Recollections of Early Texas by John Holmes Jenkins Page A

of the best mounted of our force. Eastland formed a line, but was ordered back into ranks, and Hays’s company charged upon the yelling Mexican guards alone.
    Our delay and unaccountable wavering had given Woll every advantage to be prepared for us, and he had taken the opportunity. In the bend of the road he had planted his artillery and some infantry. Hays, coming suddenly and unexpectedly upon them, received a full volley of shot and was compelled to fall back, not being supported by the main force in time. In this charge one of the men, Kit [Christopher] Achlin,* ran around Woll’s cannon, placing his foot upon it. Hays retreated and met us about one hundred and fifty yards from the scene, where again a halt was called and we were ordered to dismount.
    We were now certain that a fight was at hand, and already hearts beat fast and eyes brightened in prospect of action and danger. There seemed to be a strange want of discipline or system or harmony among the officers, who could not agree as to the proper line of policy, and stood discussing and debating questions, while the soldiers were all the time growing more perplexed and impatient.
    Captain Billingsley, understanding the situation, and knowing the value of prompt action called out to the soldiers, “Boys, do you want to fight?” A loud “Yes” was the instant reply. “Then, follow me!” he called, and marched on at the head of a considerable force. We were already approaching very near the Mexican infantry, and were drawn up in lineof battle. In two minutes the charge would have been made and the fight commenced. But at this juncture superior authority interfered. Colonel Caldwell galloped up and called out to Billingsley, “Where are you going?”
    â€œTo fight,” was the answer.
    â€œCountermarch those men back to ranks!” Caldwell commanded, and we were forced to take our places back in the standing army, all worried and disgusted with what seemed to us a cowardly hesitation and a disgraceful and confused proceeding without motive or design. Nearly 600 men standing almost in sight of an invading army, whose guards would sometimes slip in near enough to throw bullets into our midst. There we stood till dark, suffering for water and tantalized almost to madness by the delay and want of harmony among our leaders.
    We were at last ordered to mount and march up the creek above the Mexican forces. Thinking that this was done to cut off their retreat, the Mexican guard fired upon us as we got opposite their camps, but still we were ordered to march on. A half-mile farther up the creek we were ordered to halt and dismount and guards were stationed around the horses. Again we waited. In a half-hour Colonel Samuel Walker, raising fifteen or twenty men, went out to investigate. We found no Mexican army! General Woll had retracted and thus ended one of the most disgraceful campaigns of which Texas was ever guilty.
    How we needed Burleson! So ready to lead, so prompt to act! But he was out on an Indian campaign when our troops left home. Hearing of fresh trouble with Mexicans, however, he came on to our help, but it was too late. We met him at the Medina, twenty or thirty miles from San Antonio.
    And now we found ourselves once more at home, but not safe, for still every now and then we were troubled with Indians and occasionally we went out to bury one of ourcitizens who would be surprised by the skulking savages and murdered whenever they could find opportunity to do their dastardly work. It was almost a constant thing to wake and find all our horses stolen and all pursuit or effect to regain them useless.
    Sometimes, however, our little runs after the thieves were interesting and exciting, although we might not catch the thieves or regain our horses. I remember one run early in the year 1843, during a very cold spell we had, that was quite amusing.
    A lot of horses having been stolen, eighteen or twenty men under Jonathan