Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/75

Rh odious to the army, he did not immediately release Kerr. However, on the eve of that day he struck his camp and marched toward the Brazos River. The next night the army reached San Felipe, marching about twenty-eight miles in less than twenty-four hours. The following brief extract from a dispatch develops the perplexities which crowded on the mind of the commander of the little army:

", March 31, 1836.

"My intention was to have attacked the enemy on the second night after the day Fannin's destruction was reported by Kerr Send me daily expresses, and let me know what to rely on. I must let the camp know something, and I want everything promised to be realized by them, and I can keep them together. I have thus far succeeded beyond my hopes. I will do the best I can; but be assured that the fame of Andrew Jackson could never compensate me for my anxiety and mental pain. Two nights since, when it was reported that the enemy was on this side of the Colorado, the citizens of San Felipe reduced it to ashes. There was no order from me for it."

On the 29th of March the army encamped at Mill Creek, and reached their destination, opposite Groces, the following day. The steamboat Yellow Stone, lying at the landing, was immediately pressed into service, and a company of troops placed aboard to prevent the engineers from running the boat off. Until April nth, the army remained in the same position. While the spring rains kept the river in a swollen condition, it camped on an island of the Brazos, secure from the enemy. To maintain communication with the enemy's country, a narrow bridge was constructed, over which Texan scouts could pass, to gather news and keep an eye on the plans and manoeuvres of the Mexicans. It was Gen, Houston's design, before the waters had reached their greatest height, to march with all his force, as soon as the Mexicans should approach San Felipe, and supposing that their confidence in their numerical strength, discipline, and success would throw them entirely off their guard, and to surprise them at night, and thus make them an easy victory to Texan prowess. The freshet in the Brazos was, however, at its height when Gen. Houston heard of the arrival of the enemy at San Felipe; as, therefore, there were three creeks to ford on his march, the plan so boldly conceived was abandoned. The bold daring and sleepless vigilance of the heroic man, on which hung the fate of the young Republic, were thus displayed, although no fortunate result followed his designs. The first certainty of the approach was indicated by the noise of their cannon. The company left to guard San Felipe had retired to the east side of the river, where a partial fortification of timber was thrown up, discovering which, the enemy immediately opened their artillery on