Houston was elected President of the Republic for the second time in
September, 1841. Edward Burleson was elected Vice-President.
The new President recommended economy to the government. There was not a
dollar in the treasury. He caused his own salary to be reduced, and
several useless offices were abolished by his advice. He favored a more
friendly attitude toward the Indians, and the establishment of
trading-posts for them on the frontier. He advised that no active steps
be taken against Mexico, though Texas, he said, should be prepared to
defend herself against that country if necessary.
For Santa Anna, after many turns of fortune, was once more in power in
Mexico, and had declared war against Texas.
In the spring of 1842 several incursions were made into Texas by Mexican
soldiers. One band, under Rafael Vasquez, raided San Antonio; another
swept the country about Refugio and Goliad. There was great excitement
everywhere.
Excitement of another kind filled the new capital one day soon after
these raids. The citizens, men, women, and children, swarmed into the
streets, looking at each other with indignant eyes. The blockhouse stood
wide open, showing plainly that the Indians had nothing to do with the
trouble.
“What’s the matter?” demanded a tall hunter, who had just come in, rifle
on shoulder, from the frontier. He glanced, as he spoke, from a small
cannon in the street to a company of mounted rangers, who seemed to be
guarding some wagons in front of the Land Office.
“Matter enough,” replied a dozen voices at once. “Old Sam Houston has
changed the capital back to Houston and sent for the archives. We are
determined that the records of the Republic shall remain in the true
capital of the Republic.”
[Illustration: Texas State Seal.]
This was true. President Houston, believing Austin in its exposed
position was in danger of Mexican raids, had fixed Houston as the place
of meeting for the next Congress. Perhaps he was not sorry for the
chance, for he had a great affection for the town named for himself. He
had also ordered the archives removed to that place. The people of
Austin had refused to allow their removal. The angry President had then
sent an armed force to take them.
When the loaded wagons turned away from the Land Office they were
greeted by a volley of grape and canister from the little cannon—touched
off by a woman, Mrs. Eberle. No one was hurt, and in the confusion the
wagons rattled away, protected by their escort.
The citizens armed themselves and pursued the train. They came up with
it during the night about eighteen miles from Austin. After a conference
between the leaders on both sides, the rangers agreed to carry the
records back to the capital. The whole party appeared there the next day
and were received with shouts of triumph by the people. The disputed
parchments were placed in the house of the plucky woman who had fired
the cannon, and there they remained until 1845, when the government
finally returned to Austin. This new Waterloo has come down to us under
the title of the “War of the Archives.”
Congress met at Houston in June, 1842. In September a Mexican army,
commanded by General Adrian Woll and numbering twelve hundred men,
invaded Texas. They marched upon San Antonio, captured it, and made
prisoners of nearly all the citizens and the members of the District
Court then in session.
Upon news of this outrage the people everywhere took up arms. Two
hundred and twenty soldiers, including Captain Jack Hays’ company of
scouts, left Gonzales immediately to attack Woll. They were commanded by
Colonel Matthew Caldwell. The Mexican general came out to meet them, and
an engagement took place on the Salado River a few miles from San
Antonio. General Woll had six hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry.
As they advanced the Texans received them with a rattling hail of
bullets.
Three times the Mexican infantry charged with great spirit and coolness;
each time they were driven back. They finally retreated, carrying with
them their dead and wounded, and leaving the Texans in possession of the
field.
This victory was offset by the defeat of a company of fifty-three Texans
on their way to join Caldwell. They were commanded by Captain Nicholas
Dawson.
General Woll met these men in his retreat from the river Salado, and
attacked them in a small mesquit thicket where they were halted. After
an unequal contest of half an hour, Dawson hoisted a white flag. The
firing ceased, but as soon as the surrender took place, the prisoners
were set upon by the Mexican soldiers and many of them killed. Dawson
was killed after he gave up his arms. Out of his fifty-three men,
thirty-three were killed and eighteen were made prisoners. Two only
escaped; one of these, a lad named Gonzales Woods, seized the lance
thrust at him by a Mexican cavalryman, jerked his assailant to the
ground, then leaped upon his enemy’s horse and galloped away.
The morning after these skirmishes General Woll abandoned San Antonio
and returned to the west side of the Rio Grande River. His prisoners,
among whom were Judge Hutchison and ex-Lieutenant-Governor Robinson,
were sent to the Castle of Perote (Pā-ro′tā), a prison near the city of
Mexico.