 | |
|
Claudius Buster, the eldest son of this [William Woods Buster V and Margret Vaughn] couple, was born in Somerset, Kentucky, January 21, 1816, and came with his father to Texas in 1836.
He fought Indians, fought Mexicans, in fact was a fighting Irishman always, but a gentleman in every sense of the word - culture and refinement inherent in him as well as the use of sword and firearms. A Shakespeare reader, a chess player, he had all the graces, was a soldier, a patriot. I remember him so well! He tried to teach us girls to walk gracefully ‘step on your toes before your heels' he'd say, 'don't hold to the banister walking downstairs’ (we slid down the banisters probably when he wasn’t around) ‘don’t stretch your hands and fingers, they will grow large.’
You probably have all his history, an early Indian fighter, a dashing cavalry officer of the Mexican War, and believing so thoroughly in States Rights that he, over 45 years old, enlisted in the Civil War, feeling before, during, and after that fighting would not settle the difficulty, He bitterly resented the idea that the South fought to hold their slaves, that slavery was a disastrous economic failure and entailed a burden that the South would soon have thrown off of her own accord but for the radical element of the North. (I heard him say this.) I have lived to see so many of his ideas proven true. He came home from the Civil War, entirely broke, utterly so, took a job as ‘deepo’ agent (just fancy, a hired man!) in Brenham and after a few years got his land titles straightened up (taxes then, same as now) resumed management of his farm and the care of his adored wife.
*Sidenote: It is an interesting contradiction that he claimed that slavery was a burden of the South and yet he owned 34, age ranging from 1 year to 60 years.
*Sidenote: It is an interesting contradiction that he claimed that slavery was a burden of the South and yet he owned 34, age ranging from 1 year to 60 years.
His farm was five miles from Brenham, and the negro settlement, then called 'Camptown,' was between his farm (which had been his father’s) and Brenham. It was at this place I recall playing on the graves of his parents. It was a crude home-made fence of rails and unpainted pickets, about 8 feet square, no iron fence then, and Bessie Buster and I ate berries growing there and wondered if they would poison us on account of the bodies underneath.
-Bessie is the daughter of Jack Buster, granddaughter of Claudius.
 |
| Main Street, Brenham, TX |
________________________________________________________________
Claudius Buster, the eldest son of William Woods & Margaret Buster, was born in Somerset, Kentucky, January 21, 1816, and came with his father to Texas in 1836. "He fought Indians, fought Mexicans, in fact was a fighting Irishman always, but a gentleman in every sense of the word--culture and refinement inherent in him as well as the use of sword and firearms. A Shakespeare reader, a chess player, he had all the graces, was a soldier, a patriot. I remember him so well! He tried to teach us girls to walk gracefully--'step on your toes before your heels' he's say, 'don't hold to the banister walking downstairs' (we slid down the banisters probably when he wasn't around) 'don't stretch your hands and fingers, they will grow large.'
An early Indian fighter, a dashing cavalry officer of the Mexican War, and believing so thoroughly in States Rights that he, over 45 years old, enlisted in the Civil War, feeling before, during and after that fighting would not settle the difficulty. He bitterly resented the idea that the South fought to hold their slaves--that slavery was a disastrous economic failure entailed a burden that the South would soon have thrown off of her own accord but for the radical element of the North. (I heard him say this.) I have lived to see so many of his ideas proven true. He came home from the Civil War, entirely broke, utterly so, took a job as 'deepo' agent (just fancy, a hired man!) in Brenham and after a few years got his land titles straightened up (taxes then, same as now) resumed management of his farm and the care of his adored wife. His farm was 5 miles from Brenham, and the negro settlement then called 'Camptown' was between his farm (which had been his father's) and Brenham. It was at this place I recall playing on the graves of his parents. It was a crude, homemade fence of rails and unpainted pickets, about 8 feet square, no iron fence then, and Bessie Buster and I ate berries growing there and wondered if they would poison us on account of the bodies underneath. Bessie is the daughter of Jack Buster (Mama's brother) and Melissa Whisnant who died soon after the birth of Bessie. Mama 'nursed' Bessie (also me at the same time) and when she was weaned Grandmother Buster took her and her father till his second marriage. Those old graves did not look neglected, just vines growing everywhere. We scrambled over the fence and into the enclosure, maybe 5 years old, likely younger.
