This territory formed, with Coahuila, one of the States of Mexico, but the government was a government in name only, and the people of Texas felt that it was absolutely necessary that they withdraw from the Mexican Confederation, in order to protect themselves, their property, and their individual rights, for, with the scheming Mexicans on one side of them, and the murderous Indians on the other, nothing was safe from molestation.
The contest was fought largely by men who knew little or nothing of the art of war, but men whose courage was superb. At first only defeat stared the intrepid band in the face, and hundreds were lost at the Alamo, at the massacre of Goliad, and elsewhere, but then there came upon the scene the figure of the dashing and daring General Sam Houston, and under his magnetic leadership the army of the Mexican general, Santa Anna, was routed utterly, and the liberty of Texas was secured beyond further dispute.
Edward Stratemeyer.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
- The Home on the Frontier[11 ]
- The Disappearance of the Deer[19 ]
- A Quarrel and Its Result[28 ]
- Something About the Indians in Texas[36 ]
- The Attack on the Ranch[44 ]
- Poke Stover To the Front[53 ]
- In and Out of the Burning Cabin[62 ]
- An Unsuccessful Pursuit[71 ]
- Big Foot and the Missing Papers[81 ]
- The Situation in Mexico[89 ]
- The Opening of the War[97 ]
- The March on San Antonio[105 ]
- A Fight with a Puma[113 ]
- The Battle of Concepcion[121 ]
- Dan Turns the Tables[129 ]
- After a Missing Mustang[137 ]
- The Grass Fight, and What Followed[145 ]
- Dan Comes To Grief[154 ]
- The Cave in the Ravine[161 ]
- Flight and Pursuit[169 ]
- What Happened to Ralph[177 ]
- The Attack on San Antonio[185 ]
- The Surrender of the City[194 ]
- A Midnight Discovery[204 ]
- March of Santa Anna into Texas[212 ]
- Wild Turkeys and Another Trail[223 ]
- The Mexican Army at San Antonio[233 ]
- Within the Walls of the Mission[242 ]
- The Fall of the Alamo[250 ]
- Escaping to the River[257 ]
- Something about General Sam Houston[265 ]
- In Which the Texan Army Falls Back[274 ]
- The Victory of San Jacinto[283 ]
- Back to the Ranch—Conclusion[293 ]
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
- "'Remember the Alamo! Down with Santa Anna!'"[Frontispiece ]
- "'You sha'n't leave this spot until you give up that deer,
and that's all there is to it!'"[27 ] - "Following the trail of the Comanches"[70 ]
- "'Hold on,' he cried to Henry Parker. 'Something is in
that bush!'"[98 ] - "'Hold back!' yelled Dan"[157 ]
- "'You rascal! Get back, or I'll shoot!'"[212 ]
- "'That's what I call a pretty good haul,' cried Dan,
enthusiastically"[229 ] - "He began to lower himself into the hole"[258 ]