Fort Bend County, Texas - Chapter 37, 1904

This expedition to Santa Fe by way of the plains and deserts of Texas and New Mexico, at that time wholly unsettled as to Texas, and only scattered ranches, mostly Mexicans, in New Mexico, was a very perilous and uncertain undertaking, to say the least of it, and was almost certain to fail and bring untold suffering and death to many brave men who blindly went into it. It was not a lawless venture for spoil, as some would seem to think, of restless men banded together for plunder. On the contrary, the expedition had the sanction of President Lamar and some of the best men in Texas accompanied it. Furthermore, the President had recomended an appropriation by Congress to pay the expenses of the expedition, but that body failed to do so. The object was said to be one of a peaceful and commercial feature, to open up a trade with the people of New Mexico, and to extend the jurisdiction of Texas over Santa Fe and so much of New Mexico as lay east of the Rio Grande River. This was a part of Texas as defined by the law of 1836. New Mexico, in her isolation, was largely independent of Mexico, and was ruled with despotic severity by a few families who furnished the governors and consumed the substance of the people. A few Americans Avho resided in that country had visited President Lamar in the spring of 1840 and urged a measure of this kind, and said it would be hailed by the mass of the people as a great deliverance from severe thralldom. Although Congress had failed to provide for the expedition the President had become so im- bued with tbe idea that he resolved to undertake its execution upon his own responsibility. Early in the spring of 1841 he began the preparations. Commercial men were invited to join with stocks of goods, and a sufl&cient number of troops were raised to act as an escort and to protect the party from Indians, who for hundreds of miles roamed over the plains at will. Circulars and proclamations Avere printed in Spanish, assuring the people that the expedition was peaceful, and the only Avish entertained Avas to open up peaceful trade relations and give the people of New Mexico a chance to live under the liberal laws of Texas. To distribute these circulars three peace commissioners were appointed to accompany the expedition. They were Jose Antonio Navarro, a native of San Antonio, and a true, good man; Colonel William G. Cooke, a man of courage and experience, and Dr. Richard F. Brenham, a gallant gentleman born on the soil of Kentucky. George Van Ness was secretary, and among others was Geo. W. Kendall, editor of the NeAV Orleans Picayune, who happened to be in Austin at the time, and went along for a pleasure trip. He afteiAvards published a histoin^ of the trip in book form.

The expedition left Brushy Creek (where they organized), fifteen miles north of Austin, on the 21st day of June, 1841. The commander was Gen. Hugh McLeod, and the number of soldiers aaus 270, not counting merchants, commissioners, pleasure-seekers, etc. The captains were ^lattheAV CaldAvell, Houghton and William P. LeAvis. The intention was to employ Lipan Indians as guides, but failed to get them. For a long distance, however, ever^^thing was lovely, water, grass, and game Avere in abundance, and they continually feasted on the juicy steaks of buffalo, deer and antelope. All this changed when the heads of the Texas rivers w^ere reached at the foot of the great plains. Without ^ides to lead a direct course and find the water holes they soon became lost in the great trackless, grass-covered waste, almost waterless, and destitute of anything to eat except highland terrapins, snakes, lizzards and other villainous looking things, all of Which, however, were greedily devoured when found by the perishing men. They also had to fight Indians and lost several men in this way, besides some of their horses and oxen, the latter drawing the merchants wagons. Without going into all the details of what they did suffer and encounter, will say that on the 11th day of August they thought themselves to be within about 80 miles of San Maguel, a frontier village on the Pecos River, east of Santa Fe. For the want of guides they had traveled 300 miles further than was necessary. Three men, Howland, Baker and Rosenberg, were now sent ahead to San Maguel in search of provisions and to ascertain in what spirit they would be received by the Mexicans. The main body followed wearily on over a broken country until the 10th of September, ^^devouring,'' says the historian, Kendall, "every tortoise, snail, or creeping thing." Almost everything had been abandoned, the oxen pulling the wagons had been eaten and the goods and wagons left to rot on the desert. Now, after another month of toiling and starving frbm the 11th of August to the 10th of September, the advance met some Mexicans, who gave them some provisions, and informed them that they were still seventy miles from San Maguel ; but at a small plaee called Anton Chico and much nearer they could get some mutton from flocks there. Some of these Mexicans returned to those in the rear to guide them by a shorter route. The advance continued on to the Galinas River and there procured some sheep, "and a scene of feasting ensued which beggars description," says Kendall.