"We didn't visit our grandparents often, roads bad and distances seeming great then, and besides Grandmother Buster couldn't put up with Mama's noisy brood. The 3rd Grandmother Garrett was most tolerant, kind, patient, and good friends with Mama. So was her grandfather Garrett."
Claudius Buster was blessed with a strong sense of humor and enjoyed jokes on himself as he did on other people. His daughter, Mary Buster Estes, always enjoyed the following incident.
Wayne Bishop, a neighbor, was in love with Jane Buster, Claudius' sister, and Wayne, Jane and another sister went to a watermelon feast a few miles from home, the girls were riding the same horse. Their mother cautioned them to be home before dark because of the danger of Indians. They had such a nice time that they failed to start home early, so that darkness caught them on the road. They came galloping in home rather late in a state of excitement, all talking at the same time, telling of seeing some Indians after them as they crossed the branch not far from the house. One of them said there were two or three Indians--another thought there were at least five with bows and arrows and guns.
After they had told their stories, and the excitement had died down. Claudius yawned, stretched, and started for bed. Before closing the door behind himself, he turned and yelled "Vip! damn ye, Vip! Vip!" imitating Wayne's German accent. Claudius had dressed up like an Indian, used a broomstick for a gun, and chased them across the branch, then he took a short cut home. Wayne's horse could run faster than old Dobbin carrying the two girls. He would run off and leave them, then get ashamed and stop and yell "Whip! Whip!" until he got mad and was screaming "Vip! Damn you, Vip Damn Ye, Vip!" Jane lost interest in him after that, and the romance ended.
Notes from a manuscript obtained from Terri Buster 12 -3-97
Resource: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
________________________________________________________________
Pesch P. 0. Washington County, Texas
June 16th 1889
Friend Jenkins,
I received your letter yesterday of the 10th inst. asking me to give you the particulars of my recapture as a “prisoner” In Mexico after our charge and victory over our guard at Salado Feb. 11th, 1843. In as much as you have suggested a chapter in your contemplated work devoted to my connection with the “Mier Expedition” I am tempted to give you more than you asked for, and give you a brief sketch of my services in Texas from my advent into the Republic up to the present. If I should write too much to suit the character of your contemplated “book’ you can cull out such portions as suits you and discard the balance, and I assure you that by so doing you will give me no offense.
I received your letter yesterday of the 10th inst. asking me to give you the particulars of my recapture as a “prisoner” In Mexico after our charge and victory over our guard at Salado Feb. 11th, 1843. In as much as you have suggested a chapter in your contemplated work devoted to my connection with the “Mier Expedition” I am tempted to give you more than you asked for, and give you a brief sketch of my services in Texas from my advent into the Republic up to the present. If I should write too much to suit the character of your contemplated “book’ you can cull out such portions as suits you and discard the balance, and I assure you that by so doing you will give me no offense.
In the first place I will state that I am a Kentuckian, that in the early part of 1836 the State of Kentucky was called upon for 1,000 volunteers by the U.S. to join Gen’l Gains then at Camp Sabine, ostensibly to control the U. S. Indians, but the real and true object was to assist Texas if necessary in repelling the Mexican Army under Gen'l Santa Anna then preparing to Invade Texas, The county In which I lived (Pulaski) on learning that such call was made, in one days time organized a company of 100 men. I was elected one of it’s Lieut.,the same evening started to Frankfort, our seat of government to report to the Governor. Although riding night and day I was too late. The quota was made up by counties living nearer. So you see my first effort to achieve military glory was a failure. Not satisfied with this we next made an effort to get up a company and come on our own hook, this also failed, but in the fall my father and myself came by land.
