Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 139, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1912 — WAY REMINISCENCES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAY REMINIS CENCES

CONFLICT AT SAN JACINTO Alphonse Stesle of Lone Star State Tolls of Battle That Won Indopendence ter Texas. The celebration of the anniversary of the battle ot San Jacinto was sa event of special significance to Alphonse Steele of Mexia, Texas, who is the sole survivor of the little army ot Texans who, commanded by General Sam Houston, met and crushed completely the overwhelming force of Mexican soldiers upon that batlefield. When only 17 years old Steele left Hardin county, Kentucky, where he was born, and went down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in a boat to Lake Providence, La., where he worked until November, 1835, when he joined a company of volunteers, commanded by Captain Daggett and mardbed to Old Washington, Texas. It was found on reaching that place that Texas had nett yet declared her independence, and the company of soldiers disbanded. Steele remained in Washington until the Declaration of Independence was signed, whereupon be immediately started for San Antonio to Join Travis and aid in defending the Alamo. While on his way he learned that the Alamo had fallen. In company with other patriots he then proceded down the Colorado river and joined the army which General Houston was gathering about him. As General Houston and his gathering force of patriots and adventurers moved onward toward the Buffalo bayou and the San Jacinto river, General Santa Ana and his army followed closely, hoping to get the Texans in a close position and make an attack. The Texas army found itself in a cornered position on April 21, 1838, and in order that it might be a fight to the death the only bridge leading across the water course over which retreat might be made was destroyed by order of General Houston. Mr. Steele gives an interesting description of the battle of San Jacinto, which took place on that day. He says: "After dinner on April 21 Santa Ana, who was close upon us, received' about 500 additional troops under command of General Cos. We received orders to prepare for battle. We advanced upon the Mexicans in the following order: Houston, with his artillery, in the center; the cavalry on the right and Colonel Sherman with his troops on our left The Mexicans had thrown up breastworks out of their baggage about 100 yards south of a belt of timber, where they had stationed their artillery. ’ . y "Santa Ana’s right wing was placed in a thick grove of Umber. When we up pretty close General Houston sent word to Colonel Sherman to attack this position. We were ordered to move forward and hold our fire until orders were given. When we got within sixty or seventy yards we were ordered to fire. - “Then all discipline so far as Sherman’s troops were concerned was at an end. We were all firing as rapidly as possible and the man who first got

.. - his gun reloaded moved on, not wwfr iwa T awl Inin fflwa ♦■funk—mg lur oruers. i rusaea into tae timber and fired again. When the second volley was poured into them in that timber they broke and ran. “I was running on a little in front of ous men when I was shot down. I was shot He told some of to stay with me, but I todl him. 'No. take them on.’ “One of our men In passing asked me if he could take my pistol, but by this time I was bleeding at the nose and mouth so I couldn’t speak; so he just stooped down and got it and went on. After lying there a little while I mftnAjred to to & fitting nos-* tore and drink some water which I had in a gourd. Thia stopped the w&b wounded I told him I Rnd tor I Rcocptsdv ■ '

We Were All Firing as Rapidly as Possible.