Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/62

 Stephen F. Austin repaired to Gonzales and was chosen commander of the forces. The little army, animated by his leadership, rescued their four-pounder, and. resolved to pursue the foe to San Antonio, and drive from the soil the miserable tools of the tyrant, Santa Anna. Texas rose everywhere, like one man. As far as the eastern boundary, where the people—believing that rumors were exaggerated — were disposed to be tranquil the tocsin of war was sounded and the torch of war was lighted.

A partial organization of militia was effected and committees of vigilance and safety constituted in the municipalities of Nacogdoches and San Augustine. At the same time, Sam Houston was chosen General of Texas, east of the Trinity River. The people of Brazoria, well satisfied that there was little to hope for from Santa Anna, the despot of Mexico, invited the other municipalities to co-operate with them in electing delegates to meet for a general consultation, for the purpose of providing means of safety in case of imminent danger. General Austin with the forces under his command advanced to San Antonio de Bexar and invested the place. Eight hundred armed men from all parts of the province flocked to his standard. These occurrences took place in October, 1835; early in which month, fifty-six delegates met in consultation at Washington. After a brief conference on their first meeting, they changed their place of deliberation to San Felipe de Austin; at which place they were invited by General Austin to meet him at San Antonio, assuring them, that on their compliance, he would reduce the place in three days. Citizens, residing near Victoria and Matagorda, after his advance upon San Antonio under the command of Captain Collinsworth, formed a company, advanced on Goliad, reduced and obtained possession of the town. On the first meeting of the delegates in consultation, General Austin sent a message to General Houston to send forward his division of troops. General Houston, immediately on receipt of the message, took the only five dollars he possessed, gave it to a good rider with dispatches to his division, which, as soon as received, caused the East Texans to march to the scene of war. Houston, with the major party of the consultation, immediately after receiving General Austin's invitation, proceeded, without delay, to General Austin's camp, at the Salada, within three miles of San Antonio.

Gen. Austin, soon after the union of the two divisions, proposed to surrender his command to Gen, Houston. All personal considerations weighed nothing in the mind of Austin, when balanced with love of country. Houston declined the offer. He had good reasons for declining. Diffidence, not want of bravery nor patriotism, had influenced Austin. But the troops then in the field had marched to the