Arriving in October meeting with quite a number of Texas families In Eastern Texas returning home from the “Runaway Scrape” which has a conspicuous place In Texas history. The battle of San Jacinto had been fought on the 21st of April so you see I missed another chance to win military laurels. In 1839 or 40 a party of Indians came down, camped on Pond-Creek south of where Waco now stands, threatening the frontier settlements near old Nashville on tire Brazos. Some 8 or 10 young men and myself went to their assistance but before our arrival, the Indians broke up camp and left without making an attack, thus another chance for fun was missed. Our trip turned into a still hunt for Buffalo, Bear, and Mustangs on our way home In Washington County.
 |
| Texas Territory |
In this campaign was my first experience of living without bread. We never tasted bread from the time we left Austin until we got back to San Antonio. We lived on beef which we drove with us, coffee, wild meat, fish, and honey. My next experience was in the spring of 1842. I was in what was known as the Vascus and the Woll campaign, then came the Somerville Campaign and the Mier Expedition. We come now to a subject less understood by the present population of Texas than any portion of Texas history. I mean the motives and conduct of those men who participated in what is called the Mier Expedition and this want of a correct understanding of the subject is readily accounted for when we reflect that at that time there was a strong partisan feeling between some of the officers of our Republic and some of the leading men in the Expedition and the authors of our history were so partial to the former that they could not or did not do justice to the latter.
I can with difficulty approach the subject with that degree of patience and fortunance that the importance and the truth of history demands. I have been asked the question by men whose integrity were entitled to respect “if the Expedition was authorized by our government” carrying with it the idea that they had been taught to believe that it was a kind of lawless filibustering crowd or mob whose motive was pillage or robbery. Can anyone wonder that I should be Indignant or sensitive when such motives as those were even hinted at. I could only answer that so far from that being the truth that the Congress of Texas which convened after our capture not only recognized our service but appropriated means to alleviate our suffering. (These means never reached our prisons however) We were also paid for our services by our Government, $605.00 to each prisoner after our return home. Subsequently a pension was granted to each amounting to $970.00 and in addition to this and better than all, our fellow citizens after return home elected many of us to positions of honor and trust.
 |
| The trail Buster was taken on into Mexico |
Our quarters were enclosed on three sides by high walls, the fourth side by a wall about as high as a man’s shoulders on the outside of which and at the gate or door which led into the court yard mentioned were placed the sentinels on duty, the balance of the infantry not on immediate duty had stacked their arms near the center of this court yard and in full view of our men as they rushed out of our small enclosure through the small door into this yard. The men who first got out ran and seized these arms and distributed them to the men as they came out at the door, The infantry was taken by surprise and made but feeble resistance. At the center or large gate was stationed a stronger guard and they had time to prepare for resistance but they had time to fire but one volley before we were upon them. They gave way at once and about one half of the cavalry mounted and scampered off. We secured however about ninety head of their horses. We lost 4 or 5 men In the battle and they about the same number, Our men had been instructed not to kill any one unnecessarily as were compelled to leave in their hands 15 or 20 men, some wounded some sick, and some unwilling to risk the chance of escape and for their safety and for humanity's sake we spared all we could. All we wanted was our liberty, their arms, horses, and such other things as was deemed needful in our efforts to get home. There was a small lot of money fell into our hands.
We then traveled 12 or 15 miles and stopped to rest. The men dropped down in line and in ten minutes were all asleep. Feb. 12th we resumed the march at daylight leaving the Saltillo road about 10 o’clock, bearing to the left for the Zackaticus road which we struck in about 10 miles. Thence turning to the left for the purpose of obtaining water at a hacienda which was in sight. We found the water tank near the house guarded by a few regular soldiers who hoisted a red flag and commenced firing at us at about 200 yards distance. Not wishing to be detained we marched on without seeming to notice them. The only damage their fire did was the wounding of one horse and the bursting of one of the men’s stirrups. Our course led in a N.W. direction, a trail over a mountain, after crossing which we found sufficient water to give us all a drink, the first we had had for about 20 hours. At six miles further came to water at a ranch where we found men in arms but did not stop to molest them. Continuing our course N, W, we crossed a mountain and into a deep valley in which we stopped to rest and sleep.
