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Post by neferetus on Nov 10, 2007 11:48:14 GMT -5
If any one of Santa Anna's officers deserved to be hanged for his treachery, it was General Martin Perfecto de Cos. Following are the surrender terms General Cos made with General Burleson in San Antonio on December 12, 1835. It must be noted that, although Cos gave his solemn word of honor that he would never again oppose the rightful Constitution of 1824, barely two and a half months later, he was leading an assault against the Alamo. Cos died in Mexico, in 1854, still a military man.
Capitulation entered into by general Martin Perfecto de Cos, of the Permanent troops, and general Edward Burleson, of the Colonial troops of Texas.
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Being desirous of preventing the further effusion of blood, and the ravages of civil war, have agreed on the following stipulations:
1st. That general Cos and his officers retire into the interior of the republic, under parole of honor; that they will not in any way oppose the re-establishment of the federal Constitution of 1824.
2d. That the one hundred infantry lately arrived with the convicts, the remnant of the battalion of Morelos, and the cavalry, retire with the general; taking their arms and ten rounds of cartridges for their muskets.
3d. That the general take the convicts brought in by colonel Ugartechea, beyond the Rio Grande.
4th. That it is discretionary with the troops to follow their general, remain, or go to such point as they may deem proper: but in case they should all or any of them separate, they are to have their arms, &c.
5th. That all the public property, money, arms and munitions of war, be inventoried and delivered to general Burleson.
6th. That all private property be restored to its proper owners.
7th. That three officers of each army be appointed to make out the inventory,
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Post by neferetus on Nov 10, 2007 11:49:53 GMT -5
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and see that the terms of the capitulation be carried into effect.
8th. That three officers on the part of general Cos remain for the purpose of delivering over the said property, stores, &c.
9th. That general Cos with his force, for the present, occupy the Alamo; and general Burleson, with his force, occupy the town of Bejar; and that the soldiers of neither party pass to the other, armed.
10th. General Cos shall, within six days from the date hereof, remove his force from the garrison he now occupies.
11th. In addition to the arms before mentioned, general Cos shall be permitted to take with his force, a four-pounder, and ten rounds of powder and ball.
12th. The officers appointed to make the inventory and delivery of the stores, &c. shall enter upon the duties to which they have been appointed, forthwith.
13th. The citizens shall be protected in their persons and property.
14th. General Burleson will furnish general Cos with such provisions as can be obtained, necessary for his troops to the Rio Grande, at the ordinary price of the country.
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Post by neferetus on Nov 10, 2007 11:51:17 GMT -5
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15th. The sick and wounded of general Cos's army, together with a surgeon and attendants, are permitted to remain.
16th. No person, either citizen or soldier, to be molested on account of his political opinions hitherto expressed.
17th. That duplicates of this capitulation be made out in Castilian and English, and signed by the commissioners appointed, and ratified by the commanders of both armies.
18th. The prisoners of both armies, up to this day, shall be put at liberty.
The commissioners, Jose Juan Sanchez, adjutant inspector; Don Ramon Musquiz, and lieutenant Francisco Rada, and interpreter, Don Miguel Arciniega; appointed by the commandant and inspector, general Martin Perfecto de Cos, in connection with colonel F. W. Johnson, major R. C. Morris, and captain J. G. Swisher, and interpreter John Cameron; appointed on the part of general Edward Burleson: after a long and serious discussion, adopted the eighteen preceding articles, reserving their ratification by the generals of both armies.
In virtue of which, we have signed this instrument in the city of Bejar,
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Post by neferetus on Nov 10, 2007 11:52:57 GMT -5
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on the 11th of December, 1835.
Signed,
Jose Juan Sanchez
F. W. Johnson
Ramon Musquiz
Robert C. Morris
Jose Francisco de Rada
James G. Swisher
Miguel Arsiniega
Juan Cameron, Interpreter
Interpreter
______________________
________________
I consent to, and will observe the above articles.
Martin Perfto de Cos--
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Post by seguin on Nov 10, 2007 18:03:02 GMT -5
Thanks for posting the actual capitulation agreement, Nef! It´s interesting reading!
As for Cos not keeping his word, that would probably have been very difficult for him to do, after he returned to Mexico and the will of Santa Anna. Could he get away with saying no to Santa Anna when he wanted Cos to be a part of the invasion force? I doubt it...
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Post by Nefarious on Nov 10, 2007 23:02:02 GMT -5
So, does this make the Texians appear a trifle naiive? They seem to have felt that they were acting in good faith and that honorable men would uphold the provisions of the capitulation.
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Post by seguin on Nov 11, 2007 20:07:49 GMT -5
A trifle naiive? Maybe not about Cos. Cos may well have upheld the provisions of the capitulation if it was up to him. The problem is that Santa Anna did´nt honor the capitulation agreement and made Cos go back on his word. Even if Cos could be trusted to keep his word, could you expect Santa Anna to honor Cos´capitulation agreement? That´s the question the Texians should have asked themselves, I think. And if the answer was no, then what should the Texians have done instead?
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Post by neferetus on Nov 11, 2007 20:37:20 GMT -5
Good points, Hans.
Perhaps the Texians felt like they were on a roll. After all, hadn't they defeated the Mexican army with relative ease up to this point in every encounter with them? Maybe they just wanted to tie all the fighting up with a big ribbon and then just go home. Winter was coming on and they needed to attend to their land and families. Just a thought.
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Post by seguin on Nov 11, 2007 20:54:08 GMT -5
I think you´re right, Ned! That´s probably what happend. And I don´t blame them. After all, they had been victorious up till then. How could they have imagined that Santa Anna would be back with a huge army? And so soon? None of them was skilled in that kind of power politics. They were just ordinary men standing up to oppression. Taken that into account, they did just fine, I think!
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Post by Bromhead24 on Nov 12, 2007 18:37:44 GMT -5
I think you´re right, Ned! That´s probably what happend. And I don´t blame them. After all, they had been victorious up till then. How could they have imagined that Santa Anna would be back with a huge army? And so soon? None of them was skilled in that kind of power politics. They were just ordinary men standing up to oppression. Taken that into account, they did just fine, I think! Well stated, well stated.  |
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Post by neferetus on Nov 13, 2007 1:07:25 GMT -5
So, does everyone feel that I am being a little too judgmental concerning General Cos' actions? I'm still wondering why, with feeling running so high at San Jacinto, some did not at least attempt to kill him.
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