Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/667

Rh the enemy would probably pounce upon the stores, all of which would go to the devil. Colonel Bringas advised me to do as best I could, adding that I ought to know that no observations could be made to His Excellency, and he had no desire to argue with him in the raving state of mind in which he was.

The Colonel parted with me, followed by the company of Toluca. It may well be imagined that, as soon as the enemy saw our artillery and stores unprotected, he paid them special attention. He established his cannons in such a manner as to disable our guu and to support an attack, should it take place. Their first shot shattered the caisson on the limber; another scattered about our ordnance boxes; another, again, killed two fine mules; and they kept annoying us during the two long hours it took me to remove, with only two mules, forty and odd boxes of ammunition. How the General-in-chief had endangered the whole division! I acknowledge that I had never before been in such danger. What would have become of me if, in consequence of the General's order, the enemy had captured our artillery and stores, as he might have done, unsupported as it was? I had no resource left but to make the best defense I could with my gun. For this purpose I instructed Lieutenant Arenal to have it loaded with grape, and not to fire until the enemy came within close range, in order both to spare ammunition and to intimidate the assailants.

At length, at 5 o'clock, my duty was performed, and. as I entered the camp with the last load, I was closely followed by the enemy's cavalry. His Excellency noticing it, instructed me to order Captain Aguirre, who commanded our cavalry, to face the enemy, without gaining ground. This movement checked the enemy for a few moments; but, soon after, they dashed upon our dragoons, and were close enough to engage them with the sword, without, however, any material result. Then His Excellency, deploying several companies as skirmishers, forced the enemy back to his camp, on which he retired sluggishly and in disorder.

This last engagement took place after sundown.

At daybreak on the 21st, His Excellency ordered a breastwork to be erected for the cannon. It was constructed with pack-saddles, sacks of hard bread, baggage, etc. A trifling barricade of branches ran along its front and right.

The camping-ground of His Excellency's selection was, in all respects, against military rules. Any youngster would have done better.

We had the enemy on our right, within a wood, at long musket range. Our front, although level, was exposed to the fire of the enemy, who could keep it up with impunity from his sheltered position. Retreat was easy for him on his rear and right, while our own troops had no space for manoeuvering. We had in our rear a small grove, reaching to the bay shore, which extended on our right as far as New Washington. What ground had we to retreat upon in case of a reverse? From sad experience, I answer— None!

A few hours before the engagement I submitted to General Castrillon a few remarks on the subject, suggested by my limited knowledge. But he answered: "What can I do, my friend? I know it well, but I can not help it. You know that nothing avails here against the caprice, arbitrary will, and ignorance of that man." This was said in an impassioned voice, and in close proximity to His Excellency's tent.