Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/116

 Saxon civilization. His men had been infuriated against the Dictator of Mexico, by the massacres of the Alamo and Goliad; kindred of the martyred victims to liberty were in the conqueror's camp. They longed for revenge; they wished to see Santa Anna expiate his crimes with his blood. The feelings of the soldiers were natural to men in their circumstances. Houston's influence over men, his keen foresight into the future, his thorough appreciation of the exigencies of the hour, his complete knowledge of the world's opinions, all were exhibited in his management of the great State prisoner intrusted to him, in the person of Santa Anna. It required extreme vigilance and superior shrewdness in detecting insubordination, to prevent assassination. Houston detected something wrong in the manner of an officer who had resolved to shoot Santa Anna, and had prepared himself for the work, as he was passing, on the day of the night fixed for the execution of his purpose. And although the commanding General had had no intimation of the design from any quarter, so strong were his convictions as to the settled purpose, that he beckoned to the officer to approach him. He conversed with him, and made him his confidant. He represented what would be the terrible consequences if Santa Anna were assassinated. He expressed his confidence in him to detect any murderous scheme projected, and his reliance on his vigilance. The officer pledged himself to act on his General's suggestion, and declared that Santa Anna should not be assassinated while he remained in the camp. He kept his word, although he afterward stated that at this very time, he had the arms on his person with which he had sworn that he would kill Santa Anna. Numerous were the devices by which Houston maintained discipline over his brave, heroic, although too often wayward and reckless men. His methods were his own, and concealed in his own bosom. The belief became general that Houston was the only man in the world that could have kept the army in subjection, or achieved the independence of Texas, or preserved it after it was won. He treated his prisoner rather as a guest and a gentleman than as a captive, and exercised the keenest vigilance over his safety. His guard was so disposed at night as to include the marquee of Santa Anna, who slept on his camp bed with every comfort he could have had if he had been the victor, while near by, on the earth, on his usual bed in camp, lay Houston, with no respite from the intense agony of his wound. About one inch above the ankle joint, the ball had entered, shattering the bone, and severing the muscles and arteries. Prostrated for months, he was worn down by fever and pain from this wound to the shadow of a man.

The morning after the capture, Santa Anna asked and obtained