Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/672

 the conquerors of San Jacinto would all be blown up into eternity; not, however, without some regret on my part to have to go the way they went, owing to their stupid carelessness.

On the 24th several batches of officers and men were brought in by the numerous scouting parties sent out to search the country.

At 5 o'clock a steamboat arrived, having on board the Texan President, Vice-President Zavala, and other members of the administration.

The artillery on board, consisting of two guns, fired a salute of five rounds; the troops in camp were formed in line, and received their supreme magistrate with hurrahs; then he was conducted triumphantly to General Houston's tent.

Among the Yankees who spoke Spanish a little, and came to talk with, or rather to insult us, was a hunchback, an inveterate talker. The wretch, who did not measure a yard and a half above the ground, took a wicked pleasure in bringing us stirring and unpleasant news. He boasted much of his gallantry, and, when reciting his many acts of prowess, the little rascal would say: "Well, did Santa Anna believe that he could trifle with us? Not he! He can, perhaps, fight his own people, because he knows them, and knows, also, that they are not brave, gallant, and determined, as we are. He thought us far away, poor fellow! without noticing that we were on his tracks, keeping him in sight, counting, with our spy-glasses, on tree-tops, his men, one by one, and allowing him to come and entrap himself in this corner, with no means of escape, as we had burnt the bridge over the bayou behind him, and had made our preparations to bag every one of you. If he does not sign, at once, a treaty putting an end to the war, and removing every Mexican soldier from our territory, it will cost not only his life, but also the lives of all you prisoners." Such was the conversation of our bold little hunchback.

On the 25th, General Cos and Captains Bachiller and Iberri were confined with us. The presence of the General had created such a sensation among the conquerors that they crowded and quarreled for a sight of him — they would even push off the sentinels. The General found it expedient to lie down, wrapping his head in his blanket, to avoid the annoyance of their impertinent curiosity. Scoundrels were not wanting who would have murdered him.

On the 26th our property was sold at auction. It was hard to see them breaking our trunks open, and every one of them loaded with our shirts, trousers, coats, etc., whilst we remained with what we had on our bodies.

I saw my boots going, while my blistered feet were wrapped up in pieces of raw hide.

To make up for our cloaks, overcoats, and blankets, which belonged to the highest bidder, they favored us with the great-coats of our own soldiers, which were so lousy that we had the greatest trouble to rid ourselves of the vermin; and, still, we had nothing else with which to cover ourselves.

His Excellency, the General-in-chief, alone had the good fortune to preserve most, if not the whole, of his baggage.

The saddle and pack-mules belonging to our division were also distributed among the conquering officers and soldiers.

It was quite amusing to see these gentlemen putting riding saddles on some fractious and wicked mule, which knew nothing beyond the pack.