The White Scalper: A Story of the Texan WarAimard, Gustave
History
The White Scalper: A Story of the Texan War
Aimard, Gustave
Texas -- History -- Revolution, 1835-1836 -- Fiction; Western stories
The facts that then occurred are so strange, that they deserve to be
described in their fullest details. Besides; they are intimately related
to the facts we have undertaken to narrate, and throw a new light on
certain events connected with the revolution of Texas, which are but
little known.
We ask our reader's pardon; but we must go back once again, and return
to General Rubio, at the moment when the Texans, broken by Colonel
Melendez' charge, and understanding that victory was hopelessly slipping
from their grasp, began flying in every direction, without trying to
defend themselves longer, or keep the ground they held. The General had
stationed himself on an eminence whence he surveyed the whole
battlefield, and followed the movements of the various corps engaged. So
soon as he saw the disorder produced in the enemy's ranks, he understood
the advantage he could derive from this precipitate flight, by closely
pursuing the fugitives up to the Fort of the Point, where he could
certainly enter pell-mell without striking a blow. But haste was needed,
not to give the enemy time to re-form a little further on, which the
chiefs who commanded them would not fail to attempt, if but an hour's
respite were granted them.
The General turned to an aide-de-camp by his side, and was just going to
send Colonel Melendez orders to start all his cavalry in pursuit of the
Texans, when a platoon of a dozen lancers suddenly appeared, commanded
by an officer who galloped at full speed to the spot where the General
was, making signs and waving his hat. The General looked in surprise at
this officer, whom he knew did not belong to his army. A minute later he
gave a start of surprise and disappointment, took, a sorrowful glance
at the battlefield, and stood biting his moustache and muttering, in a
low voice,
"Confound this saloon officer and sabre clunker! Why did he not remain
in Mexico? What does the President mean by sending us this gold plumaged
springald, to make us lose all the profits of the victory?"
At this moment the officer came up to the General, bowed respectfully,
drew a large sealed envelope from his breast, and handed it to him. The
General coldly returned the salutation, took the letter, opened it, and
looked at it with a frown; but almost immediately he crumpled the letter
up passionately, and addressed the officer, who was standing motionless
and stiff before him.
"You are the aide-de-camp of the President General of the Republic?" he
said, roughly.
"Yes, General," the officer answered, with a bow.
"Hum! Where is the President at this moment?"
"Four leagues off at the most, with two thousand troops."
"Where has he halted?"
"His Excellency has not halted, General, but, on the contrary, is
advancing with forced marches to join you."
The General gave a start of anger.
"It is well," he continued, presently. "Return at full gallop to his
Excellency, and announce to him my speedy arrival."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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