses, mules, &c.," and his grand-
niece, Mrs. Sara Lowe Brown, tells me that he "spent several months
in Texas." She was not, however, able exactly to locate J. S. Rarey's
work in Texas.
I am keenly interested in learning of any contemporary--1855--Texan
accounts of Rarey in Texas. Houston, Galveston, Austin, or San Antonio
papers may give such. So far, I have been able to secure only two
references to men of the Rarey name, in Texas newspapers. J. S. Rarey's
oldest brother, William H. Rarey (b. 1812), a successful horse-tamer,
was in Texas in February, 1859, taming horses and lecturing. He
traveled extensively throughout the Union in this capacity, after the
fame of his younger brother was secure. He is mentioned here to clear
up the reference in the Henderson Southern
Beacon
of that date. Any
information on further newspaper references will be most cordially
appreciated.
E. W. Winkler has called to my attention the fact that in 1856 a
"third edition, revised and corrected" of Rarey's book, The
Modern
Art
of
Taming
Wild
Horses,
was printed at the State
Times
Office in Austin;
the verso
of the title-page reads: "Entered according to Act of Congress
in the year 1856, by J. S. Rarey, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court
of the United States, for the District of Texas." This should be added
to the editions listed in Robert W. Henderson's essay on Rarey, first
above mentioned.
While on the subject of horses, may I ask another query, which has
interested me for a long time: While it has long been known that imported
live stock was brought into Texas for breeding purposes at an early
date, and that Texans sought to improve racing stock in Texas and
had race tracks in almost every town of importance in early Texas,
I have been able to find only one reference regarding the importation
of horses. William Martin Lubbock and Henry Saltus Lubbock in 1860
are reported (American Stock
Journal,
II (1860), p. 16) to have
imported from Bridport, Vt., purebred Devon cattle, and a filly sired
by Edgar Hill's "Black Hawk Chief." A careful running of the files
of livestock journals some years ago in the library of the U. S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture in Washington netted this one item for horse-
stock importation. Who were the other breeders that brought into
early Texas fine equine stock? (We have, of course, numerous records
of importations of purebred cattle and sheep before the Civil War.)
Again, any information, no matter how slight or fragmentary, will be
most welcome.
Professor Geiser has also contributed the following note on
the Bethel Coopwood herd of camels in Bastrop County, 1876-78.
The death, at the age of 88, of Mrs. John Wesley Lanfear of Austin
(January 31, 1944) recalls to me an editorial read some years ago
(National Live
Stock
Journal,
IX (1878), p. 299). This editorial relates
Lanfear's part in an interesting camel-breeding experiment in
Bastrop County. It reads, in part, ". . . [The camels] feed on cactus
and brush, eschewing all grasses that cattle and horses eat, if the
favorite cactus can be had. . . . [Results] seem to indicate that camel
raising is a profitable business in Texas. Mr. [E. L.] Lanfear says
there is one camel in the herd that has traveled 150 miles between sun
and sun, and that almost any well-broken camel is good for more
than 100 miles in a day. . . ."
John Wesley Lanfear (1856-1919) was born in Pasadena, California,
and died in Elgin, Bastrop County. His father, Enon L. Lanfear, was a
native of New York State who moved to California at the time of the
Gold Rush, taking his family. After a few years the family moved
back East to Manteno, Kankakee County, Illinois, where J. W. Lanfear
received an elementary education. In 1876 Enon L. Lanfear, his wife,
and two sons, John Wesley and Eugene, came to Bastrop County, and
settled at about the place where the location of the town of Elgin was
planned. The survey of the H. & T. C. railroad building to Austin was
changed, and missed the Lanfear place by about four miles.
The herd of camels belonged to Bethel Coopwood, a lawyer and former
resident of California. They numbered about forty; and in the year or
two that the Lanfears cared for the camels, before the herd was sold,
one or more calves were born. The camels were herded by day and
penned at night to prevent straying. About once a week they were driven
to Wilbarger Creek for water. During the winter the camels lived, by
preference, on prickly pears, rather than on the mesquite grass which
was abundant.
Chris Emmett of San Antonio (to whom we are indebted for much
of what we know of camels in Early Texas) has mentioned this Bastrop
County herd in his Texas
Camel
Tales,
pp. 243-246.
Margaret Bierschwale, recently Librarian at John Tarleton
Agricultural College, but now residing at Mason, Texas, writes
that she is working on topics having to do with the history of
Mason County.
J. A. R. Moseley of the Smaller War Plants Corporation, who
is residing at present in Apartment 679, The Mayflower, Wash-
ington, D. C, has written regarding a distinctive hotel of early
Texas.
In the April issue of the Southwestern
Historical
Quarterly,
mention
is made of an article by Eleanor Stuck on the early days of the Menger
Hotel at San Antonio, and the question is put as to what are the most
historic and distinctive hostelries in Texas.
I want to submit the name of the "Excelsior Hotel" of Jefferson, as
being within the first half-dozen in flavor and romance. It was here
that the jury stayed during the celebrated trial of Rothschild for the
murder of "Diamond Bessie," which is one of the most celebrated trials
in the jurisprudence of Texas. General U. S. Grant was also registered
at the Excelsior and the expression about "grass growing in the streets"
originated here upon the visit of Jay Gould to Jefferson when its
townspeople were trying to prevent the railroads from building into
Texas, because they knew that such development would destroy Jefferson
as the head of navigation, and Gould wrote this on the register at the
Excelsior Hotel.
When my job is up here, I might submit an article on the Excelsior
Hotel for the Quarterly.
The
State
and
Local
History
News
(Vol. II, No. 6) for May
includes the following comment:
"Texas Collection," in the April number of the Southwestern
Historical
Quarterly,
includes an item about the most celebrated hotels of Texas.
The Menger of San Antonio, the Driskill of Austin, and the Nimitz of
Fredericksburg are mentioned. . . . This is an interesting phase of social
history and deserves more widespread attention.
We shall look forward to the promised article on the Excelsior.
As a matter of fact, the whole distinctive history of Jefferson
has never yet been completely done.
The General Electric Monogram
for December, 1943-January,
1944 (pp. 22-45) contains an excellent article entitled "TEXAS:
The
Monogram
Surveys the Fabulous Cornucopia of the Gulf
Coast." There are over fifty well-chosen illustrations accompany-
ing the article. Much source material therein is drawn from
The
Texas
Almanac
(which guarantees its accuracy). The
Monogram
pays the following tribute to the Dallas News
and
Stuart McGregor, editor of the Almanac
:
The Dallas News
and associated enterprises, is the oldest Texas
business institution, having had its centennial in April, 1942. Since
January 1, 1857, this paper has published The
Texas
Almanac.
It is
the most complete and amazing compilation of information and fact
about this or any other state which has come to our attention. We
acknowledge our dependence on it in the preparation of this article,
and hereby express our thanks and appreciation to Editor Stuart M.
McGregor of the News
staff who is in charge of the Almanac.
In the
early days, the only two books carried by the pioneers as they pushed
their way across the Texas plains were the Bible and The
Texas
Almanac.
If you want to know anything about Texas, get a copy of this remarkable
book--a three-hundred-page encyclopedia.--Ed.
The American Phamaceutical Association of Washington,
D. C, through its librarian, Miss Hester Jones, has presented
to the Association several volumes of duplicate copies of the
Quarterly.
Such thoughtfulness is much appreciated.
Thomas J. Barnes, McMinnville, Tennessee, would like in-
formation on a Captain or Lieutenant Davis, who was a mem-
ber of the Texas Rangers during the Civil War and who is re-
ported to have served in Tennessee in Confederate raiding ac-
tivities. Davis is reported to have been in the Dug Hill fight
and to have been killed at the Billie Officer Place in Sinking
Cane near the present Monterey, Tennessee. Any information
should be sent directly to the inquirer.
Professor Hugo Tristram Engelhardt of the School of Medicine
of Tulane University, who was born in Houston in 1912, is a
new member of the Association. Dr. Engelhardt would hardly be
spoken of as having reached middle age, and yet he has already
published twenty-one articles in the leading medical journals
of America. Such splendid achievement should probably merit
a twenty-one gun salute.
Volume 1, Number 2 of the new magazine The
Sons
of
the
Republic
of
Texas
has made its appearance. Included in this
number are the following articles: "Texans at Salerno, 1943";
"Launching of the USS
San
Jacinto";
"The Schooner San
Ja
-
cinto,
Texan Navy," by L. W. Kemp; "Sidney Sherman," by
Odin M. Kendall; "George and Herman Brown"; and "Why We
are in This War" by Harry Pennington, Sr., who is the Presi-
dent of the Sons and who is also serving as editor of the new
magazine. Included also are memorial notes on Edward House
Andrews, John Ira Kercheville, and Jesse Granville Watkins.
C. L. Patterson of Bandera has recently done an attractive
county history booklet entitled, History
and
Directory
of
Bandera
County.
Santa
Rita
continues to receive favorable comment as indicated
by the following letter from the Director of the Oxford Press.
THE CLARENDON PRESS
Oxford
Dear Mr. Carroll,
I had already written to Professor Webb about Santa
Rita
when your
letter of 15th December arrived. It is very kind of you to send me the
book, which I value. My eyes, accustomed for four years to the deepening
gloom of "austerity" printing, are almost dazzled by the fine workmanship
and materials of the book. This is certainly the style in which permanent
books should appear. I like your decisions not to use half-tones for
the illustrations -- the bold black line figures match the type far better.
