“But I have orders, general,” he argued, “commanding me to exterminate every man found in arms in the province of Texas; to treat them as pirates. They have no government and no recognized flag.”
This was almost an insult. The crowd uttered a furious shout, and lifting himself further on his elbow General Houston shook his finger at the cowering Santa Anna. He looked like a lion. His eyes glaring, his brow wet with sudden perspiration, he tried to control himself.
“Sir, the Texans flatter themselves that they have a government, and they probably will be able to support a flag. Now if you feel excused for your conduct at San Antonio, what do you say about your massacre of Colonel Fannin’s command, at Goliad? They had surrendered, on terms offered by your general. And then they were shot, unarmed! Helpless!”
“Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” shouted the crowd, surging and threatening.
Santa Anna fairly quailed. He laid his hand on his heart, again, and declared that General Urrea had not told him that the Fannin men had surrendered. He said that General Urrea should be punished. And all that. He seemed about to faint, and asked for medicine.
General Almonte here struck in, on his own account.
“By the way, why did you delay so, in your attack on us yesterday?” he queried. “You knew that we would be reinforced. We expected your attack before the reinforcements came, and we were all ready for you.”
“I knew that, sir,” replied General Houston. “That was just the reason I did not fight! And besides, I wished to settle the matter for all time. There was no use in making two bites at one cherry.”
“You were a long time getting at it. Only good luck saved you,” asserted General Almonte, rather uncivilly.
This made the general angry again.