vanced, each Indian selected his victim, and the advan cing column was mowed down by the first destructive volley. The enemy poured in their destructive fire from the ground, the bushes, and the tops of trees; but they were afterwards forced to retire. Twenty-eight of the whites were killed, and one hundred and eleven were wounded. Among the killed were Colonel Thompson, Captain Van Swearingen, and Colonel Gentry mortally wounded.

In Oct., 1837, Osceola, with about 70 warriors, under the protection of a flag, came into the camp of General Jesup, who, believing him to be treacherous, caused him to be forcibly detained. He was taken to St. Augustine, and thence he was sent into confinement at Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan's Island, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, where he died of the throat distemper, on the 31st of January, 1838.

This harassing warfare was brought to a close by the exertions of Colonel Worth, and on the 14th of August, 1842, an official announcement was made that the war with the Indians in the territory of Florida had ceased. There is not in the history of the United States a war related so fatal and expensive, when the comparative and apparent insignificance of the enemy is considered. Millions of money were expended, and hundreds of valuable lives were sacrificed; great numbers perished by disease contracted by traversing swamps and morasses, among poisonous reptiles, and through the mud, mire, and waters of stagnant lakes.

128. Revolution in Texas.

Settlements were made in the limits of Texas as early as 1692, but the savages were so hostile in the vicinity that but little progress was effected. The Spanish Government, and afterwards that of the Mexican, in order to establish settlements in this territory, offered grants of lands and other inducements to settlers from the United

States. Early in 1821, Stephen B. Austin, from Connecticut, went to the Brassos river to secure a portion of territory which his father had bequeathed to him. He secured the grant, and liberal offers were made by the Government to others who would go and settle there.

Many settlers accepted these offers, and their increase and prosperity soon began to alarm the Mexican Government. When Iturbide was dethroned in Mexico, a confederation was formed; Coquila and Texas were united in one state; and a system of measures was adopted which finally led to the declaration of Texan independence. In 1825, the Mexican Congress passed a law prohibiting all traffic in slaves, and freeing all born in Texas at the age of 14; and soon a law was passed freeing all slaves in the limits of Texas. As most of the settlers were planters from the Southern States, who had brought their slaves with them, these laws were considered by them as unjust and oppressive.

The Texans, in vain, petitioned the Mexican Congress for relief; and Stephen Austin, when visiting the capital for this purpose, was seized and put in prison, where he was confined two years. Upon the abrogation of the State Governments, and the establishment of Centralism under Santa Anna, a convention of the citizens of Texas was called, and independence from Mexico was declared. General Coss having been sent by the Mexican Government to dissolve the Legislature and seize the members, the people of Texas flew to arms. On the 8th of October, 1835, they moved upon Goliad, a strong fortress, which they carried after a bloody engagement. A force of 1000 men, under the command of Austin, advanced upon San Antonio, where General Coss was entrenched with 1,500 men, and forced him to surrender on condition that the prisoners should be allowed to pass beyond the Rio Grande.

Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, with a force of 8,000 men, now moved forward, threatening to exterminate the Americans from the soil of Texas. The right of his army moved in the direction of Matamoras; the center and left, under Santa Anna himself, marched

towards San Jacinto. It was his intention that the divisions should move in parallel lines and keep up a communication, and so sweep the province, and meet at Galveston.

In March, 1836, San Antonio de Bexar was besieged, and the Alamo was defended by a force of only 187 men, commanded by Colonel W. B. Travis. The garrison sustained the siege for two weeks, till they were all slain but seven, who surrendered; and it is stated they were afterwards put to death by the order of Santa Anna. Besides Colonel Travis, here fell Colonel David Crockett, and Colonel James Bowie, the inventor of the Bowie knife. The loss of the Mexicans in storming the place is stated in some accounts to have been 1,000 in killed and wounded.

While Santa Anna was engaged at San Antonio, General Urrea marched upon Goliad. Before he reached this place, he came up with Colonel Fanning's troops, with whom a bloody action was fought. On the 20th of March, Colonel Fanning, with 520 Texans, surrendered as prisoners of war; and nine days afterwards, all were shot down by the Mexicans, except six only, who escaped under cover of the smoke of their guns.