The binding is very pretty indeed. One day you must come along
here to Oxford -- when there are not so many Americans about! -- and
let me show you around.
With all good wishes,
Yours sincerely,
A. P. Norington.
Dan Williams, 712 Jackson Place, N. W., Washington 6, D. C,
who covers the White House and the State Department as
news correspondent, writes that he has never been so busy
"seeing history in the making," but that he is always interested
in "seeing through" his Quarterly
upon its arrival.
From the Ricker Ranch in Reagan County comes a generous
letter from Rupert P. Ricker regarding the Santa
Rita
book
and story. If any enlargement of the slim book had been made,
it probably should have been in the direction of further emphasis
on the prime part which Ricker played in initiating the moves
which led to the final development of the Reagan County oil field.
His part was invaluable, and in compensation he realized less
than five hundred dollars -- probably less than expenses.
There should be some way, however, for a grateful people
to confer upon Ricker the title of "Distinguished Texan" --
for in this world of extreme commercialism, it is almost a
"believe it or not" that Ricker's main interests were in aiding
The University of Texas and the distressed ranchmen of his
Reagan County homeland. He accomplished his major ob-
jectives in both particulars, and to him it has only been incidental
that his efforts brought him no personal profit.
Like an old school Texan, he has gone on without bitterness
and has throughout the years been a good citizen in the state
where his services should also have made him a first citizen.
There is a good earthiness in his letter: he has been the only
"foreman, hired hand, and what-not" to the sheep through a
trying winter. His son and the other hands have gone to war,
but he carries right on reporting as follows: "We have had a
hard winter; it's cold here now, but I am looking for a change,
and it will only take a light rain to carry us 'til June." And
then he adds -- as virtually every letter from any part of West
Texas has stated through the winter -- "I had to change feed
four times this winter on my sheep on account of the protein
shortage."
Rupert Ricker and his type have not yet been adequately
memorialized in Texas. * * *
Houston Wade of Schulenburg sent to many of his friends
a valuable remembrance at Christmastime of 1943. This was
a thirty-three page booklet, David
Wade:
A
Texas
Pioneer.
David Wade was the great-grandfatner of Houston Wade, who
has served many years as Treasurer of the Sons of the Republic
of Texas, and who is well known for his books and studies on
the Mier expedition.
Through the instrumentality of President L. W. Kemp the
State Board of Control has presented to the Association one of
the state seals removed from the Centennial markers. This seal
consists of separate pieces of star and wreath. It seems that
vandals had partially dislodged these seals from the markers,
making their removal advisable. A newspaper suggestion that
the rest of the seals be removed and sold for junk was effectively
counteracted by President Kemp. A program of public edu-
cation designed to protect markers and save them from being
defaced is much in order.
J. E. Conner spoke on "The History of Fort Sam Houston"
at a meeting of the San Antonio Historical Association held
at Cos House on March 17, 1944.
President L. W. Kemp was personally responsible for the
addition of twenty new members to the Association in the
month of December.
The publicity incident to the annual meeting was handled
again this year in a highly satisfactory manner by Professor
Duncan Robinson, Director of Publicity for N. T. A. C, and
by Miss Lorena Drummond, of the Public Relations Bureau of
the University. Our sincerest thanks are extended to both.
I think every member of the Association will agree that the
letter which follows is a genuine historical document which
ought to be preserved. It is an authentic picture of ranching in
Texas in the winter of 1943-1944. Perhaps Evetts Haley un-
consciously writes history any time he sits down to his type-
writer.
JH Ranch
Feb. 6, 1944
Dear Walter P.:
Since this is Sunday morning and I have been fortified with a small
shot of religion via the radio, and three more by way of the old fashioned
coffee pot, I decided I had better kick back the tablecloth, dig out my type-
writer, and wrestle out one of my biennial reports to you. It will be
the first time I have devoted a Sunday to such spiritual activity in a
long while.
You have probably gathered that we have been engaged as usual
and as it will be in the future, in a tough tussle with the weather.
Actually it has been the toughest I have ever seen. I like for the going to be
rough; I never really get interested and screw down in my saddle tree
until it does. But I like to have some chance of coming out on top sometime,
and at times this winter it looked like old mother nature was going
to turn out to be the best man, to use a slightly mixed metaphor, which
is nothing to how everything else is mixed up these days.
I will not try to detail all the perversities of the season to date. I
have done that for others until it is more than a twice-told tale. We
have had one snow on top of another until, by my conservative figures,
we have had at least three feet in all. We have had some nice rains
mixed in that would drive any cowman crazy in December and January.
We have had the damnedest blizzard since the Amarillo weather station
was established, fifty years and more ago, with the exception of one
in 1899 which froze everything, "even the mortgages," one old-timer
said. That is the report of the weather bureau, but any old-timer will
tell you that is all "stuff." To say the least I have never found life
more interesting in quite a spell, and while the snow is gone, winter
is not, and March and early April have finished many a cowman after
a hard winter. But we are lucky; we have had about three weeks of
lovely weather, which drove off the snow after everybody had resigned
himself to wade through it until March, and gave us a little time in
which to shape up our herds, get in more feed, and get ready for the
long and hard pull to warm weather and the coming of grass.
When I am snowed in, like I was on January 7, and couldn't get
outside except for a few minutes at a time without getting frozen
to a crisp, I storm around the house and kick everything out but the
window lights. After it is over and I can set down in the middle of a
good horse and get to work, I still may not be a paragon of agreeableness,
but somehow my family finds me "tollable." Jimmie has helped keep
the picture a little brighter when the sun could not make it through.
Soon after the first foot of snow fell December 9, followed by a nice sleet
of two or three inches, we had ridden over to our nearest neighbor --
a cowcamp about four miles southeast —to see if the roads had been
broken from there to the Plains, above (and "above" not only means
up, but north, in Texas, as you know). On the way back the crust was
breaking through with our horses at almost every step, jerking them
to pieces and not helping my stove-up back much. Jimmie, feeling sorry
for his pet horse, Jerry, said: "When I get to be an inventor, the first
thing I am going to invent is snowshoes for horses," and I agreed that
would be fine.
But after that storm in January hit, I saddled a short-coupled, rock-
bottomed horse that could plow snow like a caterpillar, and headed
for the Rocking Ds, the ranch we have some twelve to fourteen miles
west. I crossed Lake Creek, upon which we are located, on the ice, and
picked the ridges and the high country, through the sandhills to the
west, trying to keep out of the deep drifts. When I reached Carson Creek,
named for old Kit, the snow was banked across it in gentle riffles. I
got to the west side, where the sandhills rise high, windblown, and
steep from the bed of the creek, and tried to make it out. Buster was
a-sweating, and his square-built quarters were churning his tight little
frame through the belly-deep snow with a powerful stride. The sandhills
were almost in reach when he stopped; my tapaderos were setting
deep in the snow; Buster had no traction —he had high-centered. We
backed out, took a circle, hit the bank at another spot, and soon Buster
and I were snaking up the bare, brown ridges that mark the shifty
crests of the Carson sandhills for miles in every direction, high, but
not dry, and frozen into a firm footing for Buster's confident stride.
But we were soon off these, and breaking through the drifts of the
choppy little hills beyond, where the tall red sage grass sometimes stuck
through the snow; sometimes merely humped up under the snow and
ice in miniature hills itself.
Everything was going well except I had taken a bath the night before
and put on a new suit of heavy underwear, and I kept shifting uneasily
in the saddle with a trouble not associated with rough terrain alone.
I soon discovered the trouble. The underwear had a button in the wrong
place for a man who acquired his bow legs just setting around -- "just
settin' around a horse," as Curly said. I worked it to one side and
pushed on, but it pushed right back. On the ridge between Carson and
Moore's creek I went through a wire gap, and while I was off I un-
buckled my leggings, pulled down my Levi's, got out my knife, and --
standing there in a gentle breeze and a foot of snow, cut that brightly
polished button off and let it drop into a drift. "When I get to be an
inventor," I said to myself, "the first thing I'm going to invent is a
pair of underwear on which the button does not abut slap dab upon
your saddle seat." After that we sailed smoothly along until we reached
Moore's Creek. It was belly deep to a tall Indian for a hundred yards,
with the drifts running in great waves, and curling back under at
the crests, like those of the sea frozen in motion. Everywhere under foot
in the thickets along the creek, were turkey tracks made while these
long-legged wild birds hunted hackberries that still clung to the branches
of the scrubby trees, and in one giant cottonwood were a bunch of robins,
as mixed up on the seasons as everybody else.
At the Ds it was pitiful. By that time we had been under a foot of
snow for a solid month. Our feed pastures -- our smoothest country,
did not have a thing showing except the tips of the bear grass and once
in awhile the rusty red of a little coarse sage grass. In the first one
we had our cows and baby calves. For a solid month they had stood
or slept for twenty-four hours a day on snow and ice. Faint touches
of green on the noses of the calves showed the signs of futile struggles
to chew a little substance out of the stringy tips of the bear grass. Once
in a while I would see an old cow get hold of a bundle of the spines,
and stand and pull, shaking her head from side to side like a bulldog
on a badger, trying to pull the stems out, and I thought: Food or fiber?