On the next niorning the advance sent forward Captain Lewis, who understood Spanish, with Geo. Van Ness, Howard, Fitzgerald and Kendall. They bore a letter to the alcalde, informing him of the approach of the party, and that it was a commercial enterprjise, peaceful in character, and the mission of the men sent forward was to buy provisions for the main party. They also carried numerous copies of President LainaFs proclamations declaring the object of the movement, and that if the inhabitants of New Mexico did not desire peaceably to come under the flag of Texas the expedition would immediately return. Lewis and his party left the Galinas for San'Maguel on the 14th of September. The shepherds, at the Galinas River, had informed the Texans that the country was in arms against them, and that Howland, Baker and Rosenberg had been seized and imprisoned at Santa Fe.

There is something strange connected wdth this sad history here. This startling intelligence teas not sent hack to the main body. Howland did get out of prison and attempted to escape so as to convey the news to General McLeod, but was recaptured, and for this effort to save his countrymen was shot in San Maguel by order of Governor Armijo of New Mexico. Howland was one of the Americans who resided in Santa Fe and had visited Texas and urged the expedition on President Lamar, and by the act in which he lost his life proved himself true to the Texans.

In the evening after the departure of Lewis and party they overtook two Mexicans, who confirmed the report of Howland and party being imprisoned and the intense excitement prevailing in the country, caused by Governor Armijo informing the people that it was the intention of the Texans to ^^burn, slay and destroy^' as they marched. This information was sent back to the party on the Galinas; but those in command there again failed to send it back to General McLeod. On tbe night of that day Lewis and party slept at Anton Chico, where they were informed that they would be arrested and shot next day. Still they proceeded toward San Maguel ; but on the way were surrounded by a force of Mexicans under Salazar who dismounted them and started them on foot for San Maguel. From this place they were hastened on toward Santa Fe, tied together in pairs and driven as cattle on the way to a slaughter house. About sunset they met Governor Armijo in command of 600 men on the march to attack the Texans. He saluted them as friends and asked them who they were. ^^Now,"' says one historian, ^'The traitor, William P. Lewis, gave the first evidence of his latent villainy.'' He replied to Armijo that they were merchants from the United States. Young Van Ness, however, at once denied it and said they were all Texans except Mr. Kendall, who was a newspaper man from the United States, and only came along for pleasure. Armijo pointed to the star and the word Texas on the uniform of Captain Lewis, and said, "You cannot deceive me; United States merchants do not wear Texas unifqrms." As Lewis, however, spoke Spanish, the governor took him as interpreter. His companions on foot were taken back to San Maguel, where they witnessed the execution of Howland and Baker. Colonel Cooke, one of the commissioners with 94 men, had moved from the Galinas to Anton Chico. Salazar informed him that Lewis and his party had been kindly received and sent on to Santa; Fe. On the 17th, notwithstanding the profession of friendship by Salazar, Colonel Cooke found himself surrounded by a large force under the governor. Cooke Tvas about to open fire, w^hen Lewis and the governor's nephew advanced with a white flag, and Lewis informed Cooke that there were 600 men around him and that he had seen 4,000 more who would be on the ground in a few hours, and 5,000 more were on the march from Chihuahua (false), but that the governor had authorized him to say that if the Texans would give up their guns they would have permission to come in and trade, and after eight days their arms would be returned to them. Eight days - ^^the same expression used to Fannin and his men to induce them to surrender in 1836, only couched in different words - then it was ^^eight days' liberty and home." In eight days they were taken out and shot. Notwithstanding the Texans knew all this they acted upon the statement of Lewis and surren- <lered. They could not believe at this time that Captain Lewis was a traitor.

