Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/114

 were all perfidiously massacred, without the privilege of even dying with arms in their hands."

It was almost impossible for Houston to restrain his indignation while speaking of the Goliad tragedy. Cold sweat ran off from his brow in streams, while his eye flashed with the fury of a wild beast, as he struggled violently to curb his wrath.

Santa Anna (noticing Houston's excitement), laying his hand on his heart, said, "I declare to you. General, that I was not apprised of the fact that they had capitulated. General Urrea informed me that he had conquered them in battle, and under this impression I ordered their execution."

Houston. "I know, General, that the men had capitulated."

Santa Anna. "Then I was ignorant of it; and after your asseveration I should not have a shadow of a doubt, if it were not that General Urrea had no authority whatever to receive their capitulation. And if the day ever comes that I can get Urrea into my hands, I will execute him for his duplicity in not giving me information of the facts."

The conversation between Houston and Santa Anna was suspended for a time. At Santa Anna's request a small piece of opium was given to him. His marquee and luggage, and the attendance of his aides and servants were ordered for him by Houston, whom he thanked very politely, and said " it would make him very happy, since they were ordered by his captor."

While these orders were in course of execution, General Almonte displayed a disposition to converse with Houston.

Remarking to the victorious General, that he had been highly favored by fortune, he asked why he had not attacked the Mexicans on the first day on which the armies met, and said, "You had reason to suppose we should be reinforced. And yet, if you had risked a battle that day you would have had another story to tell, perhaps, for our men were then ready to fight, and so anxious for the battle to come on, that we could hardly keep them in their ranks. Why did you wait till the next morning. General? "

"Well," replied Houston, " I see I was right. I knew you expected I should bring on the battle that day, and was consequently prepared for it. Now, if I must be questioned by an inferior officer, in the presence of his General, I will say, that was just the reason why I did not fight; besides, I thought there was no use in having two bites at one cherry."

Almonte then made some remark which ill befitted the occasion, and greatly irritated the wounded hero, who said:

"You have come a great way to give us a great deal of trouble, and you have made the sacrifice of the lives of a great many brave men necessary."