In Mexico it is fiber; they make it into ropes. Here it was the only feed
besides the pitiful dole of cake that we were putting out. Once in
awhile I would see an old cow that had managed to pull out a bundle of
the center stems. She would be standing sore-footed, humped high, but
with her head held up, a satisfied look on her face, chewing away, with
the soapsuds boiling out of her mouth, and falling to be frozen into
infinitesimal bubbles of ice upon the white crust below. Of course the
milk that they gave was a tragic drop, and as we drifted them in from
the ridges to the feed grounds, where we could reach them with a
wagon, blood often marking the tracks they cut deep through the ice
-- for the snow froze into a cake that encrusted our whole world -- I
noticed that these baby calves rustled for a bite of feed far beyond
their mothers, symbolic of a youthful determination, it seemed, never to
die. We found four under the drifts of that blizzard; six more have
died since, besides a cow and two yearlings, in as pretty weather as a
cowman could wish. It is the old and familiar reaction after the storm.
I came into the headquarters of the Ds after a ride of fourteen
miles, and there in the feed wagon with old Dan, an old-time cowpuncher
whom I have on that ranch, was my brother, John. He had heard we
were reaching hard for the snubbing post, had left the ranch west
of Midland, driven up opposite the Ds on the highway, borrowed a
horse, and had ridden in to help. We made medicine and ate up a pot
of beans. It looked hopeless to him. Everybody in the country who had
a place to move to was going out. Many had already shipped to market
and taken their losses. He thought I ought to go out with ours; ship
them down on him, even though it might throw us short there. I
talked with Mr. Dent, by long-distance. He never quits fighting. We
decided to stay, even though it looked like a repetition of 1918 and
snow on the ground until spring. We had drifts around the pinnacles
that ranged from ten to fifteen feet deep. We dug in.
I told John that this was the worst one in history. The maximum wind
at Amarillo was 48 miles an hour, but it was going up hill there.
Here it was coming down hill and I know it was 50 to 60, and so wrote
Bailey, I believe, the day it was on. Anyway, I am kind of like the old-
timers now; I don't believe the weather bureau. To quote old Frank
Mitchell, great and good cowpuncher who figured in the Goodnight book,
who once wrote Beal Queen about an earlier storm: "the way it
snowed and blowed was a caushon." I said to John: "The weather
bureau says it is the worst in fifty years, but old Dan won't agree."
"How did you like this one?" Dan asked. "This was the worst," I said.
"The bureau says the worst in fifty years." "Hell," said Dan scornfully,
"back there on April 8, 1912 when I was on the freight trail," he
began, naming one that I had not even heard before, "we had one
that
. . ." and I laughed, but not out loud, for Dan is a man of powerful,
positive convictions. But as for me, I was inclined to agree with Jimmie.
The morning after the storm we went out to the corrals to catch
our horses and pack out some feed to my stuff at the JHs. The boys
were just ahead of me, and as I came up to the gate I could hear
twelve year old Jimmie, who had just passed, a five foot drift in the
middle of the corral that was twisted into weird designs, popping off
to our thirty-seven year old cowpuncher: "Van," he was saying, "we
will sure have something to tell our kids about now."
Later John observed why the old storms were always worst; "The
old-timers were out in them, then; they are inside sitting next to the
fire, now." As I said, the sunshine and the thaw finally came. During
the first few days, you would see cattle and horses standing, motionless,
in the snow for hours, seemingly soaking up the warmth of that low-
slanting sun. The first day made us all happy and hopeful, and I recall
Jimmie's rushing inside and saying to his mother: "Mother, why don't
you come outside and enjoy the sunshine with the rest of the animals."
He got tremendously interested in shovelling trails to the woodpile,
the chicken house, corrals, outdoor toilet, and elsewhere. The ground
froze as hard as flint, to considerable depth, and shut off our water,
so that we had to fall back on the old outhouse, down under the bank.
The next night I found Jimmie outside gazing contentedly across the
moon-lit valley of Lake Creek to where he could see the cows nibbling
at the skunk brush on the far bank, one hundred and fifty yards away --
a night so still and cold and crisp that we could hear them stepping
around in the snow. It was a beautiful night, with the thermometer
at the kitchen door standing at twelve degrees above at the time. Jimmie
was almost daydreaming, drinking in the scene with proper appreciation
—"I have just been thinking, Daddy," he said, "how much of the
beauties of nature you miss by enjoying the comforts of the home."
But this letter is running too long. I must quit this spiritual exercise
and get down to good hard work. Sunday, with us, is still just another
day for labor and hope.
Regards,
Evetts
Philip C. Tucker, III, 2124 13th St. W, Bradenton, Florida, is
still remembered by many of the older members of the Asso-
ciation as one of the outstanding contributors of documentary
material relating to Texas back in the early days of the Associa-
tion's existence. Mr. Tucker then resided in Galveston, and al-
though he has recently passed his 80th birthday, we have
recently been favored with several letters from him which
speak a warm appreciation of the Quarterly
and especially
of the way in which the Texas Collection keeps him in touch
with historical activities in the State.
Mr. Tucker writes that he has the feeling that Andrew F.
Muir's "Destiny of Buffalo Bayou" does not give a full and
complete picture of activity along the coastal area, and that
Houston is favored at the expense of Galveston. Mr. Tucker
says that had Galveston not become the metropolis of Texas
and had her port facilities not been developed, Houston, like
several early towns, would have died; and that it was Galveston
which was a concentration point for cotton cargoes and for
storage. Mr. Tucker has appended to his letter extracts of a
letter written from Galveston in 1852 to P. C. Tucker of
Vergennes, Vermont, his grandfather, who later came to Texas
and practiced medicine at Galveston.
Galveston, [Texas] Nov. 30th, 1852.
[P. C. Tucker, Esq.
Vergennes, Vermont.]
My dear Sir:
things that would have furnished material for a letter had I written
earlier -- that I have not done so is owing to a variety of causes more
easily conceived than described. . . .
The Governor of this state has at last in response to the general
wish of the people called an extra Session of the Legislature -- Al-
though the Apportionment & some other minor bills were the pretext
for this Call Yet the great question which will be discussed will be that
of internal improvements by the State Government.
The whole State is awake to the necessity of having free and safe
Communication with the Coast from the interior -- The only question
is what plan shall be adopted -- All have determined on Railroads but
every little community & town has its own cherished route & that
route must be directly by their doors -- then again as to the means and
the method of raising them there is still greater diversity of opinion --
The plan proposed by the Galveston Convention of July last, of making
the State Credit available seems to me the most feasible of any I
have yet seen --the idea of making large donations of land to effect
the object would it seems to me be a most ruinous policy-- it would
lock up the only available means of State Credit, Create large landed
corporations. Keep out Emmigration and give rise to a host of minor
evils that even Railroads would scarcely counterbalance -- I send you
herewith a paper -- "The News Extra" published by subscription for
distribution through the State --I may state here that the State Con-
stitution must be amended to admit of the State engaging in internal
improvements.
Speaking of Railroads, the first shipment of iron, Locomotives etc.
for Texas arrived here a few weeks since for the Harrisburgh R.Road --
I hardly know how long this road has been in progress but I believe
about two years. It commences at Harrisburgh, a few miles below
Houston on Buffalo Bayou and will extend to the Brazos somewhere
about San Felipe -- the movement is an important one, much more so
than people generally believe. It will take nearly the whole of the trade
of the upper Brazos -- And much of the lower, especially when the water
is low on the Bar at the mouth of the river -- it will, also when finished
injure Houston very much if it does not entirely ruin it--Between
Galveston & Harrisburgh there is plenty of water both as regards
depth & width, while between that place & Houston the Bayou is very
narrow-- Not sufficiently wide for two Steamers to run abreast, or for
one to turn around, & were it not for a small inlet of the Bayou at
Houston which affords them facilities for turning, navigation would
be impossible for other than the smallest kind of Craft. Added to these
advantages that Harrisburgh affords a much better landing, lighter
soil (for Houston is a perfect mortar bed in wet weather) is quite as
easy of access to the Country: and it is not very difficult to forsee the
effects of this road upon Houston. I think that the road has progressed
finely considering the opposition it has met from Houston and the dis-
couragement from almost every quarter —At present about 20 miles of
the road are graded and they are progressing with the remainder as
fast as possible with the small number of laborers they have been able
to procure -- for they can't procure Irishmen here by the asking, &
Negroes are scarce. . . .
From whatever point or points in the interior a road may start I
think it must terminate at Galveston -- the Bay might be bridged
easily and at comparatively trifling cost -- there is a group of islands
some 10 miles from the City called Deer Islands. (I send you a chart
of the Bay &c) These are scattered across as to offer every facility
that could be desired for this purpose ---. With a line of road terminating
here & branching off in the Country Galveston would in a short time
rival N. Orleans: For we would have a line of Steamers between N. York
& this port -- Just imagine a line of Railroad from San Antonio to the
Gulf —at Galveston, as it must eventually terminate -- A road branching
from this to Red River, connecting at Shreveport with the Vicksburgh
& Shreveport R.R. & passing through the oldest settled & richest Counties
in Texas & bringing the whole of the trade of Upper Red River to this
port to say nothing of that of Arkansas & Mississippi, for much even
of that would come here in preference to New Orleans.
