Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/117

Rh leave to see Gen. Houston. Elegantly dressed in citizen's garb, he presented himself, tendering a most respectful and cordial greeting to his host, inquiring kindly concerning his health and the condition of his wound. Houston was far differently clad. He wore a plain, old black coat, snuff-colored pantaloons, a black-velvet vest, a fur cap, a worn-out pair of boots, a scimetar of tried metal with a plated scabbard, a gift from Captain Joseph Bonnell, of Fort Jesup. The scimetar was hung about his person by buckskin thongs. Such was his armory and wardrobe. A stranger would have taken the captive for the victor. With his usual courtesy, the Texan commander received his prisoner, who proposed immediately negotiations for his liberty. From the beginning to the end of Santa Anna's capture, Houston was never alone with him a single moment. In accordance with this line of policy, he immediately sent for Gen. Rusk, the Secretary of War, and together they conversed some time with the prisoner. A proposition, written with pencil, was submitted by Santa Anna, which paper Gen. Rusk caused to be translated. The Mexican " President " was informed that no action could be taken on his proposals, as Texas was ruled by a Constitutional Government, whose members had been sent for immediately after the battle. Santa Anna naturally desired to know where the Government was. An express had been dispatched to Galveston to the President, Hon, David G. Burnet, who was supposed to be in that place.

Santa Anna manifested perfect willingness to act with military men, and exhibited great aversion against any negotiations with civilians. Houston and Rusk, immovable in their determinations, would make no terms with Santa Anna, except to receive from him a dispatch, ordering Gen. Filisola to depart immediately with all the Mexican troops, at least as far as Monterey. This order was tendered to Houston, without any intimation to Santa Anna that his life would be spared. Filisola with his command was on the east side of the Brazos. An officer on a fleet Andalusian courser had escaped from the battle-field, succeeded in reaching his camp and gave him the news of the disaster of San Jacinto. When he reached Filisola's headquarters it was night. Consternation spread through the camp, and the soldiers prepared for flight. To light up their passage across the river, the demoralized soldiers fired a large cotton-gin. The Texan guard of 250 soldiers ordered to accompany the dispatch from Santa Anna to Filisola, pressed on by forced marches in pursuit of the rear guard of the Mexican army. Horses, mules, baggage-wagons, and sick soldiers were scattered along the path of the flying division, indicating the great panic under which the retreat had been made. To reach the Colorado,