Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/81

Rh Foreseeing early in the march what lay before his men, Houston, on the first emergency, dismounted, stripped off his coat, and set the example of unloading and transporting baggage and guns. He continued throughout the day so to command and assist the soldiers with his personal strength. At sunset the brave and toiling little army halted, and without covering laid down to sleep on the open field, as there was not a tent in the camp. A cold rain set in after dark, continuing for twenty-four hours. The men who were working out the emancipation of their country endured hardships almost unparalleled in the world's history. Through the second day (17th April) these men pursued, through the rain, their exhausting march to Burnett's settlement, a twelve miles march to a deserted place. That night the soldiers slept on the wet ground, ready in a moment to answer the summons. The only instrument of martial music in the camp was a drum, which, strange as it may appear, was only touched by the commanding General, when he gave three taps to call to duty. It appears that a fife was procured before the battle of San Jacinto. The third day's march (18th) brought the army eighteen miles through the prairie to Post Oak Bayou, where for the night they encamped. They had no longer to make a toilsome march through the prairie; Harrisburg, the temporary capital, was only six or eight miles distant. The Mexican chief on his march to Washington had anticipated them, and reduced the town to ashes.

Marching up within two miles of the stream, and almost in sight of the ruins, they prepared to cross Buffalo Bayou, which was between them and the scene of the Mexican's desolation. Swimming across the stream with several companions, the gallant Karnes and Deaf Smith, in a short time brought back across the Bayou two couriers, who furnished most important intelligence. Dispatches from Felisola to Santa Anna were found on the person of the courier—who proved to be a Mexican officer,—so recently written, that the party reading them out aloud for Gen. Houston, remarked, "The ink, sir, is hardly dry." Assurance most positive was now forced on the Texan commander that Santa Anna had the command in person of the advance of the enemy. The second express was composed of mail from the City of Mexico, filled with letters of congratulation from the capitol, acknowledging Santa Anna as Emperor of Mexico.

Gen. Houston and Gen. Rusk, the Secretary of War, retired immediately for a private conference. They exchanged but few words; serious and all-engrossing facts were before them. There could be but one conclusion: "We need not talk," said Houston to Rusk, "you think we ought to fight and I think so too." It was