Planters would do better here than at the former place -- they would
have to pay less for their goods and would receive more for their produce --
Our Charges are much less -- Freights are less from New York here
than from N.Y. to N.O. --harbor dues are less -- pilotage is less &
towage is not an item in the bill of shipping expense here -- Rents
here are much lower -- Clerk hire is less because the expenses of living
are less -- With all these advantages, added to that of a good harbor, I
can not see why with a line of road or roads as contemplated, Galveston
may not dispute with New Orleans the possession of the Southern trade
&
Shipping business -- I think that she might claim the precidence over
almost any Southern City even if she were to confine her exports and
imports to her own State.
Business in Texas is increasing very rapidly -- the amount of Cotton,
Sugar & Molasses exported this year will nearly double that of the last
immigration is pouring in through every avenue, and were Texas only
a moderately sized State instead comprising a territory equal in extent
to nearly the whole of the Middle & Northern States it would soon
be a thickly settled country —as is all Yankeedom with its utmost
ingenuity cannot make it such —We have had heavy rains both on
the island and throughout the country lately & they have doubtless oc-
casioned a permanent rise in the rivers and produce of all kinds is
coming in rapidly -- the Cotton & Sugar crop is unusually large --
There is even more of the two latter staples than there are vessels
here to ship it on --Freights have advanced from ½ to ⅞th of a cent per
lb. on Cotton to New York. Please write at your earliest convenience.
Very respectfully & Truly Yours;
Samuel B. Hurlburt M. D.
Again the book auction was a feature of the annual meeting.
This year's auction was specially designated by the Executive
Council as the G. B. Dealey Auction of Texana. Auctioneers
again this year were Donald Day and Frank Goodwyn; both
kept the crowd amused and both sold Texas books in quantity.
To both the Association extends a sincere v.ote of thanks. The
forty-five persons and firms who contributed to the auction are
listed below:
Mr. G. B. Dealey
Mr. Walter P. Webb
Mr. E. T. Miller
Miss Amelia Williams
Mr. E. C. Barker
Mrs. Lipscomb Norvell
E. C. Steck & Co.
Mr. J. Evetts Haley
Mr. M. L. Hankins
Mr. Thomas Gilcrease
Rev. Joseph W. Schmitz
Mr. C. L. Patterson
Mr. Lovick Pierce
Mr. H. Bailey Carroll
Mr. Earl Vandale
Houston Public Library
Mr. Houston Wade
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Ferguson
Dr. P. I. Nixon
Miss Frances Donecker
Mr. Edward Stevenson
Mr. George P. Isbell
Mr. J. Marvin Hunter
Mr. Lewis Gannett
Mr. S. W. Geiser
Mr. L. F. Sheffy
Mr. L. W. Kemp
Mr. Frank Caldwell
Mr. Chris Emmett
Mr. Arthur E. Thomas
Mr. Ted Dealey
Mr. Paul Adams
Mr. S. G. Reed
Miss Frances McMinn
Mr. W. A. Philpott, Jr.
Mr. J. C. Dykes
Mr. Frank Rosengren
Mr. Carl Hertzog
Mr. Tom Lea
Mr. E. M. Coulter
Mrs. Sallie Giberson
Mr. Claude Elliott
Mr. W. A. Whatley
The Naylor Company
If any contributor's name has inadvertently been omitted,
please call the attention of the office to the omission.
Already there has been one contributor to next year's auction:
Dr. P. I. Nixon, Vice-President of the Association, sent in an
item in May labeled, "For the Book Auction in '45." Other mem-
bers may do likewise any time a duplicate is discovered on
the shelf.
For valuable services at the auction, the thanks of the As-
sociation are extended to Anna Buchanan, Dorothy Louise
Fields, Mrs. Nella Mae Dieter, and Genevieve Ferguson.
Stuart McGregor was elected a Fellow of the Association
at the April meeting of the Executive Council. McGregor has
for many years been editor of The
Texas
Almanac.
He has re-
cently been serving as editor of the Dallas News.
Artist Tom Lea, of El Paso, now internationally known and
a veteran artist-reporter of the war for Life
magazine, made
another striking contribution in Life,
May 29, with "Three
Airmen," in which he presented portraits of Jimmy Doolittle,
Bernt Balchen, and Claire Chennault, finding in the three
men characteristics of all fliers. Chennault is a native Texan,
having been born at Greenville.
Tom Lea, despite his globe-girdling, however, remains a
Texan. Success and recognition have left him with his roots
mesquite-like -- firmly imbedded in the Texas soil. Original
Tom Lea pictures now command "eastern" prices in the eastern
markets, but recently Tom and his long-time friend, Carl
Hertzog, ignoring offers already in hand for the Santa
Rita
original drawings, bundled up most of them and sent them to
the Association. An accompanying letter provided for their
distribution: one went to the book auction, one has been placed
in the Association's office, and three —of special historical
significance -- went into the authors' file in the library. Thus
do Tom Lea and Carl Hertzog continue to render splendid
services, repeatedly serving values and making contributions not
to be expressed in dollars and cents. Such acts were charac-
teristic of the "old-time" Texas spirit, and they still make
Texas and the world a better place to live in.
J. Evetts Haley was in Austin early in June and brought along
a highly favorable report on the address given by Boyce House
at the annual dinner of the Panhandle Plains Historical Society
in Canyon. Boyce House is a folklorist, humorist and historian
and is the author of I
Give
You
Texas,
Oil
Boom,
and Were
You
in
Ranger?
Evetts was especially interested in House's
philosophy of history upon which he had taken the following
notes:
History is not the exclusive property of the Ph.D.'s -- much less of
the writer of that most unread and unreadable production of the human
brain: the master's thesis. Nor is history solely an account of things
of long ago. History is anything important and significant which has
happened. It might have been in 1492 or it might have been yesterday.
And history is not just the doings of generals and politicians. Wherever
men have planned and played and plowed, wherever they have smiled
and sung and splendidly swaggered, wherever men and women have
wooed and wed and worked and wrought and worshipped, wherever they
have dreamed and died -- there is history. I like to think of the history
of Texas as being not something past and dead but as a mighty, living
force projecting itself into the present and profoundly affecting the future.
Boyce House has further distinguished himself by being
one of the few Texans not knowing exactly where Coronado
was at a given time; and contrasting the Spaniards to the
weather-beaten old-time Texans, House had the following to say:
And here stands one who is not among the Coronado addicts. The
Spaniard was picturesque, all right, in his shining armor--(I suppose
it was shining)--hunting for non-existent cities of gold -- but what
need is there to spend a lifetime trying to decide whether he camped for
a single night three miles west, or six and a quarter miles east, of the
present city of Abilene, Texas? To me, there is more romance in the
weather-beaten countenance of a Texas rancher and there is more nobility
in the heroic features of a ranch wife and mother -- a couple who, with
raw courage and bare hands, despite northers, sand, wind and sun (or
perhaps because of these challenging conditions) wrought in the wilder-
ness a civilization that is richer in dollars and infinitely richer in human
values than the seven golden cities that Coronado sought -- even if
they had existed.
Dr. L. F. Sheffy is Executive Secretary of the Panhandle
Plains Historical Society and the editor of the Panhandle
Plains
Historical
Review.
Year after year the Review
has made sig-
nifiicant contributions to the history of the Plains area of
Texas. The museum founded and operated by the society is
known through the nation. The Panhandle-Plains people have
preserved a valuable portion of the Texas cultural heritage.
The Houston Chronicle
for April 28, carried an excellent
article about the Association, its work and program, written
by Ed Rider, Capital Staff Correspondent. The article was most
timely, as it appeared on the opening day of the annual meeting.
Progress continues to be made on The
Handbook.
The tentative
check-list of all topics for The
Handbook
should be issued by
October. It is hoped that each member of the Association upon
receipt of the check-list will check it carefully and recommend
additions and omissions. The article written on Colonel E. M.
House by Charles Seymour, president of Yale University, is
given below as an illustration of some of the articles now being
received. Other typical articles will appear in subsequent Texas
Collections.
Edward Mandell House was born in Houston, Texas, July 26, 1858.
He was the seventh of seven children. His father, Thomas William
House had left England as a young man, landed in Texas, fought under
General Burleson and married Mary Elizabeth Shearn, the daughter of
a distinguished jurist of the Texan Republic. The elder House acquired
wealth and achieved influence as a property owner and private banker.
The younger House, brought up in an atmosphere which reflected the
frontier as well as the cultivation of a landholding, almost a feudal
society, passed a childhood colored by the turmoil of war, blockade running,
and reconstruction. From his father he inherited an appreciation of the
values of a highly civilized life, as well as a taste for adventure and
a capacity for mixing freely and gladly with the rangers and hunters,
the desperadoes and the town marshals of this transitional period of
Texan history. At the age of seventeen he was sent north to the Hopkins
Grammar School in New Haven, Connecticut. Here he formed a close
friendship with Oliver Morton, son of the Indiana Senator, and was led
by Morton to enter Cornell in the autumn of 1877. There he remained
two years. More important educationally than his school or college
experiences were the opportunities which the young House developed for
meeting political figures in New York and Washington largely through
the influence of Senator Morton. Already as a college sophomore House
had developed clear-cut ideas of the sort of political career he would like
to follow.