We induced Capt. Cameron whom we had chosen as our leader, to follow Jourdan’s example. At the time Jourdan went through there was plenty of water but at this time there was none. They succeeded in getting through safe, we failed for want of water, Feb. 14th — After leaving the road which we had been advised to keep, we struck off through the mountains so steep and rough that our horses made but slow progress. We found no watet and camped at night in a deep ravine. Feb. 15th, — Some of the men found water a mile or two from camp. Here we decided to kill our horses and barbecue the meat and all take it afoot. Here was presented a scene which I shall never forget and which could only have been performed by the men under any other circumstance than a necessity. While some of the men were killing and butchering these faithful animals, others were building scaffold and fires for cooking. Our saddle wallets by cutting them in two were converted Into haversacks. About 3 o’clock we left this camp and at about 10 at night camped in a deep ravine without water.
Feb. 16th — Our course still north, This day several of the men were left on the trail exhausted and here was commenced unfortunately the use of the palmetto juice. Feb. 17th — At 12 M discovered some Mexican spies in a valley across which our course led, Here we changed our course a little to the east hoping to find water. No signal from any of our water hunters on this day. About 10 o’clock when a halt was made and some of the men pulling and trying to eat the prlckley pear leaf. I and a member of my company left the main party and struck off west in search of water. In about an hours walk my comrade John Toops became so faint that he was compelled to lie down under the shade of a bush. I would not leave him. When evening came and the sun sank behind a high mountain, Toops revived.
We then went back to the trail. We then found that a party of Mexican cavalry were on the trail. Consequently we cast off from them instead of trying to rejoin them. We took the back track. Toops in his weak state threw away his gun and cartridges, also his meat. I held on to my gun and part of the ammunition. Mine was a scoped which I had taken from a cavalryman and was lighter than his, a common musket. In two more days we came to a hole in a rock which contained about a barrel of water. This water Toops had found while straggling off from the main party some 5 or 6 days previous, at which time after drinking what he wanted, brought me a gourdful, which after taking one mouthful I divided out among the thirsting men as far as it would go. Notwithstanding, Toops gave out first and I had to wait on him. When we got back to the water, he was in better condition than I. My tongue was swollen so that I could not talk and with difficulty could walk. He went ahead and when he came to the water, which was about a quarter of a mile from the trail, he went back and hallowed for me and I followed him to his little hole of water. It was now the 8th day since I had had a good drink. It Is impossible to describe ones feelings while thus suffering. When we would come to a bed of dry sand in a hollow where there had been water in a wet season, we would scratch holes Into it and lie in it as you have seen hogs do to cool themselves.
Just before we came to the creek we crossed a big road, where it led to or from I do not know. After leaving the creek we went up on the side of a mountain about one half mile and lay down and slept til daylight. When we arose we were In full view of a large ranch, could see soldiers on horseback and men traveling on the road we had crossed in the night. We lost no time in getting farther back into the brush and out of sight. We soon got into a trail or small road leading east between two mountains and followed it until about 10 or 11 o’clock when we lay down by the side of the road to rest for we were yet very feeble. And while thus resting in fifteen feet of the road a Mexican came along driving a packed burro who never saw us or if so never turned his head. He appeared to be in a great hurry and going in the direction of the ranch near where we had slept. We left the road to our left, still traveling east came into a large valley or plain in which we found a tank around which was a good deal of sign of stock.
We were not getting very hungry for while we were without water we could not eat and our little store that we had thrown away was exhausted. Soon we saw an ox coming through the bushes. I hid myself behind some brush and when he came near enough I shot him down. He commenced scuffling as tho he might get up. I dropped my gun, ran and caught him by the tail, held him down until Toops loaded the gun and shot him in the head, I still holding him. We now caught our cup full of blood which ran from the bullet hole in his head, made a fire, cooked and ate that first. How to get any other benefit from him was now a problem for we had no knife with which to skin and cut the flesh, when I thought of my gun which had a flint and steel lock and that the corner of the flint was sharp. With this flint we commenced operations, first by persistent scratching on the side of the ox and I never saw a thicker hide on any animal. We finally cut through the skin, a cut about a foot long, then cut at right angles about the same length. Now we peeled up the hide and got to the entrails. The skin was too tough to cut with the flint, but we got his liver. This we could manage, so without bread or salt we had a feast.
