Recollections of Early Texas (15 page)

His fate is among the mysteries of our past, but his name still lives in the mountain from whose summit one can take such broad survey of Austin and the surrounding country—Mount Bonnell.

Then, too, Joe Berry, one of the first gunsmiths of Bastrop, as they marched for Mier fell over a bluff and broke his thigh.
Six men, among whom were Bayt Berry, [Thomas] Davis, and Dr. Sinnickson, were left in charge of him at a little house in the suburbs. Next day about twelve o'clock Mexicans found them, killed the wounded Joe Berry and three others, and captured Dr. Sinnickson, while only two escaped.
¹¹

Some have accused Fisher and his men of remaining after Somervell left for the sole purpose of robbing Mier, furthermore saying that they disobeyed orders and deserved their suffering. Never were insinuations more unjust and untrue. If robbery was their object, why did they recross the Rio Grande and wait for the Alcalde to send supplies? And as to disobeying orders, Fisher's men received no opposition from Somerville [Somervell], or “the highest power” when they announced a determination to remain. They were “anxious to avenge the insults which the raids of Vasquez and Woll had inflicted upon Texas.”

As stated in the beginning, I have lately received these details from my fellow countryman, William Clopton, and now in conclusion would like to pay fitting tribute to him as another of our brave and faithful soldiers. He came to Texas in 1837, is now past three score and ten, and has fought bravely for his adopted state all through her struggles.

He was a lieutenant in Eastland's Company on the Mier Expedition, besides taking active part in many of our principal campaigns—the Cordova, Plum Creek, John H. Moore, and others.

CHAPTER VIII

The Texan Santa Fe Expedition

The Santa Fe expedition has been the subject of comment and question; and while our standard histories have stated the main facts, forbearing judgment, we have found in some of the histories a few insinuations. For instance, one says, “The expedition was not only without authority of law, at the wrong season of the year without guides and provisions, but very expensive.” And another says, “The wild-goose campaign to Santa Fe was an ill-judged affair,” and so with other histories.

    
When the die is cast

        
And the deeds are done,

    
And all is past,

        
With no trophies won,

it is the rare and easy faculty of some people to make, as it were, post-mortem examinations, and sit in judgment upon the best efforts of some of our best men, generally deeming an enterprise ill-judged and wrong, if it be disastrous or unsuccessful. Views formed and expressed under such rule, however just, savor of ingratitude, and assertions should by all means be true with regard to design and effort, as well as the result. Men who were true and disinterested and ready to die for Texas suffered much and occasionally suffered
defeat and persecution in lawful and laudable enterprises; this Santa Fe Expedition is a case in point.

John D. Morgan,
¹
an esteemed and reliable citizen of Bastrop County for many years, my associate and friend since boyhood, is the one man of our county who now lives to recall its scenes of danger and pain. I have lately taken from his life story a full account of this interesting campaign, its design and details, and record his entire experience throughout the siege as he now recalls it.

True, we are aged and gray. The years of exposure and hardship have brought pain and suffering to us in our old age. Those same years have wrought wonderful changes in the world around us, but the facts and habits of our younger days are fixed upon our hearts and memories, so that we love to think and talk of the joys when we were boys, of all the thrilling times which are gone like boyhood's fun, and like the health and strength of young manhood.

The object of the expedition, as announced by President Lamar in his proclamation, was to get friendly intercourse with New Mexico and for protection through the intervening Indian country; it was thus deemed prudent to have military organization.

On or about the last of May, 1841, General Hugh McLeod, commanding about three hundred men,
²
accompanied by one piece of artillery under Captain Lewis,
³
started from
Austin, being duly instructed to abstain, from all show of hostility.

First camp was at a Waco village, located where the city of Waco now stands, and here they rested a few days without interruption or adventure. Then the men went up the Brazos to the noted hill, known as Comanche Peak, where they crossed the river and went on to the three forks of the Trinity River. Here they had another few days of quiet rest and then traveled on for the Old Santa Fe Trail. So far everything went well, and it was both interesting and unusual for our men to pass through the temporary little farms cultivated by the Indians. Corn, pumpkins, and chickens were plentiful. Their villages were all vacated, however, as the savages fled at the approach of the army.

