Life and select literary remains of Sam Houston of Texas/Chapter 2
CHAPTER II.
Near a locality known as Timber Ridge Church, seven miles east of Lexington, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, on the 2d of March, 1793, Sam Houston was born. His birth-day was, in 1836, the natal day of a young Republic, in the achievement of whose liberties he was the chosen leader.
On his father's and mother's side, in both lines, his ancestry is traced to the highlands of Scotland. By the side of John Knox, they fought for "God and Liberty." With a multitude of others they were forced to leave their Scottish homes, and seek a refuge in the north of Ireland. After the siege of Derry, in which they were engaged, they emigratad to Pennsylvania. For more than a century the ancestors of his father and mother were near each other. They had settled in Virginia, in close proximity, many years before the marriage of the father and mother of Sam Houston.
His father was a man of remarkable physique, powerful in frame, lofty in bearing, and of undisputed bravery. His chief passion was for a military life. A soldier of the Revolution, he served successively as Inspector of the Brigades of Generals Bowyer and Moore, and held office with the latter at the time of his death, in 1807, while on an inspecting tour among the Alleghany Mountains. Possessed merely of a comfortable living, he bequeathed to his son only the qualities of soul and body with which he was endowed.
His mother was distinguished in person, manners, and mind. Her countenance was impressive and dignified, her form tall and matronly, her carriage easy and graceful. Beyond most of her sex, her intellectual and moral qualities were conspicuous. And the wild scenes of frontier life, buoyed by unflinching fortitude, purity, and benevolence, illumined her life. So universal was her beneficence that the poor and the suffering gratefully blessed her name. Her son returned from a distant exile to weep by her bedside, when it was her lot to die.
The influence of such parents on Sam Houston was seen in every period of his life.
His early years exhibited a daring independence and self-reliance very remarkable, and to many minds indicated a disastrous rather than a prosperous future. Not until eight years old could he be induced to enter a school-house. In the imperfect schools then existing in Virginia, he learned to read and write, and obtained some skill in arithmetic. Up to the time of his father's death, which occurred when he was thirteen years old, he had hardly been to an "Old Field" school more than six months in all. Through the exertions of his father, the family had been maintained in comfortable circumstances, but at his death the burden of providing for a family of six sons and three daughters fell on Mrs. Houston. Resolute of purpose, she at once sold out her homestead, and sought to establish a new home on the fertile banks of the Tennessee River. Many incidents occurred on her adventurous journey to seek a forest home, more thrilling than ever really transpired near the classic haunts of the old countries of Europe. Heroic in spirit, this family of four females and six males halted not till it had reached the verge of emigrants' wanderings sixty years ago. The Tennessee River was the boundary line between the white men and the Cherokee Indians. Eight miles from this river the Houstons pitched their tents. Here Sam and his brothers soon commenced breaking up soil never before touched by the plow, and providing subsistence for their mother and sisters. Here hard work and Sam Houston first became familiar. For a short time he went to an Academy, which at that time flourished in East Tennessee. Translations of some of the classics which described the ancient heroes, who stood above the ruins of Rome and Greece in immortal glory, fell into his hands, awakening his imagination and stirring his spirit. It is said that he could repeat Pope's Homer's Iliad almost verbatim. His anxiety to study the languages of Rome and Greece became intense. He asked for permission to study Latin, and for some strange reason the school-master denied his request. So indignant was he at this refusal, that, turning on his heel, he affirmed deliberately that he never would recite another lesson so long as he lived. It is not unlikely that he kept his word. Students of Homer, Demosthenes, Euripides, Ǽschylus, or Sophocles, probably never gathered more of classic lore from their authors in the original, than Sam Houston extracted from Pope's translation of the Iliad. Achilles and Hector were studied by him with admiring wonder. The contests of Trojans and Greeks infused into his breast an enthusiastic desire for the stirring scenes of martial life, and the renown which gathers around the hero's brow. His brothers did not sympathize with what they regarded as his romantic fancies, threw around him galling restraints, and at length placed him as a clerk in a merchant's store. For such a life he had no relish. Very soon he was missing. Diligent search was made for him for many weeks, and at last his family learned that he was sojourning, more according to his existing taste, with the Cherokee Indians, who lived across the Tennessee River, Questioned by relatives as to his motives for such a wild choice, he replied, that he "preferred measuring deer tracks to measuring tape—that he liked the wild liberty of the red men better than the tyranny of his own brothers, and if he could not study Latin in the Academy, he could, at least, read a translation from the Greek in the woods, and read it in peace. So they could go home as soon as they liked." Nearly six feet high, and standing