Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/111



Commander-in-Chief awoke the next morning after the battle of San Jacinto and asked, "Are we really victors, or is it only my dream?" He could hardly believe that the battle for Independence had been fought and won. Only seven Texans had lost their lives, and less than thirty had been wounded. Seven hundred soldiers had vanquished nearly three times their number. Six hundred and thirty had perished on the field of battle, and of their number were one general officer, four colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, seven captains, and twelve lieutenants. Large numbers met their death in the morass and bayous. Two hundred and eighty were wounded and eight hundred taken prisoners.

Gen. Houston sent a detachment of men at ten o'clock in the morning to bury the slain. The troops returned and reported that decomposition had taken place so rapidly that it was impossible to execute the order. The greatest surprise was excited. The Mexican prisoners accounted for the rapid decomposition, by resolving it, like the defeat of the previous day, into a malignant blast of destiny.

The Texans, meantime, during the day were scouring the prairie, bringing in prisoners. Such as had not been taken the day previous were crawling on their hands and knees through the grass, which was everywhere four or five feet high, endeavoring in this way to effect their escape.

The victors were diligently searching for Santa Anna, the Dictator, who had not been taken. "You will find the Hero of Tampico," said Gen. Houston, "if you find him at all, making his retreat on all fours, and he will be dressed as bad at least as a common soldier. Examine every man you find, closely."

About three o'clock in the afternoon. Lieutenant J. A. Sylvester a volunteer from Cincinnati, Joel W. Robison, now of Fayette Co., John Thompson, and others were riding over the prairie. They espied a man making his way toward Vince's bridge. They