Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/118

 the march was through a low, flat, wet prairie. Overtaken, however, by the pursuers, Filisola received the messengers who bore the flag of truce with every mark of respect, pledging himself to execute without delay Gen. Santa Anna's extreme orders. Asking leave only to take some cattle along the march, his license was stretched far enough to rob every living thing with which he fell in on his way. After his divison commenced their ordered retreat the Texan detachment returned to San Jacinto. Appointing three superior officers to execute his order, Houston ordered that a portion of the spoils should be divided equally among officers and men. The truth requires that incidents should be related bearing on the surrender of the command by Gen. Houston, caused by his wound, and the transfer to others.

Not many days after the victory of San Jacinto, news of which had spread by expresses all over the country, the little steamer Yellow Stone arrived from Galveston bringing the Cabinet of the Constitutional Government. Houston at once surrendered everything into their hands but the money, which had already been divided among his gallant comrades. The Cabinet, although composed of patriotic citizens of eminence, was not personally friendly to Gen. Houston, with one exception, Gen. Thomas J. Rusk, the Secretary of War, who participated in the dangers and victory of the battle of San Jacinto. A proposition from Robert Potter, Secretary of the Navy, assigning many reasons, but alleging no cause, was made to dismiss the wounded, suffering, but victorious hero of San Jacinto from the service. Gen. Rusk, like a magnanimous patriot soldier, as he was, in a spirited manner opposed and defeated the proposition. The Cabinet disapproved of the distribution of the $12,000 among the soldiers, who had no other means of compensation, and had fought only for liberty; but no accusation was brought against the General for this distribution inasmuch as the indignation of every man in the army would have been aroused.

About the release of Santa Anna, Gen. Rusk, the Secretary of War, wrote to Gen. Houston for his views. The following answer was returned:

"I have not the pleasure to know on what basis the Executive Government contemplate the arrangement with Gen. Santa Anna, but I would respectfully suggest, that so far as I have been enabled to give my attention to the subject, the following points should have some weight:

"The recognition of the Independence of Texas should be a sine qua non. The limits of Texas should extend to the Rio Grande, and from the mouth, pursuing the stream to its most north-western source, and from thence north-east