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We've heard many Mexicans say that Santa Anna's most noted accomplishment
was not selling the rest of Mexico to the United States. It's interesting
to note that Texas' favorite villain had a compassionate side.
Recognizing a familiar name on the list of prisoners from the Mier
Expedition, Santa Anna asked if the prisoner was related to the Doctor
who had pumped his (Santa Anna's) stomach after his attempted suicide
during his captivity. When informed "yes," he immediately
signed his release and sent him back to Texas but only after entertaining
him in his home for two weeks.
He also offered to adopt the youngest member of the Mier Expedition,
and after the boy checked with his father (also a prisoner) a deal
was struck and John C.C. Hill became the adopted son of Santa Anna.
His Father and brother were released and went back to Fayette County.
John learned Spanish, was sent to the prestigious College of Mines
and became a civil engineer. He had a life that was several rungs
up the social ladder from his poor Fayette County family and occasionally
visited the U.S. before he died in Mexico in 1909.
Lice and typhus were two things that the Mexicans couldn't control
and the guards suffered alongside the prisoners. Strangely, personal
property was respected and prisoners who had money could buy soap,
tobacco and Mescal. Used chewing tobacco was dried and sold at half
price. After it's second incarnation it was shredded and smoked in
pipes.
The names of many participants, whether they survived or not, should
be familiar to Texans, native or naturalized. Brenham, Cameron,
Daingerfield, Eastland, Hays, Hockley,
Sommervell and Wallace, just to mention a few. Invasion,
mutiny, racism, insubordination, survival, imprisonment and pestilence
- there's something for everyone.
Next page : The
Black Bean Episode
© John Troesser |
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