He was recalled from college in 1880 by the death of his father, who
left to his sons an estate which, when divided, enabled House to live
in moderate affluence, chiefly depending upon the income from his cotton
plantations. On August 4, 1881, he married Loulie Hunter, of Hunter,
Texas. Following a year's travel in Europe the young couple settled in
Austin, largely because House desired to be at the center of state politics.
A decade passed before he actively entered the political scene, a period in
which he established wide personal relationships and came into close touch
with many aspects of the economic as well as the political life of Texas.
In 1892 Governor Hogg, seeking re-election, placed House in virtual charge
of his campaign, which because of skillful organization and despite the
opposition of powerful railroad influence terminated in success. From
Hogg House received, despite his protest, his commission as Colonel, a
title which accompanied him through life. His political skill was manifested
in succeeding election campaigns for the governorship which resulted
in the election of Culberson, Sayers, and Lanham. His personal relations
with the Governors were close, especially so in the case of Culberson;
but House invariably refused any official position.
In 1911 his interest in the national political scene was heightened by
the opportunity which the fresh tide had opened for the Democratic party.
He sought for a candidate whom he might support. Interested by the
record of Woodrow Wilson in New Jersey, he first met him on November
24, 1911, at the Hotel Gotham in New York. Each was immediately at-
tracted by the other and a close intimacy developed.
in two phases of the campaign: in securing the forty votes of the Texas
delegates for Wilson and in his persuasion of Bryan to assume a
not unbenevolent attitude. In the presidential campaign House was chiefly
concerned in the settlement of Democratic squabbles; victory was virtually
assured by the Taft-Roosevelt feud.
When Wilson became President he had already given House his complete
confidence and personal affection. The latter refused any official appoint-
ment. But during the seven succeeding years the President undertook no
important step without preliminary consultation with Colonel House,
and the latter's biography, at least until the signing of the Versailles
Treaty, can hardly be distinguished from the history of the Wilson admin-
istration. "Mr. House is my second personality." His outstanding achieve-
ment was to win from the British and French acceptance of Wilson's
Fourteen Points as the basis of the peace. House was appointed one of
the five American Commissioners at the Peace Conference and served
as Wilson's second in command, taking his place in February and March
when the President was in the United States. After the signing of the
peace treaty, June 28, 1919, Wilson appointed House to represent him
at London in the drafting of provisions for operation of the Mandate
System set up by the Versailles Treaty.
House returned to the United States in the fall of 1919, so ill that he
was carried from the boat on a stretcher, to find that the President
was incapacitated by a stroke. The two never met again. When House
recovered and called at the White House he was told that the President
was too ill to see him. Minor rifts between the two had been apparent
during the Peace Conference but had never developed into anything
like a quarrel. But the President never invited House to Washington after
illness struck him down and the latter refused to break in upon Wilson's
isolation. Although he ceased to exercise direct influence upon public
affairs, during the last eighteen years of his life House carried on actively
with his innumerable personal contacts, involving the outstanding figures
of the nation and the world. No man of importance came to New York
without calling upon him, his advice was sought by leaders of both political
parties, and on his frequent trips to Europe House was brought into con-
sultation by leaders in both the French and British governments. In
1932 he was once more active and influential in the councils of Democratic
leaders that resulted in the nomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt, but
he made no effort to resume the political influence he had exerted under
Wilson. His intimate correspondence with important political figures con-
tinued through his last years. He died on March 28, 1938, in New York
City. He is buried in Austin, Texas. There survived him his wife, his
daughter Mona, married to Randolph Tucker, and his daughter Janet,
married to Gordon Auchincloss.
Colonel House was generally regarded as taciturn and reserved, and
it is true that he disliked large public gatherings, that he made no speeches,
and issued few statements. With his intimates his conversation was fluent and
stimulating, shot through with graceful humor, based upon broad reading
and an unparalleled acquaintance with men of all sorts. He had an almost
chemical quality in personal relations that stimulated the self-confidence
of the person he worked with and fostered sympathy and trust. This was
true of his contacts with many others besides Wilson, notably Sir Edward
Grey, Balfour, and Clemenceau, together with a host of lesser personalities.
His kindness to younger men was unlimited and he started many on the
road to success. The rule he laid down in politics was invariably: "Do
what's right." Through his relations with Wilson and his innumerable
personal contacts he influenced United States policy more than any
other American not holding office.
Charles Seymour
Bibliographical Note: The mss. papers, personal and political, of Colonel
House form the nucleus of the House
Collection,
Yale University Library.
Intimate
Papers
of
Colonel
House,
Ed. Charles Seymour, 4 v., N. Y., Mac-
millan, 1926-1928. Arthur D. Howden Smith, Mr.
House
of
Texas,
N. Y.,
Funk and Wagnalls, 1940 (Popular biography based upon the foregoing.)
The first shot opening the Italian campaign at Salerno has
been officially certified to as having been fired by a Texan,
Captain Ross Ayres of Lubbock. Ayres is of Texas' 36th Di-
vision and has been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry.
His was another shot which must eventually be heard 'round
the world.
Major General Fred L. Walker, 0-3029, has been for some
time in command of the 36th, our Texas National Guard Di-
vision. On May 5, 1944, General Walker was awarded the Dis-
tinguished Service Medal. His citation reads:
For exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility
as Commanding General, * * * United States Infantry Division, in the
Fifth Army's invasion of Italy in September, 1943. General Walker planned
the landing of his division and attached units on the beaches of the Gulf
of Salerno, Italy, and coordinated the action of all units in such a manner
that the entire force performed as a cohesive team. The disposition of the
division and the tactical order of landing, determined by General Walker
with exceptional foresight, were of major importance in the success of the
invasion. Landing with the leading elements of his division, he commanded
all United States Forces during the first 36 hours of the operations. For
a period of 12 days, he fought and maneuvered his forces in one continuous
and unrelenting operation in the face of determined enemy resistance,
successfully terminating the operation by driving the enemy from all the
territory in his division sector. General Walker's exceptional foresight in
planning and his superior handling of the forces at his command contributed
importantly to the securing of the Fifth Army's bridgehead on the continent
of Europe.
A program was given by the San Antonio Historical As-
sociation at Cos House on June 30, honoring Colonel M. L.
Crimmins, distinguished Texas historian and genealogist. The
program was conducted by Chris Emmett and Mrs. Lydia
Magruder. The speakers for the occasion were General Beau-
mont B. Buck, Stanley Banks, and Dr. P. I. Nixon.
An advance copy of a Grizzly
in
the
Coral
Sea
has just been
received from the press of Carl Hertzog. Words and pictures
are by Tom Lea, West Texan and Life
magazine correspondent.
Tom Lea's remarkable facility with words —as well as with
pen and paint brush -- was previously shown in El
Randado.
The present book tells the story of the aircraft carrier Hornet
off Guadalcanal, and is a splendid memorial to that hornet of
the seas. The book is also a Texas item for in addition it is
a memorial to Herbert Jackson of Waco, who was on the Hornet.
Also, Mount Franklin at El Paso is graphically portrayed.
Only two hundred copies are to be sold, so the beautiful book
will not be generally available.
FOOTNOTES:
Monument (La Grange).
1856, in Rail Road Papers, Reports, Inspections (MSS. in Archives, Texas
State Library, Austin). Affidavit of John A. Williams, March 24, 1856, in
ibid. James P. Hector to Board of School Commissioners, February 16,
1858, in Proceedings of the Board of School Commissioners Created by
"An Act to Provide for the Investment of the Special School Fund in
the Bonds of Railroad Companies Incorporated by the State"--Passed
August 13th, 1856. (MSS. in Archives, Texas State Library), A, 57-62.
Lubbock Looscan Papers (MSS. in San Jacinto Museum of History,
San Jacinto Monument, Texas).
correspondence (MSS. in Archives, Texas State Library).
fice, Houston), XIII, 274-76.
Department; the Library of Congress copy of this issue fails to show
the obituary.
Society (1916), XXV.
p. 2, col. 3 (reprinted from the Henderson Southern Beacon).
227.
Book Reviews
Border
Command:
General
Phil
Sheridan
in
the
West.
By Carl
Coke Rister. Norman (University of Oklahoma Press),
1944. Pp. 244. Illustrations, bibliography, and index, $2.75.
The use by the University of Oklahoma Press of twelve
point type with two points between lines makes for easy reading
and Carl Coke Rister's account of Sheridan's border command
makes for interesting reading in this new treatment of the
opening of the border country for the pioneers. As the title
indicates, the book is not so much a biography as a study of
Sheridan in relation to his military assignments between 1865
and 1885.
Sheridan, "after a rapid climb up the military ladder," was
to witness Lee's surrender and be sent almost immediately
to the Southwest. With what Rister calls "the keen edge of
the sword," he impressed the French in northern Mexico by
talk of United States aid to Mexican Nationalists and slowed
to a drip the flow of Southern emigres to Mexico. The "Flat
of the Sword" deals with the assignment as governor
of the Fifth Military District. Sheridan's feeling that Texas
had not yet suffered from the war resulted in the policy for
which President Johnson denounced him as an absolute tyrant.
