Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/391

 HOUSTON

HOUSTON

district which inckided Nashville, 1820-22 ; rep- resentative in the 18th and 19th congresses, 1823- 27, and wliile in congress fought a duel with Gen. William White, severely wounding his antago- nist, while he escaped untouched. This was his only duel recorded, although he was repeatedly challenged and no one questioned his courage. He was elected governor of Tennessee in 1827 by a majority of 12,000, and was a candidate for re- election in 1829. Before the election he was married to Eliza Allen, the daughter of a rich and influential resident of Nashville. The young lady had rejected a lover for the brilliant match with the governor of Tennessee at the urgent request of her parents, and the appearance of the lover at the wedding betrayed her secret to Houston, who noticed her agitation while holding her hand during the ceremony. The same day he ques- tioned her so earnestly that he forced from her the confession that another had her love, and with- out awaiting the explanation she was anxious to make, the impetuous soldier at once released her from her obligation as a wife and left the presence of his bride. He placed his resignation as governor in the hands of a friend, to be de- livered to the proper authorities, and sought se- clusion among his old friends, the Cherokees, who had been removed through his influence to a reservation beyond the Mississippi. He never explained his conduct, and the narrative here given the bride confided to a friend, and it was not made public for seventy years. His silence on the subject and his sudden depar- ture did an injury to both the parties, but no word of blame ever escaped from the lips of either. Mrs. Houston long after secured a divorce on the ground of desertion and was married to a Dr. Douglass, Houston remained in seclusion with the Cherokees till 1832, when he visited Wash- ington, wearing the garb of an Indian, was re- ceived by President Jackson, and had a street fight with Representative Stanberry, of Ohio. While with the Indians he attempted to forget the world by debasing himself with drink, and the Indians on account of his habits changed his name Col-on-neh to the more expressive one of " Big-Drunk." He married a half-breed woman named Tyania Rodgers, according to the Indian fashion. They had no children, and his sincere attachment to her was evidenced by his sending for her to join him at Nacogdoches, Texas, but she refused to leave her people and a few years afterward she died. Toward the close of 1832 he went to Texas at the invitation of President Jackson, who gave him a commission to arrange treaties with the Comanches and other tribes of Indians for the protection of American settlers on the borders. He took up his residence at Nacog- doches, and on the outbreak of the struggle for

independence he was elected commander-in- chief of the forces of eastern Texas and organized a volunteer force to aid the revolution. He also helped to organize a civil government for the republic at San Felipe de Austin, April 1, 1833. He opposed the declaration of absolute independ- ence and used his influence to conciliate the lib- eral party in Mexico and to remove the impres- sion that the movement was a conspiracy of slaveholders. Under the provisional government formed, Stephen S. Austin Avas made a commis- sioner to the United States, and Sam Houston, commander-in-chief of the army. The delay of the council in passing ordinances providing for a recruiting service paralyzed Houston's efforts and he was unable to raise an adequate army to meet the advance of Santa Anna. The capture of San Antonio, the siege of the Alamo and the massacre of Goliad followed. The fall of the fortress of the Alamo, March 6, 1836, resulted in the destruction of the entire garrison of 145 Texans. who had held at bay 2500 Mexicans until the last defender was

THE ALAAAO. killed, and at Goliad 220 prisoners-of-war were murdered. A new convention met. March 2, 1836, a declaration of independence was adopted, and Houston was unanimously re-elected com- mander-in-chief. The inhuman warfare con- ducted by Santa Anna aroused the people of Texas to desperation and a large army was quickly recruited. General Houston commanded the troops at the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, where with 743 men with "Remember the Alamo ! " as a battle-cry he engaged 1400 Mex- icans, completely defeating the enemy, and cap- tured their arms, baggage and camp equipments. The Mexicans lost 630 killed, 208 wounded and those not escaping by flight were made prisoners- of-war. Santa Anna escaped to a swamp, wliere he secured a disguise, but was captured and liis life spared through the powerful influence of Houston, who secured from him a cessation of hostilities, an interchange of prisoners, and secret agreement that the Mexican general would procure the acknowledgment of the independence of Texas. The Mexican congress, however, decreed that all treaties and conventions subscribed by Santa Anna while he was a prisoner should be null and void. Houston was severely wounded