We remained here about 24 hours when the buzzards began to collect we thought It best to leave. We now changed our course to N.E . We came to a herder’s camp, one lone man who appeared to be much alarmed at first but by making signs of friendship we soon quested his fears from him. We bought bread, milk and cheese. This was late in the evening. We went a few miles further then camped for the night. The next day we crossed another big road running E & W on which we saw several Mexicans traveling but kept hid from them, We now went in a N direction crossing a very high mountain and on the N side of the mountain in a wide valley we came to a distillery where mescal is made from the Mygay plant. A cold rain falling, we stayed here half of one day and all night. We bought provisions here. So isolated was the place that the people did not seem to know or care who we were. There were 5 or 6 men and their families lived here. There was one Mexican who did not live here who manifested great friendship for us. He went with us several miles to show us how to get through a pass In the mountains and avoid the soldiers.
I shot a deer down, hut before I could get to it, it got up and ran off. I shot a cow and a mustang but failed to get them. When we got to the road on the west bank of the river about 30 or 40 miles above Laredo, we walked down the road a few miles and came to an old deserted ranch where soldiers had encamped leaving pieces of rawhide and beef bones. These we were burning and eating when about ten Mexicans rode onto us. I had set my gun down inside of an old walled house without a roof and was cut off from that and a surrender was inevitable. This was in the evening.
That night was the most uncomfortable I ever spent. We were tied hands and feet, placed on our backs then tied together, sentinels placed over us with orders to shoot us if we moved. The next day we were taken to Gen’l Wolls quarters on the west bank of the river opposite Laredo. Here we were kept a few days then sent to Guerraro, there kept some 8 or 10 days, then sent to Monterrey, and on to Saltillo. Here we were kept about three months. On our arrival at Saltillo we were guarded in soldier quarters but in a few days we were removed to the state prison, at first put into a room appropriate to those who had committed minor offenses. This room was so crowded that I felt like smothering. I called the jailor and told him I could not stand it. He took us out and placed us in another with high walls but no cover. Here I could breath and was a great improvement, but at night we were crowded into a close and crowded room with the felons of the state, robbers, murderers, and those who had committed the most heinous offenses. Here we remained some two weeks, let out in day time into the open court above mentioned.
About this time a new Governor came to Saltillo, Gen’I Biscinia of whom I made friend in rather a strange way. On the inside wall of our prison which was whitewashed one of the Mexican prisoners had painted what he conceived to be a picture of the Devil, an ugly thing it was. I borrowed his paint and brush and painted a chain and stake and fastening one end of the chain to the stake and the other to the DeviI's leg I wrote under it “chained 1000 anos or years. Soon after the Governor’s arrival, on visiting the prison this picture attracted the attention of his Excellency. He wanted to know who had chained the devil and done the writing under it. I was pointed out to him, he sent at once for an interpreter and I had a good long interview with him in which I protested against the treatment which I was receiving. I claimed to be a prisoner of war and not a felon, that I was incarcerated with and treated as one. He had myself and Toops taken out at once and guarded in soldier's quarters, and my treatment as long as we remained in that state was as kind as I could have expected, and the soldiers and officers all thought he was going to liberate me but an order came from Gen’I Santa Anna to send all prisoners on to Mexico.
He furnished me a horse to ride as far as his state extended, thus I parted with the most gentlemanly officer and best friend I found in Mexico. After the sergeant who was sent to carry the horse back, if I got to ride I had my horse or burro to hire which times I could do. At San Louis Potosi we found Norman Woods and three or four others who had been left at that place sick. They were also sent on with me to the City. Here we joined our comrades at Tuca bayou working on the streets near Santa Anna’s palace. In about three months after my arrival in this city we were all sent to the Castle of Perote where we remained until our final liberation. I left home in Oct. 1842 and got back in Nov. 1844. Of the general treatment of the prisoners it is not necessary for me to speak, for that has gone into history long since. Returning to my personal history I will state that soon after my arrival at home I was given a deputy clerkship in the County Clerk’s office where I remained until I married a daughter of Rev. Hosea Garrett, was twice elected Chief Justice of Washington County, engaged in farming, accumulated some property, commanded a company in the last war, had 30 negroes set free, have 2 sons and one daughter all doing well, wife and I have means enough to last as long as we live with God’s continued blessing.