The account of his mistakes in this role which resulted in his
being moved on to be guardian of the border is remarkable
for its omission of the oft-quoted preference of Sheridan for
places other than Texas.
Rister may well be called the historian of the border as
evidenced by the titles of all his books. Though some of the
accounts of Indian relations are his own thrice-told tales,
the present treatise contains fresh delineations of frontier
characters and rare word pictures of frontier scenes and topog-
raphy with a felicitous choice of chapter titles.
After attempts at "Peace by Bribery" with the wild Indians
of the Plains, "whose problem towered as a mountain over the
molehills of frontier rudeness, undisciplined troops, and petty
problems of administration," one chief opined that the olive
branch turned into a prickly pear. Sheridan solved the frontier
crisis by resort to winter campaigning despite Jim Bridger's
gloomy predictions.
The success of the campaigns which ended in the Fort Cobb
and Fort Sill powwows meant Sheridan's promotion to Lieu-
tenant-General in 1869. In the summer of 1870 he hobnobbed
with royalty in the person of King William I as he visited the
German armies during the Franco-Prussian War. In 1871 he
reversed the procedure to be host to the Grand Duke Alexis of
Russia on a buffalo hunt on the plains.
In Texas the summer of 1871 saw the Satanta and Big Tree
trials with the application of white man's law to Indian crim-
inals. After the Red River War cleared the Texas Panhandle
of Indians, Sheridan's sphere was enlarged to cover the North-
ern Plains, where, after Ouster's disaster, the Sioux country
was also opened for settlement. Now the white man's culture
had transformed "the great American desert."
While supervising the border from Washington, the general,
in June, 1874, married Miss Irene Rucker. They were to have
a happy home and four children. Sheridan died of a heart
ailment in 1888 just after his rank of full general was confirmed.
According to Rister, Sheridan's service during the army's
"dark ages" to bring it to the status of a well disciplined and
ambitious body of officers and men and his establishment of an
officers' training school at Fort Leavenworth to inculcate his
own principles were to be factors when a civilian army had to
be trained in 1917. It may carry over until today.
The University of Texas
Llerena Friend
Life
in
Old
Tucson,
1854-1864.
By Frank C. Lockwood. Published
by the Tucson Civic Committee. Los Angeles (The Ward
Richie Press), 1943. Pp. xx, 255.
Dr. Frank C. Lockwood, dean of Arizona historians, has
never been a mere purveyor of dates and footnotes. He says that
he likes to study "the deeds and experiences of individual
men and women" rather than "cold chronicles." For that reason
all his books, including the present one, concentrate on history
as it was lived by particular people. In this case he presents
life sketches of nineteen of the pioneers of Tucson to illustrate
the founding and development of the city.
To hold his book together Dr. Lockwood introduces a central
figure, Atanacia Santa Cruz, a friend of his who actually lived
in Tucson from 1850 to 1934. Naturally she knew the pioneers
very well, and the idea of seeing them and their doings through
her eyes is an engaging one. The device breaks down, however,
when the author gets well into his subject. Fortunately the
stories themselves are so rich in human interest and so well
told that the reader doesn't mind.
Tucson "was always a place of arrival and departure." Fur-
thermore, up to 1850 "Tucson in the interior and Santa Fe
and El Paso to the eastward were more important communities
than Los Angeles and San Francisco." The men who built Tucson
from a frontier hamlet into a city had more than their share
of color and individuality. It would be hard to find a group
of more varied backgrounds and ideas, but they all had courage
and they insisted on being themselves. Mark Aldrich, the
first American to arrive, was a merchant from New York who
conducted his business with Yankee efficiency and dignity. His
opposite was Pete Kitchen, a rough-hewn character who kept
up a feudal estate, fought the Apaches to a standstill, and died
poor when the old, heroic way of life was gone. Charles D.
Poston was a cosmopolitan at home in Paris and Washington
who came in with "a seasoned band of frontiersmen he had picked
up in San Antonio, Texas," and a million dollars with which to
organize a mining company. The rest of the figures in the book
seldom fall below these in interest.
Dr. Lockwood is no debunker of the pioneer character. He
recognizes the weaknesses of his men and women, but he likes
to think that frontier conditions produced people like Peter
R. Brady, who was "fearless, resolute, resourceful, companion-
able . . . honest, humane, devoted to the civic welfare" -- a
man who "exemplified in a high degree the qualities we most
admire in the American frontiersman."
The Tucson Civic Committee is responsible for the publication
of the book, and there is no price indicated on the dust jacket.
Apparently for once a community has had the impulse to en-
courage a competent historian to tell its story as a gesture of
patriotism and pride without too much thought about money.
College of Mines and Metallurgy
C. L. Sonnichsen
A Doctor Comes to California: The Diary of John S. Griffin,
Assistant Surgeon with Kearny's Dragoons, 1846-1847.
Introduction and notes by George Walcott Ames, Jr., and
a foreword by George D. Lyman. San Francisco (Cal-
ifornia Historical Society), 1943. Pp. 97. Illustrations, maps.
This book offers an eyewitness account of a portion of the
American conquest of California told by John S. Griffin, an
army surgeon who was with Kearny's "Army of the West,"
and a participant in the battles of San Pascual, San Gabriel,
and La Mesa. After the conquest of New Mexico General Kearny's
orders were to move across to California where he was to take
possession, cooperating- with any American naval forces found
there. Following his orders, Kearny set out from Santa Fé
with three hundred dragoons, but near Socorro he encountered
Kit Carson, who was carrying dispatches to Washington telling
that California had already been taken by Stockton and Fre-
mont. Kearny reduced his forces to slightly over one hundred
men and, taking Carson as a guide, moved on over the southern
route for California.
The difficulties of travel are forcefully recorded by Dr. Grif-
fin. Long before the Colorado River was reached both the
men and mules of the expedition were virtually exhausted.
Near the Colorado Kearny was to receive the disquieting in-
formation that counter-revolution in California had overthrown
the initial successes of Sloat and Fremont. Griffin wrote in
his diary: "We may expect a small chunk of hell when we get
[to California]" and proved himself prophetic. At the battle
of San Pascual the Mexicans took a heavy toll of Kearny's
small force.
Only the intrepid Carson and American determination made
it possible for any part of Kearny's forces to be salvaged. But
the wounded and dying were in such numbers as to call for a
maximum exertion from Dr. Griffin. And with his faithful
recordings a valuable record of medical practice of his time
is made.
As may be already apparent, this account is important for
the intimacy of detail given; it is also salient because accounts
of travel to California along the southern route are much
scarcer than those for the northern trails. Along with Emory's
Notes
of
a
Military
Reconnoissance,
from
Fort
Leavenworth
in
Missouri,
to
San
Diego,
in
California,
this is one of the two
complete diaries of Kearny's expedition. Two other significant
fragmentary accounts of the expedition are those written by
Philip St. George Cooke and Abram R. Johnston. Editor Ames
has increased the usefulness of A
Doctor
Comes
to
California
by adding maps from Emory's account.
There have been some unfortunate oversights in proof read-
ing in the book, and there is no index; but all who are in-
terested in the southern trail to California or in the early
Anglo-American-Mexican conflicts and adjustments in that
state will welcome the Griffin account in its present edited form.
The notes by Ames are copious, scholarly, and full of interesting
items.
The University of Texas
H. Bailey Carroll
The
Morale
of
the
American
Revolutionary
Army.
By Allen
Bowman. Introduction by Arthur Pope. Washington, D. C.
(American Council on Public Affairs), 1943. Pp. 160.
After reading this volume one's first reaction is to marvel
at the successful outcome of the struggle for independence. Such
a formidable array of obstacles to a successful consummation
of any worthy enterprise, as listed and explained, will be hard
to find elsewhere. Quality of the troops ranged all the way from
the very best type of farmer or mechanic down to the deserting
mercenary Hessian. Bounty jumpers were all too prevalent.
Physical unfitness often resulted in dismissal of a tenth of the
recruits. Failure to solve the all-important matter of supplies
contributed much to decline in morale. Sickness, widespread
at different times, and lack of medical and hospital attention
were disturbing factors throughout the War. Wages were piti-
fully low and, when coupled with the common practice of failing
to get the miserable pittance due for months on end, one can
appreciate how this affected morale.
In his treatment of the "Psychological Factors" it seems to
the reviewer that Professor Bowman has made his most valuable
contribution. His essay on "Provincialism" is exceptionally
good. Washington and his leaders soon realized that provincial-
ism was not confined to the militia. The great commander him-
self was not always above provincial jealousy. As late as 1780
he wondered if he had one or thirteen armies. Washington
was inclined to be a strict disciplinarian, but he soon learned
to wink at many infractions in both officers and men. Von
Steuben noted the difference in the European and American
soldier's attitude towards taking orders. The American was
extremely individualistic. Political influence and extensive use
of militia complicated matters greatly. Washington's urgent
demands for a regular army and his unending distress over
short-term enlistments are common knowledge, but the more
serious and humiliating results of desertions and mutinies,
alarmingly widespread during frequent periods of crisis, are
not so well known. Behavior under fire, often unpredictable in
inexperienced troops, caused many anxious moments. As would
be expected, the morale of the troops, and civilians as well, fluc-
tuated with the ebb and flow of the war. Victories always inspired;
defeats and excessive hardships depressed; foreign support acted
like a powerful stimulant; conditions back home encouraged or
discouraged, according to security, health, and general con-
ditions.