Now their troubles commenced. At first a few stragglers were surprised and killed by the Indians, and once they faced about two hundred warriors, well-mounted and armed with bows and arrows. But the artillery and firearms kept them at a respectful distance, though our men were in constant suspense and danger. Somewhere near the Wichita River their provisions gave out, and they had to depend upon their guns to get food. This was a very trivial matter, though, for buffalo, deer, and antelope were very plentiful; nevertheless, none felt safe on account of the Indians. Men would go out in full sight of the Indians to get food, and once our men were riding side to side with a band of Indians, all chasing the same herd of buffalo. But, at length, game could no longer be found, and as they kept up their steady march for the Santa Fe Trail, men began to suffer for food, meanwhile hunting diligently for game that was now so hard to find and yet so necessary.

Morgan was making his way back to the command after a day's fruitless search for game—tired, hungry, and three or
four miles from camp, when suddenly he came upon a soft-shelled turtle in the sand at his feet. Very happily he captured the reptile and carried it into camp. It was about one foot wide and made a rich supper for six of the hungry soldiers. It is a matter for curiosity to imagine how this creature came to be in that dry sand, miles from water. To the hungry men who were fast growing ravenous it seemed almost a gift direct from heaven.

At length, the jaded pack-horses were killed to satisfy the appetite of our men. About now, an intimate friend, by the name of Jones, was killed, which sad event brought a dark sorrow into camp and served to intensify the feelings of desperation that were fast taking hold of the stout hearts. Five or six dogs, which had followed their masters, were killed for meat; then came roasted terrapins, and once even a rattlesnake made supper for a starving few. Now prairie dogs became a delightful treat, as our men would occasionally find them in their eager quest for food. The pathetic look of disappointment on the face of one of the boys will ever be recalled with profound sympathy by those who saw it. Having carefully put a terrapin in the fire, he waited impatiently for it to get done. In a few minutes, coming to get his supper, lo! it had crawled off!

Three men were sent out in search of water, and on some stream in their wanderings were surprised and killed by Indians. Fifty men were detailed to find and bury their bodies, and a horrible scene greeted them, for brutal savages had cut their victims inhumanly, meanwhile using a common precaution of taking out their hearts. From all signs, the murdered men must have struggled manfully for their lives. Their horses had been killed and used as breastworks. In a few minutes the hungry men had some of this horseflesh on the fire. Alas! The men declare that in the torture of their long fast even human flesh looked tempting, and in the
absence of these horses it is hard to say or imagine what might have happened at this burial of their butchered comrades!

A day or two further the command halted and after consultation agreed to separate. One hundred men under Captain Lewis, Colonel William Cook, Jose Antonio Navarro, and Dr. Richard Brenham struck out anew for Santa Fe.
⁴
Now was the time of “extreme extremity,” for no sign of relief seemed near to the already sorely tried Texans. It is hard to place a limit upon human endurance, however, and the arduous march was prolonged ten or fifteen days longer, and they had absolutely nothing to eat during the last eight days of that period except an occasional jaded horse.

Levi Payne* and Morgan were messmates. Having drawn a pound or two of horse neck, they breakfasted on the same very economically, and put the balance into a haversack, with the agreement to separate and hunt for food individually. As it happened, Morgan carried the delicious (?) morsel of horse neck—the sole allowance of meat for two half-starved men until next morning. Dinner time found him “wearied, hungry, and almost tired of life,” alone on a high hill, two or three miles from the command. Power of sense or appetite conquered every other consideration, and as he rested he picked up the neck bone and struck out for camp, which he reached about dusk. He found himself unable to wait for Payne and began to pick on the skimpy morsel of horse. Meanwhile, Levi Payne had also hunted game in vain, and came in well nigh worn out. With considerable eagerness he said, “Well, Morgan, bring out our horse neck!”

