Previous to the battle of Velasco, Father Muldoon was allowed to visit the Mexican commander, and authorized to adjust the affairs in conflict. His mission was a failure, the enemy deeming itself strong enough to secure its end, a mistaken idea; after a contest in which two thirds of the Mexicans were killed or wounded, the survivors surrendered to the Americans.
Among those who are named as participating in the engagement were John G. Stirling, Pinkney McNeal, George B. McKinistry and Andrew Scott. Among the delegates to the first convention held in Texas, in October, 1832, were William D. Lacy, George W. McKinistry, James Kerr, Hugh McGuffin, Joseph, Samuel and James Looney, John Connell, Jacob Garrett, George Butler, John M. Bradley and James Morgan.
A second convention, held on April 1, 1833, had among its members George Butler, John M. Bradley, Jesse Grimes, Jacob Garrett, Sam Houston, James Kerr, John H. Moore, James Morgan, William McFarland and B. D. McClure.
Mention is made of William Donoho in connection with the massacre of the survivors of the Grant colony by the Indians. He was a merchant in Santa Fé.—“One of those great hearted, sympathetic men who honor humanity.” His children are credited with being “the first American natives of the ancient town of Santa Fé.” He was from Missouri. He is credited with being the medium through whom three English ladies were released after being captured by the Indians, survivors of an English colony in Texas, and whose sufferings while in possession of the Indians were terrible. He was born in Kentucky. He died in Clarksville, Texas, in 1845, “lamented as a true son of Kentucky.” He is spoken of in the highest terms in Brown’s History of Texas and the Texas Scrap Book.
Daniel McCoy has mention in an account of a fight with the Indians at San Marcos in the spring of 1835, and with him were Matthew Caldwell and B. D. McClure. In another fight with the Indians near the Brazos, at Washington, in July, 1835, a detachment of three companies was commanded by Col. John H. Moore. The adjutant was Joseph C. Neill, and others in command were Capt. Robert M. Coleman and Capt. Coheen.
Among those in attendance at the “Navidad and Lavaca meeting on July 17, 1835,” were William Millican and Major James Kerr, “the veteran John McHenry who had fought for liberty in South America,” and was with Long and suffered imprisonment with Millan and Austin; Patrick Usher, Coleman, Loony, McNutt, and Scott. Among those who made a reputation in Texas in those early days were three brothers, Patrick C., William H. and Spencer H. Jack. They were the sons of Capt. Patrick Jack of North Carolina.
Captain Jack was the messenger selected by the Mecklenburg Convention, held in May, 1775, to convey the Declaration of Independence adopted by it to the Continental Congress in session at Philadelphia.
In a movement to prevent the taking away by the Mexicans of a four-pounder left with the people of Gonzales for protection against the Indians, the following participated: John H. Moore, Matthew Caldwell, James Kerr, John J. Linn, and representatives of the McClure and McCoy families. Mrs. Margaret Linn took an important part in the affair, and this tribute is paid her by the writer quoted: “Pause a moment, reader, to reflect that this note was written to a young bride, not yet a mother, educated, refined and accomplished, as many were whose graces gave tone to society in that period of danger and excitement.”
Mrs. Linn’s duty was to forward an important despatch to a point where aid could be procured. These were exciting times in Texas. The storm which was to end at San Jacinto was brewing, and the settlers were constantly on the alert, in order to be prepared for it. A party of forty men captured the Mexican fort, Lipantitlan, twelve miles from San Patricio. Major James Kerr, John J. Linn and James Power distinguished themselves in this affair. No doubt there were many of their kindred with them whose names were not given. It was a gallant and daring enterprise, and occurred on the 5th of November, 1835.
It prevented the three men named from attending the consultation which took place at San Felipe on the third of the same month, but “it caused the release of several Irish prisoners held by the Mexicans.”