Leadership was all-important. Washington's character and
personal influence could scarcely be exaggerated. Other field
leaders, such as Greene, Lafayette, Wayne, George Rogers Clark,
Benedict Arnold (before his desertion), and thousands of men
of lower rank contributed to the cause beyond power of words
to picture. Chaplains in the field, doctors in camp and hospital,
and civilian leaders back home all played heroic parts in sustain-
ing morale. Professor Bowman gleaned through thousands of
letters, sermons, broadsides, newspapers, official reports, to
get the parts that go into this mosaic of men, materials, and
time. The problems of a short and glorious war (the kind always
anticipated) and one of endurance are always vastly different.
It is gratifying, indeed, that Washington and his great immediate
subordinates, as well as thousands of lesser men, remained
steadfast throughout those long and utterly weary years of
the War for Independence.
College of Mines and Metallurgy
J. L. Waller
The
Plain
People
of
the
Confederacy.
By Bell Irwin Wiley.
Baton Rouge (Louisiana State University Press), 1943.
Pp. ix, 104. $1.50.
This work consists of three essays: "The Common Soldiers,"
"The Folk at Home," and "The Colored Folk," presented as
the Fleming lectures at Louisiana State University. The first
and third lectures are extractions of the author's two books:
The
Common
Soldier
of
the
Confederacy
and Southern
Negroes,
1861-1865.
The study gives a very realistic picture of the Con-
federate private: occupation, age, culture and education, his
reaction to army routine, attitude toward officers, his food,
clothing, recreation, the pillaging of the populace both North
and South, desertion, drinking, gambling, sex immorality, and
religion. The record of the great majority of Confederate
privates on countless battlefields is good, but in these same battles
were cowards and shirkers, and in some battles, as at Mis-
sionary Ridge, Winchester, and Cedar Creek, entire regiments
and brigades broke and fled before the onslaught of the enemy.
In general the private's morale was high until after the reverses
at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, but the activities of speculators
and hoarders, and the acute distress of his family contributed
more to the continued lowering of his morale than the military
reverses of the late months of 1864. The failure of the Con-
federate government to take effective action against hoarding
and speculation and to exempt from conscription non-slaveholding
men whose labor was indispensable for the support of wives
and small children, were, in the opinion of Professor Wiley,
two of the greatest mistakes of the Confederate government.
Professor Wiley pays tribute to the women folk of the com-
mon soldier when he says: "Undoubtedly the greater burden of
war was borne not by the ragged followers of Lee and Johnston,
but by the poor wives and mothers at home who strove valiantly
to provide a livelihood for their dependents. It is remarkable
that they bore up under their trials as well as they did. And
those humble women who did remain steadfast in labor and
loyalty to the end --- and their number was considerable -- were
indeed the greatest heroes of the Lost Cause."
The even tenor of life among negro slaves was little disturbed
in the areas of the South not invaded by Federal armies, but
in the invaded sections the tendency was for the blacks to
flock to the Union camps, with the exception of some faithful
house servants. Even trusted domestics sometimes abandoned
their masters, and in some instances they turned keys over
to Yankee plunderers.
Jacksonville State Teachers College
Robert P. Felgar
Morgan
and
His
Raiders:
A
Biography
of
the
Confederate
General.
By Cecil Fletcher Holland. New York (The Mac-
millan Company), 1943. Pp. xiii, 373. Illustrations. $3.50.
One Confederate who definitely believed that the war should
be carried to Federal soil was John Hunt Morgan. He and
Nathan Bedford Forrest were past masters of that type of
warfare known as the "raid." The raids Morgan and his
cavalry conducted, as Holland points out, were at times
the needed stimuli for fading southern hopes. On these raids
he was a bold tactician, essaying something of the blitzkrieg.
Humanly enough, he was sometimes too bold.
The author, aided by the fortunate discovery of many hither-
to unpublished letters, dispatches, reports, and orders, by Mor-
gan, has put together a most readable account of Morgan's
cavalry. His treatment of the strategic relation of Morgan to
the Confederate western campaigns is good and brings out
clearly that Morgan was a man for the Federals to watch.
Morgan's great Indiana and Ohio raid in July of 1863 was
of such a character as to detach some Union forces which
might have aided Rosecrans at Chickamauga.
Holland treats well of Morgan's imprisonment in the Ohio
penitentiary. The account of the last Kentucky raid and of the
operations around Wytheville, Virginia, is also good.
The only criticisms this reviewer would make are that John
Morgan, the man, might have been a little more clearly pic-
tured; and while it is true that the author says "It was
marvel enough that the Confederate supply system functioned
as well as it did. . . ," (p. 48), he does not sufficiently take
into consideration the many problems facing those services,
such as transportation and finances. Also, some readers might
not like the grouping of most of the author's conclusions in
the first chapter. Wider documentation might be an asset.
These criticisms, however, do not alter the fact that Morgan
and
His
Raiders
is a most interesting book, which should be
appreciated both by a student of Confederate cavalry cam-
paigns and by a lover of a well-told adventure story, for
Holland has a pleasing narrative style.
The book is nicely put together, and a good map of the ter-
ritory covered by Morgan, on his campaigns, faces page one.
A bibliography and adequate index round out the volume.
San Antonio Army Service Forces Depot
Frank E. Vandiver
Jefferson
and
the
Press.
By Frank Luther Mott. Baton Rouge
(Louisiana State University Press), 1943. Pp. 65. $1.00.
Seldom has a public figure been more bitterly lampooned
by a politically partizan press than Thomas Jefferson, and
yet Jefferson was instrumental in getting a freedom of the press
clause written into the United States Constitution and re-
mained a firm defender of this principle until his death. Jef-
ferson, in urging that the principle of freedom of the press
be written into the Constitution, made clear his two-fold con-
viction that one of the most important functions of the press
should be to serve as a check upon the government and that
freedom from government control is essential if the press is
to carry out this function. From this viewpoint he never wavered,
though he became the object of much unjust criticism in the
newspapers of his day, according to the findings of Dr. Mott.
Frank Luther Mott, dean of the School of Journalism at the
University of Missouri and winner of the Pulitzer prize for
his writings in the history of American journalism, carefully
traces the relationship of Jefferson to the press from his en-
trance into public life until his death in 1826. Dr. Mott's
research should help to clear up certain points over which
there has been some controversy. First, he presents evi-
dence to show that Jefferson never supported unqualified free-
dom of the press, even though isolated statements from his
writings have been quoted to uphold such a view. Instead,
Jefferson maintained that the press should be free from any
control set up by Congress but that the State governments
should provide essential restraints against abuse through libel
and slander laws. It is a testimonial to Jefferson's wisdom and
foresight that the crystallization of the theory of freedom of
the press in the United States has followed almost exactly the
pattern advocated by Jefferson.
During that vitriolic period in which supporters of Hamilton
and of Jefferson lambasted each other through partizan news-
papers in language that knew no restraint, Jefferson's name
was closely linked with those of the journalists who fought his
enemies -- Philip Freneau, Ben Franklin Bache, and James
Thompson Callender. Some stories accuse Jefferson of writing
many of the libelous and indecent articles that appeared in the
publications of these editors. Dr. Mott believes that the evidence
preponderantly exonerates Jefferson from this charge.
Statements have been made that Jefferson was inconsistent
in his attitude toward the press. For example, we find him saying
toward the end of his life, "I read no newspaper now but Ritchie's,
and in that chiefly the advertisements, for they contain the only
truths to be relied upon in a newspaper." On the other hand, we
find him writing during the same period of his life: "But the
only security of all is in a free press. The force of public
opinion cannot be resisted, when permitted freely to be ex-
pressed." Through examination of the files of Jefferson's letters
Dr. Mott has come to believe that no real inconsistency exists
between Jefferson's frequent disparagements of the contemporary
press and his adherence to the principle of freedom for that
press. "The fact is that Jefferson adhered to the principle, but
was deeply disappointed in the performance, of a free press,"
Dr. Mott writes.
Dr. Mott is concerned primarily with presenting the evidence
rather than in drawing conclusions. What conclusions are
reached seem to arise inevitably from the evidence examined
and are secondary in emphasis. The thoroughness with which
Dr. Mott conducts all of his research gives assurance that all
pertinent resource materials have been examined and faithfully
reflected in this report.
The University of Texas
DeWitt Reddick
From
Cave
Dwelling
to
Mount
Olympus.
By Edgar L. Hewett.
Albuquerque (The University of New Mexico Press), 1943.
Pp. ix, 143. $1.50.
The dust jacket of this book reveals that Dr. Hewett is to
write a series of books under the general title, Man
in
the
Pageant
of
the
Ages.
This book is the first in the series. Dr.
Hewett's extensive experiences in teaching, travel, and research
are most amply supplied with material and subject matter for
this project.
Following an introduction of eight pages, the remaining
one hundred thirty-five pages contain six essays and addresses,
the longest of which is entitled "What Is Man?" In the introduc-
tion Dr. Hewett says: "I am often told that an autobiography
is due from me." Commenting tersely, "I am not convinced,"
he continues that he has been interested in many things and
has written a good deal about them, "enough to make known
all that is worth telling about me." After two pages of explana-
tion on how he secured information about his world and its
people he scans his life in four one-sentence paragraphs. This
brief autobiography does not include "the record of intellectual
development" found in his published works. In reading this
book I had the feeling that I was witnessing the unfolding of
a portion of his "record of intellectual development."
