Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/666

 There is in front of New Washington a dense wood, through which runs a narrow lane, about half a league in length, allowing passage to pack-mules, in single file only, and to mounted men in double file. This lane was filled with our pickets, the drove of mules, and the remainder of the detachment. His Excellency and Staff were still in the town. Upon hearing Barragan's report, he leaped on his horse, and galloped off at full speed for the lane, which, being crowded with men and mules, did not afford him as prompt an exit as he wished. However, knocking down one, and riding over another, he overcame the obstacles, shouting at the top of his voice, "The enemy are coming! the enemy are coming!" The excitement of the General-in-chief had such a terrifying effect upon the troops that every face turned pale; order could no longer be preserved, and every man thought of flight, or of finding a hiding-place, and gave up all idea of fighting. Upon reaching the prairie a column of attack was formed with trepidation and confusion, amidst incoherent movements and contradictory orders.

At this moment His Excellency did me the honor to place me in command of the artillery and ordnance, giving me his orders verbally, with strict injunctions as to my responsibility. Meanwhile, the officers having dismounted and taken their stations in front of their commands, we moved in search of the enemy, with flankers on both sides to explore the woods. As the knapsacks might impede the movements of the men, His Excellency ordered that they should be dropped on the road, still preserving our formation. The order was obeyed, the knapsacks being left in the keeping of Providence or fortune, and we resumed our march.

It was 2 o'clock when we descried Houston's pickets at the edge of a large wood, in which he concealed his main force. Our skirmishers commenced firing; they were answered by the enemy, who fell back in the woods. His Excellency reached the ground with our main body, with the intention, as I understood, of attacking at once; but they kept hidden, which prevented him from ascertaining their position. He, therefore, changed his dispositions, and ordered the company of Toluca to deploy as skirmishers in the direction of the woods. Our cannon, established on a small elevation, opened its fire. The enemy responded with a discharge of grape, which wounded severely Captain Urrizia, and killed his horse.

At this moment His Excellency came to me and ordered me to unload the ordnance stores, and to turn over the twenty mules on which they were packed to Captain Barragan, who was instructed to bring in the knapsacks which had been left on the road. I was cautious enough to part with only eighteen mules, keeping two for an emergency.

Then His Excellency went to look for a camping-ground, and established his whole force along the shore of San Jacinto Bay, at least one mile from the place where I had been left. About one hour later I received orders, through Colonel Bringas, to come into camp immediately with the ordnance stores and the piece of artillery. That officer was, also, the bearer of orders to the company of Toluca, the only force that checked the enemy, to fall back likewise. I observed to Colonel Bringas that it would take some time to execute this order — the chests, as His Excellency knew, being piled up on the ground, and I having only two mules upon which to load them; and, futhermore, that should the company of Toluca leave me unsupported,