Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/121

 Vigilance is the first duty of a soldier, and glory the proudest reward of his toils.

"You have patiently endured privations, hardships, and difficulties unappalled; you have encountered odds of two to one of the enemy against you, and borne yourselves, in the onset and conflict of battle, in a manner unknown in the annals of modern warfare. While an enemy to your independence remains in Texas the work is incomplete; but when liberty is firmly established by your patience and your valor, it will be fame enough to say, ' I was a member of the army of San Jacinto.'

"In taking leave of my brave comrades in arms I can not suppress the expression of that pride which I so justly feel in having had the honor to command them in person, nor will I withhold the tribute of my warmest admiration and gratitude for the promptness with which my orders were executed, and union maintained through the army. At parting my heart embraces you with gratitude and affection. ", Commander-in-Chief."

The tears of the brave men fell upon their rifles, on which they were leaning, when this pathetic and eloquent address was read to them. Never were companions in arms more devoted to a chief. Houston applied for a passage for himself and staff on a small war vessel just about to sail from Galveston to New Orleans. The passage was refused.

The General sent for the captain of a little American schooner (the Flora), lying at Galveston, and bound for New Orleans, With him he contracted for passage for himself and staff, to be paid for when he was able, as he had then not one dollar of money to advance. Neither he nor his followers had ever received any compensation from the Government. The fugitive women and children, whose husbands and fathers had been slaughtered at the Alamo, or massacred with Fannin, had received all the funds he had been able to command. As the little schooner was about to set sail, Captain Charles Hawkins, of the Texan Navy, states that Santa Anna asked permission to take leave of General Houston, but was refused; a poor privilege, on account of which the humiliated Mexican president wept. The little schooner had a long and tedious voyage. Arriving at the Balize at night, she was towed up to New Orleans next day. For forty days Gen. Houston had been without medicine or poultices; the shirt he wore furnished bandages for his wounds, the bosom only remained, and part had been given to soldiers more needy than himself. He was supposed to be now in a dying state. In his feebleness he could not even be raised up without fainting. About eighteen miles below New Orleans, in passing the "English Turn," from expresses in waiting it was made known that Houston was on board. This was the first confirmation of the news of the battle of San Jacinto. As the