For the Liberty of Texas

nd it may be as well to look for a moment at this remarkable personage, who at

ned in the revolution and came out a brigadier-general, and was made commandant of Vera Cruz. A few years later he

e last degree, and prided himself on being "The Napoleon of the West," as he styled himself. He wanted Mexico for his own, and i

exican presidential chair, with the result that Bustamente was banished by Santa Anna's followers, who forthwith made the general president. At this Santa Anna went still further by dissolving the

er of places there were actual outbreaks, which might have resulted seriously had Santa Anna not nipped them promptly in the bud. Stephen Austin had gone to Mexico to furthe

the remaining armed persons to give up their weapons. The Texans refused to submit, stating that they needed all the protection they could get, on accoun

Brazoria. In his speech there he counselled moderation, but declared that the civil government was going to pieces, and that the Texans mus

mmenced to disarm such of the Texans as had failed to comply with the decree regarding firearms. At Gonzales, fifty miles to th

cannon," said Colonel Ugartchea. "Tell

e of Gonzales. "It's the only cannon

and fifty dragoons, under Captain Castinado, to take the cannon by force. The Mexican soldiers arrived at the ri

attention was paid to his movement. Then a horn w

ching the ford, half a mile below the town, they found themselves confronted by Captain Albe

he number were Mr. Radbury and Dan. Dan had been to Gonzales to buy some household stores, and his father, hearing of the uprising, had hastened down the river to find his son and see that no harm befell him. This had left Ralph home alone, saving for the company of

as his parent joined him on the bank of the str

as he gazed at the Mexican dragoons with anxiety. "That

rm us," returned the youth, determine

non-committal reply. Amos Radbury was no "fire-eater," and, l

had ridden into the water to con

on you are holding," he said. "The

ply. "But we consider it unjust to ask us to give

up the cannon you

for a long while. We have

on against the government," was the

but it may be we will be forced to

mand the cannon," went on t

t will be at the peril of yo

to no purpose, and at length he withdrew his force from the for

me counselled delay others were for forcing the fighting. In the end, however, it was decided to wait, and

ir way along the river to where forty or fifty horsemen who owned ranches in the vici

y men, if not more, and a Mexican sold

captain has sent back

ll we can do is to wa

to keep the cannon. He had refused to give up any of his firearms,

ander sent another demand for the cannon, and on the day following he asked that

position so close to Gonzales. This he would not do, and all of the

me up with the balance of the command, an

own that the Mexican general, Cos, was on the march for San Antonio de

unanimously decided not to delay action longer, but if the Mexicans were still on the opposite side of the stream to compel them to move away before their force could be increased. Volunteers were called for to cross the river with the brass cannon an