"I bring a
message from Colonel Travis."
There was a sudden and heavy intake of breath in the whole group.
"Then the Alamo has not fallen?" said Houston.
"Not when I left, but that was three days ago. Here is the letter."
It was the last letter of Travis, concluding with the words: "God and
Texas; victory or death." But when the messenger put the letter into
the hands of Houston the Alamo had fallen two hours before.
The letter was laid before the convention, and the excitement was great
and irrepressible. The feelings of these stern men were moved deeply.
Many wished to adjourn at once and march to the relief of the Alamo, but
the eloquence of Houston, who had been reelected Commander-in-chief,
prevailed against the suggestion. Then, with two or three men, he
departed for Gonzales to raise a force, while the others elected Burnet
President of the new Texas, and departed for Harrisburg on Buffalo
Bayou.
"Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes did not go just then with Houston. They
were scouts, hunters and rough riders, and they could do as they
pleased. They notified General Sam Houston, commander-in-chief of the
Texan armies, that they would come on later, and he was content.
Pages:
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338