straight as an Indian, he commanded the respect and the good-will of the red men and their families. He did not make his appearance among his friends again until his clothes were worn out, and he returned for repairs and refitting. His good mother received him kindly, and his brothers cared for him properly. But he was driven to the woods again at the first exhibition of tyranny. Here, again, he passed months in wild chases, with his Indian mates, after the game of the forest, wandering by the streams with Indian maidens, communing in Nature's language in the period of his life which was fashioning the man for his destiny. He was at a school, learning his lessons, expanding those powers which in after-years were to be tested in associations with the various classes of human nature. No other American has ever had just such an education, and no other one has had just such an occasion for the education which he received. Those who prognosticated the future could see no good in these strange adventures and studies. But he was preparing for the career of a soldier, a general, a diplomatist, a governor, and a benefactor of his country and race. His knowledge of Indian character became complete. His sway over the savage mind was powerful. No Indian tribe violated a treaty with the Republic of Texas while he was its President; a fact which may be traced to his early acquaintance with Indian character. But his career among the Indians entailed upon him a small debt for articles of taste, which he purchased for the Indians. To liquidate this debt he returned to his white friends and proposed to open a school. This was a new surprise to those who knew him, and the enterprise advanced tardily. Persevering, however, in his determination, he soon had more scholars than he could teach, and was compelled to send some away. He raised the price of tuition from $6 to $8 per annum, and received it in equal amounts of corn, variegated cotton cloth, and cash. Having made money enough to pay off his debts, he returned to his old school-master and chosen studies. The master gave him Euclid's Elements of Geometry to study; for a few days he carried this unpoetic book back and forth, to and from school, and then concluded, that as he had not tried to solve a problem, he would not try again to be a scholar.
The following letter, from Miss N, B. Hamilton, one of his blood relatives, gives a running account of his genealogy and entire life:
Tuscumbia Ala., May 19, 1866.Rev. W. C. Crane, D.D.:
Having seen in the Virginia papers your call upon the friends and relatives of the late Gen. Sam Houston, for contributions, I now address you.
Being a native of Rockbridge County, a friend and relative, and having a brief genealogical account of the family, and having been honored for many years by his affectionate interest, and wishing to see justice done to his memory, I will try to send you a few reminiscences of our most pleasant intercourse. For in the social circle he stood pre-eminent. He seemed the inspiration of music, poetry, love, and friendship, that seemed to spread their radiant wings, gilding his delicious intercourse with the glorious rays of Heaven, making his associates forget they were the denizens of earth, until separation struck the wand, bringing them down to the actual. For he was a dreamer, a poet, as well as a statesman, patriot, and warrior.
His letters to me are purely family, and therefore too sacred to bear the light of publication.
The persons that have heretofore sketched his life have fallen into a common American error: that to make a hero they must make him spring from nothing. His fame needs the aid of no such props, and I hope your history will be more just to his honorable ancestry.
The Houstons belonged to the lowlands of Scotland, and were of note enough to possess a Coat of Arms, that you can find registered at the Herald's office in London.
At the time of the Reformation they embraced the tenets of Calvin. They have often been called Puritans. They were of pure Celtic blood, unmixed with either Saxon or Norman. The branch General Houston is descended from was forced to leave Scotland, and take refuge in the north of Ireland, and shared and suffered the woes of the celebrated siege of Derry.
About the year 1689, John Houston and his son John, with many wealthy friends, emigrated from Ireland to America.
Having a large amount of funds with them, and from the actions of the captain and the crew, they were forced to the conclusion that they intended to rob and murder them, so they held a consultation, and determined to seize the captain and crew; which determination they put into execution, and in eight days afterwards they landed at Philadelphia, and settled there; where John the second married a
Miss Cunningham. They had two daughters and four sons, John, James, Robert, and Matthew. One of the daughters married a Gillespie, and the other a Montgomery. Their descendants are all of the highest respectability, both in Church and State. They all removed South. Three of the sons and one of the daughters removed to Tennessee, and the remainder settled in Rockbridge County, Va.
Gen. Sam's grandfather, Robert, purchased a plantation on Timberbidge, and married Miss Margaret, daughter of Samuel Davidson and Ann Dunlop, of the Scottish house of Dunlop. They had two sons and five daughters. Mistresses McClung, Hopkins, McKee, Letcher, and Gillespie. John was a magistrate; Major Sam inherited the homestead, and married Miss Elizabeth Paxton, a lady of the highest respectability. Major Houston was a very fine-looking man, and was Brigade Inspector for many years; indeed, he lost his life making his last round.