Respectfully Claudius Buster
________________________________________________________________
That night was the most uncomfortable I ever spent. We were tied hands and feet, placed on our backs then tied together, sentinels placed over us with orders to shoot us if we moved. The next day we were taken to Gen’l Wolls quarters on the west bank of the river opposite Laredo. Here we were kept a few days then sent to Guerraro, there kept some 8 or 10 days, then sent to Monterrey, and on to Saltillo. Here we were kept about three months. On our arrival at Saltillo we were guarded in soldier quarters but in a few days we were removed to the state prison, at first put into a room appropriate to those who had committed minor offenses. This room was so crowded that I felt like smothering. I called the jailor and told him I could not stand it. He took us out and placed us in another with high walls but no cover. Here I could breath and was a great improvement, but at night we were crowded into a close and crowded room with the felons of the state, robbers, murderers, and those who had committed the most heinous offenses. Here we remained some two weeks, let out in day time into the open court above mentioned.
 |
| Santa Anna |
He furnished me a horse to ride as far as his state extended, thus I parted with the most gentlemanly officer and best friend I found in Mexico. After the sergeant who was sent to carry the horse back, if I got to ride I had my horse or burro to hire which times I could do. At San Louis Potosi we found Norman Woods and three or four others who had been left at that place sick. They were also sent on with me to the City. Here we joined our comrades at Tuca bayou working on the streets near Santa Anna’s palace. In about three months after my arrival in this city we were all sent to the Castle of Perote where we remained until our final liberation. I left home in Oct. 1842 and got back in Nov. 1844. Of the general treatment of the prisoners it is not necessary for me to speak, for that has gone into history long since. Returning to my personal history I will state that soon after my arrival at home I was given a deputy clerkship in the County Clerk’s office where I remained until I married a daughter of Rev. Hosea Garrett, was twice elected Chief Justice of Washington County, engaged in farming, accumulated some property, commanded a company in the last war, had 30 negroes set free, have 2 sons and one daughter all doing well, wife and I have means enough to last as long as we live with God’s continued blessing.
Respectfully Claudius Buster
________________________________________________________________
James Armstrong was a member of the Mier Expedition, drew a white bean at the decimation, and was imprisoned in the Castle of Perote with Claudius Buster. In the letter which Claudius Buster wrote to his brother, John Vaughan Buster, he asked that his sister, Frances, not make an engagement until he returned. Upon their release from prison, Claudius introduced James Armstrong to Frances Buster, and they were married January 16, 1846. James C. Armstrong surveyed and filed on 320 acres of land in Bell County, Texas. He preempted an adjoining 320 acres and entered the cattle business in 1845, selling his property In Washington County. Part of this property in Bell County Is owned by Curtis Armstrong, a grandson, and it has been in the family for 104 years at this writing. Curtis Armstrong holds the preemption certificate signed by Governor Pease. In 1949, Mrs. George W. Birchfield, the eleventh of the twelve children of James C. arid Frances Buster Armstrong, set up two scholarship at Abilene Christian College in memory of her father and mother, the scholarships to be used by any descendants of these two, A Family Tree was prepared by Mrs. Birchfield, Mrs. Fay Riley, and Mr. Dee A. Armstrong in September, 1949, and this Information is reproduced below. Francis Buster, born February 20, 1827, Pulaski County, Kentucky, moved to Texas in 1838, married January 16, 1846 to James C. Armstrong, son of Hugh C. and Nancy Armstrong, born October 8, 1816, In Overton, Tennessee, died In Bell County, May 10, 1888.
Resource: FamilySearch.org
http://box5503.temp.domains/~bluebor9/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mier_expedition.pdf
ReplyDelete