San Felipe Volunteers: Date Line: End of March 1836 Sion R. Bostick was now back home in Columbus, Texas. We reported he fought the Mexican army in battles from October 1836 at Come and Take It, until the finish of The Siege of Bejar in December 1836 where he turned 16 years old.
Once again he heated the call of duty because this time Santa Anna was wreaking havoc upon Texas and its citizens. He now reenlisted under Captain Moseley Baker in his old regiment under Colonel Ed Burleson. Under General Houston’s command the whole sum of men, about 800 retreated east and stopped at San Felipe on the Brazos River. After a brief rest Houston ordered his army to march North up to Groce’s Landing, but ordered Baker’s men to remain behind to protect this key crossing. Mr. Bostick is among those who remained at San Felipe, at time it was only about 40 Volunteers.
Captain Baker had his men crossover the Brazos to the East side and build fortifications along its bank. By March 31, they had dug an L-shaped ditch, some 124 yards long, and piled tree branches in front. Two days later, Baker’s men found four survivors wandering the prairie, they had escaped from the Battle of Refugio. Only one survivor, Samuel G. Hardaway joined Baker’s company while the rest went to find Houston’s army. Baker sent word out of reinforcements to hold the crossing, and within days he now had some 120 total men under his command. Baker informed Houston he could hold the crossing. This gave Houston’s army now time to rest and train for whatever was to come. (Very important time.)
Early on March 29, scouts Deaf Smith and John York mistook a cattle drive for a cavalry troop and informed Baker that the Mexican army was only a few miles from his position. Baker now ordered San Felipe to be burned, saying Houston had ordered it so. Moses Austin Bryan, nephew of the founder of San Felipe, refused to start the fires, so Baker personally set a torch to the first home. Baker and his men now remained camped on the east bank. Knowing that the Mexican army was close, on April 6 Baker had ordered his men to hide all the boats and rafts along the river. He then sent three men as pickets on the west bank.
Santa Anna marched into San Felipe at dawn on April 7, 1836.
Mr. Bostick had faced the Mexican army before but never in numbers like these.
(to be continued)