San Antonio Prisoners True Story from 1842 Article
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San Antonio Prisoners: The True Story of the 1842 Invasion of San Antonio and the Imprisonment of Its Citizens By Fred Riley Jones t is a little-known fact that the gov- and never again take up arms ernment of Mexico invaded the against them. He addition- Republic of Texas some six years ally agreed to keep all Mexi- I after the decisive Battle of San Ja- can soldiers South of the Rio cinto. This is the true account of Grande and to release all Tex- the Woll Invasion of San Antonio of Sep- ans being held as prisoners in tember 1842. The invasion was named for Mexico. He agreed to work General Adrian Woll, a French soldier of within Mexico to achieve fortune handpicked by Santa Anna to raid recognition of Texas inde- San Antonio in order to remind the citi- pendence from the Mexican zens of Texas that Mexico had repudiated government and to secure a Santa Anna’s surrender and any notion treaty of commerce between of the “independence” of Texas. After a the nations. Finally, the Rio two-hour skirmish on September 11, 1842, Grande was established as General Woll and his force of 1600 soldiers the official political boundary captured 62 men, including the District between Mexico and Texas.2 Judge, the District Clerk, the City Coun- Santa Anna’s agree- cil, the District Attorney, the Sheriff, the ments were not well re- litigants, some of the jurors and other citi- ceived by the Republic of zens, and all of the lawyers in attendance Mexico. The Mexican nation at the 1842 term of court, except one. repudiated the treaty, argu- These men would eventually be ing that Santa Anna was known as the San Antonio Prisoners. They under duress and had no were forced to march to Mexico that au- authority to sign it. The re- tumn of 1842. Unbeknownst to them at the conquest of Texas was a ral- time, their ultimate destination was the an- lying point and a national cient Castle of Perote near Vera Cruz. The goal for the next six years.3 Great Britain and the United States rec- eventual fates of the San Antonio Prison- Relations between the Republic of ognized Texas as an independent nation, ers varied. Some of the prisoners were kept Texas and the government of Mexico fully competent to manage its own affairs, captive for up to two years, while others continued to be difficult for several and having all of the rights of other in- were forced into labor camps. Still others years after the 1836 Battles of the Al- dependent nations. Great Britain and the paid with their lives, but the disruption to amo and Goliad, and Santa Anna’s ig- United States had repeatedly encouraged the area’s court system would last much nominious defeat and capture at the both Mexico and Texas to cease hostilities. longer. The San Antonio Prisoners endured Battle of San Jacinto.4 Also, based upon past experience, the Tex- particularly severe hardships. It has been After a period of disgrace and po- ans felt confident that if necessary, they said, “Among them were men of talent and litical exile, Santa Anna returned to a could again thwart any serious invasion high respectability. Many were heads of position of supreme authority in Mexi- by Mexico. They did not know that Santa families and away from home when made co.5 Although both nations were finan- Anna had other plans—not for a full-scale prisoners. None anticipated or had pre- cially unstable, Mexico and the Repub- invasion, but rather a series of swift, re- pared for the captivity into which he was lic of Texas engaged in various conflicts taliatory strikes meant to spark national dragged. They have not received the atten- between 1836 to 1842, keeping the coals pride, divert attention from the chaotic tion in the past that their case merits.”1 of discontentment glowing, with major state of affairs in Mexico, and to discour- flare-ups from time to time. age Anglo-American settlement in Texas. Background However, as of 1842, many residents Santa Anna knew that Mexico did not Under the treaty signed following of the Republic of Texas optimistically have the resources to make another full- his defeat at San Jacinto, Santa Anna rec- thought the war for independence had fledged invasion of Texas, but he wanted ognized Texan sovereignty and agreed been won, and they had begun the pro- to “at least send a clear message that it to cease all hostilities toward the Texans cess of conducting civil government. was not prepared to concede defeat.”6 San Antonio Lawyer 8 March-April 2008 The March 1842 Term of Court needed to demonstrate its superior mili- the real virtues of either.”9 Anderson Hutchinson, judge of