Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/606

 "The officer lowest in rank voted first, and so on, tmtil all voted. Only two out of the seven voted for attacking the enemy. The balance voted in favor of awaiting the attack upon us. They said that we had not bayonets to charge with, and that it was through an open prairie; that our position was strong, and in it we could whip all Mexico.

"When you received the sense of the council, you gave no opinion, but dismissed the members. Soon after, I was riding out to graze my horse and take a look at the enemy. You spoke to me, and asked me my object in riding out. I told you, when you said, 'Do not be absent. Colonel, more than thirty minutes, as I will want you.' I did return in less than a half hour; you requested me to see my captains and men, and ascertain their feelings about fighting. I reported favorably, and said they were anxious to fight, or they told many lies. You ordered the troops to be paraded; the second regiment, called Sherman's, as he was Colonel, and myself Lieutenant-Colonel. Soon after you ordered the parade. Colonel Sherman, in company with Colonel Burleson, came to me, and asked me if I intended to obey your orders, and if I did not think it would be better to wait until next morning, just before day, and make the attack. Sherman went on to say that whatever I said should be done. I told him that I would fight, if you said so, and that I would follow you to hl, if you would lead, in defending Texas. They then left me. When Colonel Sherman and myself were mounted, at the head of the regiment, he asked me if I would take command that day, as I had some experience in fighting, and he never had been_ in a battle. I thanked him kindly, saying that I would do so, and after we were ordered to advance, he rode with me until the enemy commenced firing upon us. Colonel Sherman then left in great haste for a small island of timber, about three hundred yards distant, in the rear of our left wing, where he secured himself, and remained there until the enemy had all fled. As I returned from the pursuit of the enemy, I met him coming up with some stragglers.

"This statement is made principally from notes taken during the campaign, and from facts within my recollection, as though they had passed yesterday. I have forborne to state anything about Colonel Sherman's conduct in disposing of, and appropriating the spoils privately to his own use; but, should it be necessary at any future day to do so, I am fully prepared.

"I am your friend, etc., "General, Washington, Texas."

Mr. . Mr. President, this is one of the gentlemen who have been most active in contributing to the contents of this almanac, as I have been informed, and one to whom the calumny has been traced. This is not the only evidence that I have in relation to that gentleman; and I will make one statement, as it is a fact that is important in relation to the calumnies to which I am responding: that this letter has been in the possession of Colonel Sherman since 1843. He was furnished with a copy of it; and, during several years of Colonel Bennett's life, he never called for explanation, nor did he ever confront Colonel Bennett when he went where he was, but slunk from his presence, and cowered before him. Since his decease, Sherman has been busily engaged in propagating every slander against the Commander-in-chief that malice could devise; and, though challenged and invited to publish (he letter of Colonel Bennett, he has thought proper to rest under all the imputations of cowardice heaped upon him, and finds consolation, I presume, in trying to place others in