On the 21st of April, 1836, Santa Anna came up with a body of 783 Texans, commanded by General Houston, near the banks of the San Jacinto. After some considerable skirmishing, the Mexicans retired to their camp. Being masked by the timber, the Texans marched into a valley in front of the Mexican camp, and at once rushed upon their line. When within about 600 yards, the Mexicans opened their fire upon them. Nothing daunted by this, the Texans moved on till they were within about 70 yards of their foes, when they opened a terrible and destructive fire. As they were most of them armed with double-barrelled guns, and many with five or six pistols, besides knives and tomahawks, they did not stop to reload, but rushed on amid the smoke, and as soon as they could see the enemy, fired again, and thus swept over them like wind. The Mexican artillery was taken already loaded and primed, and turned and

fired upon the Mexicans as they retreated in total rout and confusion. The Texan loss was only 2 killed and 23 wounded, 6 mortally. The Mexican loss was stated to be 630 killed, 208 wounded, and 730 prisoners, among whom were Santa Anna and his principal officers.

In May, 1836, a convention or agreement was signed at Velasco, between D. G. Burnet, President of Texas, and Santa Anna, by which it was stipulated that hostilities between the Mexican and Texan troops should cease, and that Santa Anna should be sent to Vera Cruz. The Mexicans made repeated demonstrations, apparently with the view of recovering Texas; but, owing to dissensions among themselves and other causes, nothing of importance was effected.

On the 1st of March, 1845, the joint resolutions for the annexation of Texas to the United States, which had previously passed both Houses of Congress, received the signature of President Tyler, and thus became a law. On the 18th of June following, joint resolutions passed both branches of the Texan Congress, by an unanimous vote, giving the consent of that body to the annexation of Texas to the United States.

129. Difficulties on the Canadian Frontier.

In October, 1837, a large number of Canadians assembled at St. Charles, in Lower Canada, and passed resolutions expressing their dissatisfaction with the manner in which Canada was governed. S. J. Papineau, speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Nelson, and others, were at the head of this movement, which was brought about by a party in Canada, who had for years been desirous of independence. Many citizens of the United States on the northern frontier, regarding their cause as that of liberty and human rights, formed secret associations for the purpose of aiding the " Canadian patriots" (as they were called) across the line.

"About the middle of the month of December, 1837,

twenty-eight men, principally Canadians, with Rensselaer Van Rensselaer and William Lyon Mackenzie, went on Navy Island. They called to them the patriots of Canada, and all others the friends of that cause. In the space of three weeks, between three and four hundred responded to the call: some from the United States, and others from Canada. They brought with them arms and provisions. They staid on the island for one month, and then, at their own choice, left it, and not in fear of their opponents. Opposite to them, were assembled five thou sand men, consisting of British regulars, incorporated militia, and a body of Indians and negroes. Batteries were erected, and balls and shells were, at intervals, cast upon the island. The islanders were incessantly in a state of danger and alarm; yet they would, at times, provokingly return the fire; still they remained unattacked. For a month, a raw, undisciplined band of men, in the severity of winter, with no shelter but such as they then constructed, and miserably clad, set at defiance and laughed at the overwhelming force, which lay so near to them that they frequently conversed together.

"The steamboat Caroline came from Buffalo, on the 29th of December, it was said, to ply as a ferry-boat between Schlosser and Navy Island. It passed, that day, forth and back several times, and before sundown was brought to at the wharf, at Schlosser, and moored for the night. At that place, there was but one house, and that a tavern. The warlike movements between the patriots and British, had drawn to the frontier, through motives of curiosity, a great number of persons. The tavern was crowded-lodgings could not be obtained—and several persons, observing the steamboat, sought for accommodations on board, and were received. In the middle of the night, the watch, for a watch on board steamboats is usu ally, kept, saw something advancing on the water. He hailed, but before he could give the alarm, a body of armed men rushed on board, shot at the sentinel and all they met, crying-Cut them down! Give no quarter! No arms were on board the boat; no attack was expected, and no resistance was made. Some got on shore uniu