Besides the chapter title already mentioned, the other five
are entitled "The Quest for Freedom," "Liberty's Landmarks,"
"A Science of Man and a Science of Education," "The Social
Sciences in Higher Education," and "The Place of Research."
In the address, "A Science of Man and a Science of Education,"
delivered at Colorado State College of Education, Greeley,
Colorado, Dr. Hewett says that if man were simply an animal
he would leave the study of man to the biologist and discard
the science of anthropology. Since man, however, is separated
from the highest living form below man by "a chasm beyond
which lies humanity," and since "that chasm has not been
bridged," and since also "Darwinian evolution is a potent hy-
pothesis in the study of animal life" but " falters at the threshold
of humanity," Dr. Hewett argues that "the proper field of
anthropology is man in the realm of existence in which he
stands alone." Thus the science of man -- anthropology —is
"a science which affords a sound basis for education." From
this predicate Dr. Hewett proceeds to show that from the vast
possibilities of exploration which anthropology unlocks a science
of education can be developed because "education is essentially
a science of exploration." And Dr. Hewett's audience heard him
say: "I speak for a Science of Man that is rooted in human
experience. I know of nothing else so basic in a liberal education.
. . . The opportunity of the school lies in making available
to youth the noble heritage of man's past achievements."
I should like to quote more. My purpose in quoting profusely
from the one address has been to show how stimulating the
whole collection of addresses and essays is. This little book will
be read time and time again by many who are fortunate
to own a copy. It deserves to be read many times because it
is a good book.
While reading this address I had the feeling -- yes, even the
conviction -- that the well-trained teacher of history has as
great an opportunity and obligation in this matter as the
anthropologist.
The University of Texas
R. L. Biesele
BOOK NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Association has received from the editor, Edgar Ewing
Brandon, Dean Emeritus of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio,
a book entitled A Pilgrimage of Liberty: A Contemporary
Account of the Triumphal Tour of General Lafayette Through
the Southern and Western States in 1825, as Reported by the
Local Newspapers.
This volume covers the third period of Lafayette's tour of
the United States from August 15, 1824, to September 8,
1825. The editor says that, on account of the peculiar sig-
nificance and interest of the tour of the South and the West,
he presents this part as the first installment of the work.
Three other volumes covering the first, second, and fourth
periods are in preparation.
The journey of the illustrious Frenchman was a round of
pageantry. Dean Brandon traveled over the route, visited the
houses where Lafayette lodged, traversed the streets over
which the parades passed, and omitted no opportunity for per-
sonal inspection of every detail of the visit. Contemporary
newspapers have been searched for information and furnished
valuable aid. Without doubt a very careful and very extensive
compilation of the progress of the journey has been made. The
book has 487 pages including notes, a bibliography, and ex-
cellent maps of the itinerary.
The first sentence of The
Providence
Oath
of
Allegiance
and
Its
Signers
by Richard Le Baron Bowen is of interest to all
who are on the alert for materials having to do with the past.
"Among the original manuscripts in the library of Frederick
Stanhope Peck, Esquire, of Barrington, Rhode Island, is a 291-
year-old document of great historical importance to Rhode
Island, especially to Providence." This document is the Provi-
dence Oath of Allegiance, 1651-2.
idence only fifteen years after the colony was established and
while Roger Williams was absent in England trying to get
the charter restored, is not recorded in the original Colony
Records nor in the original Providence Town Records. The
historians of Rhode Island apparently missed the importance
and significance of the document and dismissed it with casual
mention if it were mentioned at all.
This small volume is a study of the document and the
men who signed it. Mr. Bowen says, "Knowing the lives
of these men who were actually making its history, we are
able to reconstruct a middle of the seventeenth century picture
of the Town of Providence not found elsewhere." Since this
document has lain unheralded for 291 years, one wonders what
we may be overlooking among our documents and records that
likewise might mirror the early life of our towns and com-
munities.
The University of Texas
The Texas State Historical Association acknowledges receipt
of the following:
Papers in Illinois History, 1941, and Transactions for the
Year, 1941, from the Illinois State Historical Society.
Archives of Maryland, Vol. 59. Proceedings and Acts of the
General Assembly of Maryland, 1764-65. J. Hall Pleasants,
editor. Published by Maryland Historical Society.
David
Dale
Owen,
Pioneer
Geologist
of
the
Middle
West,
by Walter Brookfield Hendrickson. Published by the Indiana
Historical Bureau, Indianapolis, 1943.
Peter
Melendy,
The
Mind
and
the
Soil,
by Luella M. Wright.
This is another volume in the lowa Biographical Series put
out by the State Historical Society of lowa.
Cultural
Story
of
an
American
City,
Cleveland,
Part
I,
1796-1825,
by Elbert Joy Benton. Published by Western Reserve
Historical Society. Several maps and illustrations are included.
The
Centenary
of
the
Cincinnati
Observatory,
18
43
-19
43.
This includes the Addresses and Miscellany relating to the Cen-
tennial Celebration of the First Large Astronomical Observatory
in America. It is published by the Historical and Philosophical
Society of Ohio and The University of Cincinnati, and contains
many illustrations.
The State Historical Society of South Dakota has published
Volume Twenty-one of the Collections
of
the
Materials
of
History.
This volume contains six articles by different authors on sub-
jects connected with the history of South Dakota. Charts and
illustrations are included but there is no index.
Contributors
L.
W.
Kemp,
"The Capitol (?) at Columbia," resides at 214
Westmoreland, Houston, Texas, where he is an official with
The Texas Company. He is an eminent authority on the Republic
of Texas; in his researches, especially on the personnel of the
Republic, he has made a lasting contribution to the history
of Texas. He is President of the Texas State Historical Asso-
ciation, member of the board of the Texas State Library, and
vice-president of the San Jacinto Museum of History. He was
Chairman of the Historical Board of the Texas Centennial
Commission, 1935-1938. He is the author of the Heroes
of
San
Jacinto
(with Sam H. Dixon), and collaborated with Ed Kil-
man on Texas
Musketeers.
His new book, The
Signers
of
the
Texas
Declaration
of
Independence,
will be published in July
by the Anson Jones Press.
George
A.
Hill,
Jr.,
"The Spirit of Santa Rita," is the Pres-
ident of the Houston Oil Company of Texas, and vice-president
of the Texas State Historical Association. He has served as
President of the Philosophical Society of Texas and of the
Museum of Fine Arts at Houston. He was the organizer of
the San Jacinto Museum of History Association and is its
present President. To the San Jacinto Museum, Mr. Hill pre-
sented his large collection of historical materials dealing with
the full and complete history of Texas. He has served for
several years as a member of the Development Board of The
University of Texas. His interest in the youth of Texas is seen
by his furnishing for years the awards for the annual essay
on Texas history sponsored by the Sons of the Republic of Texas.
Mr. Hill's pedigree as a Texan goes back four generations:
his grandfather, James Monroe Hill was at San Jacinto, and
his great-uncle, John C. C. Hill (the boy captive), was a member
of the Mier Expedition. Both James Monroe Hill and John C. C.
Hill were charter members of the Texas State Historical As-
sociation (see the Quarterly,
VII, 246, 247) and from them the
young George learned his Texas history first-hand. The lessons
were well learned, for George A. Hill, Jr., belongs on any
list of Distinguished Texans that might be drawn today; his
remarkable business career has been eclipsed only by his public
and cultural services to the State.
S.
W.
Geiser,
"David Gouverner Burnet, Satirist," is Pro-
fessor of Biology at Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
He is Texas' most distinguished student of the history of science
and scientific endeavor. His major interest is in the Texas field
from 1820 to 1880. He is an inveterate seeker after facts;
Professor Webb once, rather wittily, described Professor Geiser's
method as: "get all the facts about the main character, and then
all the facts about all the folks who had anything to do with the
main character." His Naturalists
of
the
Frontier
is one of the
finest contributions to the field of Texas research. He is a
frequent contributor to the Quarterly.
Samuel
E.
Asbury,
"The Private Journal of Juan Nepomuceno
Almonte," is now on modified service in the State Chemist's of-
fice at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas at
College Station, Texas. Professor Asbury spends his afternoons
and evenings, however, working on his many absorbing Texas
history projects. Other than the Almonte, his most interesting
recent find has been the reminiscences of Ann Raney Thomas,
in seven books, 1810-1890.
Also, at present, he is collaborating with S. W. Geiser on a
study of the weather and the Texas Revolution. Professor As-
bury's "Jonas Harrison: Legendary and Historical" in the Jan-
uary, 1942, Quarterly
is frequently referred to as one of
the models of biographical study.
Eugene
C.
Barker,
"A Plea for More History in Business,"
is the dean of Texas historians; see the Quarterly,
April,
1943. Dr. Barker is at present working on a biographical study
of Lester G. Bugbee, one of the early, great teachers of the
University, and a prime mover in the early days of the
Association.
E.
W.
Winkler,
"A Check List of Texas Imprints, 1846-1875,"
is Bibliographer of The University of Texas Library.