what tary power to the Mexican government. The first jury case to be tried was was then called the 4th Judicial District It is probable that neither Jones nor his filed by Dr. Shields Booker against the Court of the Republic of Texas, could have fellow lawyers planned to be away from City of San Antonio over a fifty-peso fee reasonably concluded that peace was in- their families for very long, although it promised by San Antonio Mayor Juan evitable, and that he could get on with was common for the lawyers in the area N. Seguin. Dr. Booker was represented the business of the Court in an uncertain to follow or travel with the judge as by Samuel A. Maverick, a signer of the legal environment. However, during the he made his way through the counties Texas Declaration of Independence, March 1842 term of the District Court, served by the Fourth Judicial District congressman-elect, and later Mayor of General Rafael Vasquez raided San An- Court. It was not every day that the cir- the City of San Antonio. tonio without resistance, plundered the cuit judge came to hold court in San An- The testimony in Shields Booker town, and then retreated back to Mexico. tonio, and the lawyers and their clients v. City of San Antonio was in Spanish. Judge Hutchinson and his family, who were anxious to test the judiciary of the The official court minutes, written in had migrated from Mississippi only a few Republic of Texas in its infancy. longhand by the District Clerk, were years earlier, lost their piano and most of During the Texas Revolution and for in Spanish, up until about September their clothing. The Vasquez raid was re- a period of years after the Battle of San 6, 1842. While the trial was interesting, portedly carried out in retaliation for the Jacinto, the courts had not been avail- probably more interesting was the ru- Santa Fe expedition by Texans in 1841, in able for resolution of civil and criminal mor of an impending invasion by Mexi- an attempt to take over Santa Fe.7 disputes. It was finally time to seek re- can troops. The rumor was discounted, The Vasquez raid threw Texans into dress in the courts for a variety of mis- however, with many people thinking panic, and there was a renewed call for deeds which had taken place during the that it was only a sensational report de- retaliation, but President Sam Houston conflict. Later decisions by the Supreme signed to prevent the convening of the was gravely concerned about invad- Court of the Republic of Texas excused court. In fact, on Monday, September 5, ing Mexico. Publicly, he appeared to such delays as one of the necessary re- 1842, Judge Hutchinson opened his di- be willing to push Texas to the brink of sults of the struggle for independence ary with this note: “Opened the District a full-fledged war, but given the bleak and also excused irregularities in judicial Court of Bexar. No invasion expected.” financial situation and risks involved, proceedings that took place during those Four short days later, on Friday, Sep- President Houston was content to hold early years.8 Moreover, there was confu- tember 9, 1842, Judge Hutchinson was his powder and ignore public demand sion because courts of the Republic had advised in confidence of the approach of for retaliatory action against Mexico. no prior decisions to offer guidance. As 1,500 to 3,000 Mexican troops. The rumor one author has noted, “Analogous cases was sufficiently authenticated to induce The September 1842 Term of Court from the American states or from other the belief that a force of some character On September 5, 1842, Judge An- nations were useful, particularly because was advancing, but it appeared to be a derson Hutchinson opened the Septem- the Republic Constitution required Texas party of marauders, not regular troops, ber term of Court in San Antonio. The to adopt the common law of England.” who were endeavoring to create the docket call for the September 1842 term Although the English common law pro- impression that their force was much had required lawyers from San Antonio vided some guidance, the retention of stronger than it really was.10 and nearby counties to attend. William features of Mexican civil law in some On Saturday, September 10, 1842, Early Jones, a lawyer from Gonzales, areas, principally in trial procedure and a public meeting was held, with Judge was one of the lawyers in attendance. At marital rights, resulted in an odd mixture Hutchinson presiding. The rumors of the time, Jones was serving as a mem- of legal tradition. As one unsympathetic an impending invasion were discussed ber of the Republic of Texas House of newspaper editor explained, the mixture and generally discredited.