In November, just before the fight at Concepcion, Houston, Wharton, and
other delegates left Austin’s army to take their seats as members of the
General Consultation at San Felipe.
Branch T. Archer was elected President of the Consultation.
Many of the members were in favor of an outright declaration of
independence; but the more prudent advised against a step so decisive. A
temporary government was therefore agreed upon, and a declaration of
adherence to the Republican constitution of Mexico of 1824 was signed
and sent out. This declaration also gave the reasons of the colonists
for taking up arms against military despotism, and stated that “they
would not cease to carry on war as long as Mexican troops were within
the limits of Texas.”
The convention then elected Henry Smith governor, and James W. Robinson
lieutenant-governor of the provisional government. Branch T. Archer,
William H. Wharton, and Stephen F. Austin were appointed commissioners
to the United States. Houston was made commander-in-chief of the Texan
army “to be raised.”
Sam Houston, placed in so responsible a place by the Consultation, was
born in Virginia, but removed when a child to Tennessee with his widowed
mother. He had a strong imperious and wayward disposition which showed
itself from his early boyhood. At the age of fourteen he left home and
joined a band of Cherokee Indians, was adopted into their tribe, learned
their language, and wore their costume. In 1813 he served under Jackson
in the Creek war; and at the battle of Topo-heka,[21] he was struck in
the thigh by an Indian arrow; the barbed head buried itself deep in the
flesh. He ordered the man by his side to pull out the arrow. After two
vain attempts the man, who was the lieutenant of his company, turned
away. Houston drew his sword and commanded him again to draw out the
arrow. “If you fail,” he declared, “I will kill you on the spot.” The
arrow on the third tug came out, leaving a gaping wound. At this battle
he received also two bullets in his shoulder.
[Illustration: Sam Houston.]
He became in rapid turn major-general of the Tennessee militia, member
of congress, and governor of his state. While he was governor, and in
the full splendor of his brilliant career, he resigned his office in
consequence of some private and domestic trouble, which has ever
remained a secret, and took refuge among his old friends, the Cherokees,
with whom he dwelt for years, living the life of an Indian warrior.
In 1832 he went to Washington, D. C., in the interests of the Cherokees,
and while there was appointed special Indian agent for the southwest.
The same year he visited Texas. At San Felipe he met James Bowie and
went with him to San Antonio to treat with the Comanches. In 1833 he
settled in San Augustine, whence he went as a delegate to the
Consultation of 1835.
Governor Smith and his council continued in session at San Felipe. They
provided for the raising and equipment of an army of twelve hundred
soldiers, and made arrangements for a small navy.
In December Major William Ward of Georgia arrived at San Felipe. He was
in command of three hundred newly enlisted volunteers, known as the
Georgia Battalion. He obtained from Governor Smith commissions for his
officers and returned to Velasco where he had left his troops. Thence
they marched to Goliad. About the same time Colonel Wyatt, with two
companies of recruits, came from Alabama; and a little later the Red
Rovers, a company from Courtland, Alabama, landed at Matagorda. Doctor
Shackleford, the captain, sent a messenger to the governor to say that
the Red Rovers placed themselves at the service of Texas to remain, not
for a term of three, six, or twelve months, but as long as a man was
left of the company, or there was an enemy to be found on Texas soil.
This offer was accepted by the governor with gratitude, and the Red
Rovers, as well as Colonel Wyatt’s volunteers, were ordered to report to
Colonel Fannin at Goliad.
Bitter quarrels, however, soon arose between Governor Smith and his
council and almost put a stop to all public business. Governor Smith was
deposed, and Lieutenant-Governor Robinson was placed at the head of
affairs. Finally, after providing for an election for delegates to a
convention to be held at Washington on the Brazos March 1, the council
adjourned.
About the last of March the following year (1836), the Texans, to keep
San Felipe from falling into the hands of Santa Anna, set fire to it
themselves. The flames spread from cabin to cabin, roaring around the
hearthstones so long noted for their hospitality. They swept past the
one-room building where the conventions had been held and devoured the
rude, unchinked log-hut in the black-jack grove beyond, where Henry
Stephenson had preached, and where the first Sunday School had been
organized; they consumed roof-tree and picket and garden-fence, so that
in a few hours a heap of blackened ashes alone remained of the cradle of
Texas.
V.
GOLIAD.
(1835-1836.)