When his son, Gen. Sam, was a lad not thirteen years old, Aunt Houston removed with her young family to Tennessee. She was a noble woman, and reared her family well, and Sam was a debtor to that mother for much that was great, noble, and good in his character.
From the time he was seventeen history began to write his life.
Much, very much, he said to me in confidence; from all such conversations I shall never lift the veil.
He paid us a visit in Lexington after his celebrated rencounter with the Hon. Mr. Stansberry, of Ohio. I asked him how he felt whilst chastising him: "Meaner than ever I felt in my life; I thought I had gotten hold of a great dog, but found a contemptible whining puppy."
After he had fought for and gained the independence of Texas, he wrote to me to come to Texas, offering me a fine plantation. That was just in character with his profuse liberality. He said they needed the influence of woman to give stability to the government. I jestingly replied he had the example of Romulus; he laughingly said, "he had no doubt if he would send and bring round to Texas a few ship loads of Yankee onion girls, they would thank him for the rape."
At the time of the disturbance of the Mo. Compromise, his sagacious mind intuitively perceived the end. From the beginning he opposed that Pandora's box of evils. He was opposed to violating that Compromise, unjust as he viewed it in the beginning; yet there had been rights secured to the poor red man that he wished to see inviolably carried out. But his greatest fears were realized, for he said the disturbance was virtually putting the knife to the throat of the South.
For the space of a year, or more, before his name was brought before the Baltimore Democratic Convention, in 1856, I had a regular correspondence with him, and I yet think, if he had followed my advice he would have secured the nomination for President. But he would not stoop from what he viewed his lofty position, to secure it. The winter previous to the meeting of the Convention, the politicians of Virginia began to view him as the available man. Mr. Henry A, Wise, his inveterate enemy, knew the importance of forestalling public opinion, went to Richmond, procured the hall of the House of Delegates, thereby securing the presence of the members, with the ostensible purpose of exposing Col. Benton's treachery to the Democratic party. He took the hour to pour forth his bitterest shafts of satire and malice, against a man that he must have known to be innocent. But his purpose was effected, for the members told me they would never touch Houston, after such an expose. I wrote to him at Washington city, begging him to come and reply to that speech, in the same place, and before the same audience. In reply, he said, "Virginia had never done anything for him, and he would never stoop to conciliate her."
I wrote to him that I knew a woman's judgment was not worth much, but unless he would come and put himself right before the Legislature, he would lose the support of the State, and in that case fail of receiving the nomination. I urged him then to come and pay me a visit, hoping that if he did his friends would compel him to speak. His reply was like himself; he said, how delighted. he would be to see me, and under different circumstances he would come, "that no one would believe I have no ulterior views to serve if I should come to Richmond."
I spent several days with him in Washington, and we parted a short time before the Convention met. He still persisted in the thought that Virginia could not prevent his nomination. He was sanguine of success, for he well knew that if nominated he would sweep over the country like an avalanche.
That winter he was surrounded by a great many female relations. As he was a great whittler, he whittled several small hearts out of pine, and sent one to each of us, which we had set and attached to our watch-chains.
In 1834, he paid us a visit on his return from New York and Washington, where he had been making arrangements for the liberation of Texas. He picked up my album; I said he must contribute something. "Yes," said he, "I will contribute by correcting a mistake." He was surrounded by a roomful, and in the midst of that crowd, and sustaining his part in the conversation, he composed the following lines :
"Remember thee?
Yes, lovely girl;
While faithful memory holds its seat,
Till this warm heart in dust is laid,
And this wild pulse shall cease to beat,
No matter where my bark be tost.
On life's tumultuous, stormy sea;
My anchor gone, my rudder lost.
Still, cousin, I will think of thee."
I send the above lines, not so much for their poetic merit, but merely to illustrate the character of the man whose mind was burdened with the uncertainty of great events, that were to startle the world by their magnitude, yet could turn aside to the call of love or friendship with the graceful ease of a courtier.
Very respectfully,N, B. Hamilton.
The Houston family tree, as intimated by Miss Hamilton's letter, embraces the names of Paxton, McCIung, Cassidy, Hopkins, McKee, Letcher, Moore, Wallace, Bradstator, Pugh, Guy, Ross, and Hamilton, names connected with the best blood and characteristics of Virginia and the American Union.