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.
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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.”
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.
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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.
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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.