“Why, Payne, I ate it all up!” was the trying answer.

This proved too much for the starving man, and to use Morgan's own language, “He cursed me black and blue.”

In vain was all pleading or apology, as Morgan tried to
tell him how hard he struggled to keep the meat, how hungry he became, but the words only increased his fury, and the little morsel of horse neck proved indeed a bone of contention, because poor Payne had none.

The company of men had nothing to eat that night, but next morning another horse was sacrificed, which was soon devoured; indeed, it was gone, and they looked only upon the bones and hoop, with hunger still half-satisfied.

Once more they were on the march; soon they fell in with a few Mexicans, who afterward proved to be spies, though our men were ignorant of their true character and intention. One of these was hired to act as courier, and was sent back to McLeod with a dispatch that they were within four days' march of Santa Fe. Morgan was mounted on one of the best animals, a good mule, and this was demanded for the Mexican courier, to which he very reluctantly consented.

After a few days they struck a Mexican settlement known as Anton Chico.
⁵
The army presented a woebegone spectacle now, after a fast of eight days, meanwhile tugging along over rough roads and dry country. Their eyes were sunken and looked eager and cadaverous as they entered the little Mexican villa. Some sheep were immediately bought from the natives and again their long hunger was partially appeased. How the tired and starved soldiers would eat! Six men ate a sheep and a half for supper that night. Next morning they succeeded in procuring some molasses and a little meal. This was at first considered a great treat, but afterwards proved to be poisoned, or at least so it was supposed, for whoever ate of it soon grew black in the face and suffered intense agony.

Thus our men were once more freed to hunger and wait. The waiting was brief, however, for suddenly they found themselves surrounded by a mixed army of Mexicans and
Indians, numbering five or six hundred, who took possession of the horses and all the official papers sealed from Lamar to the government of New Mexico. At the same time Captain Lewis appeared upon the scene. He had been captured by Mexicans a few days before, and came with an order from the Governor of New Mexico to the effect that our men must give up all arms before they would be allowed to enter Santa Fe. This command produced much dissatisfaction and uneasiness, but after a little parley among the officers and privates, it was deemed prudent and best to obey.

Reinforcements from Indians and Mexicans were coming in almost hourly, and our men felt that the situation was growing more serious and desperate. As soon as the muskets were surrendered, all small arms, such as pocket pistols, bowie knives, and the like, were demanded. Again, after a vain and uneasy council, submission seemed not only best, but necessary, for the Texans were already helpless in the face of such odds. So every weapon of defense was delivered up, and now they were indeed at the mercy of the dark and motley army surrounding them, who at once proceeded to take advantage of their power.

They formed the prisoners in line in front of them. Then with guns presented, they tied eight of the men together with hands behind them. Still starving and thirsty they were marched into a house, where, through a terrible night of suspense and suffering, they were closely guarded by Mexicans.

Early next morning, without breakfast, they were led forth once more and backed against a stone wall, while Mexicans stood in double file in front of them, at a distance of about ten steps. Bill Allsbury,
⁶
understanding their language well, suddenly called out, “Boys, they are going to shoot us!”

The scene was one beyond the reach of language or imagination and is recalled today with a shudder by the veteran soldiers who passed through its horror. Every cry and tone of agony, all kinds of language, curses, prayers, pleadings for food and for life—all were mingled and arose in one great heart-rending wail, as the tantalized Texans heard and saw the sure approach of so terrible a doom.

Suddenly a noise from a hill on the right attracted the attention of the enemy, and in another instant they perceived a reinforcement of four or five hundred troops approaching. Allsbury, still acting as interpreter, said they had decided to await the arrival of these before executing their cruel and murderous purpose. Still, however, they stood with guns presented. After an hour's consultation they concluded to carry the prisoners to Mexico City. Still tied they were confined in the house, but a small beef was killed, upon which they were allowed a light meal. In the afternoon they marched under guard for Mexico City.