The Texans were now all bound as felons, and without Ixdng permitted to see their friends, who had before been betrayed and captured, started them off to the City of Mexico, 1,200 miles distant by wmy of Santa Fe. After the capture of (Mok's men Armijo set out to meet General Mc- Leod and his party, who, in a starving condition, had r(\ached the Laguna Colorado (Red Lake), about 30 miles from the River Galinas. Tliere the Mexicans met them. Mdthout physical strength or means of defense and under a i)roinise of good treatment this band of Texans also surrendered. As soon as the guns were out of their hands tluw were searched and robbed, bound in pairs and marched to San Maguel, wliere they arrived on the 12th day of October, three months and twenty-one days since breaking camp on Brushy Creek near Austin.

It is said Lewis received a large reward for his part in the transaction and Armijo wrote a letter to Garcia Conde, Governor of Chiliuahua, in which he said : ^Gn consideration of the great services rendered by Captain William P. Lewis in assisting me to capture the Texans, I have given him his liberty and his goods, and earnestly recommend liim to the notice of the Central Government."

On the ITth of October the prisoners, bound in pairs, started to the City of Mexico in charge of the brutal Salazar. Before they reached El Paso some died and their ears were cut off and strung on a buckskin string as a proof that they did not escape. One noted case of this kind was that of John McAlister. His ankle became inflamed and swollen to such an extent that he was no longer able to walk, and so informed the Mexican commander. Salazar ordered him to moTe on. He exposed his ankle and called attention to its condition again, declaring that he was unable to walk. Salazar, in a great rage, with many oaths, said he would shoot him if he did not move on. McAlister then exposed his breast and told him to shoot. Hastily drawing a pistol, Salazar shot him through the heart, cut off his ears, and, having him stripped of his shirt and pants, left his body by the roadside.

In due time they reached the City of ^lexico and were imprisoned until July, 1842, when, through the intercession of General Waddy Thompson, of South Carolina, the American Minister, they were released and returned home - some of them in time to take part in the battle of Salado, fought on the 18th of September, 1842. General Wall, it will be remembered, had on this occasion suddenly appeared with an army before San Antonio and captured it. The Texans who fought and defeated Wall's army on the Salado Creek near San Antonio were commanded by General Matthew Caldwell, one of tlie Santa Fe prisoners. A few of these prisoners had been placed with the Mier prisoners, among whom was Dr. Richard Brenham, and he was killed in the desperate fight for liberty which the Texans made at the village of Salado. The city of Brenham, in Washington County, was named for him.

had been released. That one was Jose Antonio Navarro. Because of his Spanish blood Santa Anna would not let him go. He visited him in prison and offered to release him on one condition, and that was, if he would renounce all allegiance to Texas and become a citizen of Mexico. The grand old man, with his white locks damp with dungeon mold and emaciated arm raised, from which dangled prison chains, looked the proud dictator in the face and scornfully rejected his overtures, and at the same time taunted Santa Anna with his perfidy, saying: am a

NavaiTO. No traitor^s blood runs in my veins. You can do your worst with me. I will die here chained on this prison fioor before I will for a. moment entertain a thought of aceepting your insulting proposition.''

Some years after, when Herrera became President of Mexico, he released Colonel Navarro and allowed him to return to Texas. He died in San Antonio in 1870, loved and respected by all who knew him.

Although the expedition failed, and many blamed President Lamar in no mild terms, the historian, Kendall, has this to say about him in vindication :

^^President Lamar's estimation of the views and feelings of the people of Santa Fe and vicinity were perfectly correct. Not a doubt can exist that they all were and are now (1843) anxious to throw off the oppressive yoke of Armijo and come under the liberal institutions of Texas; but the governor found us divided into small parties, broke down by long marches and want of food ; discovered, too, a traitor among us; and, taking advantage of these circumstances, his course was plain and his conquest easy."

To show that Lamar's idea of the value of the territory* of New Mexico, which lay east of the Kio Grande, and which, by right, belonged to Texas, will say that in 1850 the United States paid Texas ten millions of dollars for the same. Texas recovered this during the war of 1846.