The Legend of the Yellow Rose

   The Legend of the Yellow Rose

Suzanne Marsh

“Em I want you to know I will come back for you, I just don’t know when. Them slave trackers

are getting a might bit too close. I promise you, wherever you are I will find you and make you

mine.” Anger flushed her beautiful face:

“You go now Sam, I will leave Connecticut, I might even go to some place called Texas, then

how you gonna find me?”

He cast his eyes downward, his tall lean frame slouched, his work-worn clothes all he owned. He shuffled off out of her sight. Furious, Emily West threw the vase in her hand, stamped her feet, and then cried. She loved Sam, and she wanted to marry him, but he was a slave and she was a free mulatto woman, life was just not fair.

Several days later Emily heard about an opening for indentured servants who were willing to go to some place called Texas. Rumor had it, that it was no place for women or children. Indian raids, snakes, land that was fertile but had to be worked. She walked to the address she had been given; it was the business of Colonel James Morgan. The brick building perched on the wharf, and she opened the door. There stood a middle-aged gentleman, he turned as he heard her enter:

“Come in please; my name is Colonel Morgan and who young lady are you?’

He kissed her hand and then began:

“Were you among the crowd of folks wanting to sign up for Texas? I am afraid I have only

one position open; that is the manager of the New Washington Association in New Washington

Texas. I would like to hire you as a manager/housekeeper for the hotel.”

Emily, her eyes sparkling like diamonds, smiled demurely; she then thought for a few moments. This would change her life forever, as she signed the Indenture for one full year. The colonel gave her a ticket for the schooner May-belle, departure was the following morning. Emily boarded the May-Belle with two dresses, a hat, and a cloak in her portmanteau. Still angry with Sam, she thought about Texas; and how it would give her something in return for her year of indenture.

The white sails of the May-Belle were hoisted, and Emily stood on deck; watching New York City disappear from the horizon, suddenly all there was, was greenish-blue water. She pulled her shawl tighter around her, her calico dress blowing in the wind. She felt a warmth come over her as sunshine shone on her beautiful face. The rumor mill on board was that it would three to six weeks to get to New Orleans, Louisiana where she would change schooners for one going to Galveston; the colonel had made all the purchases necessary for the trip.

Arriving in Texas after two months aboard the schooners, Emily felt the warm December breeze on her face, the sun shining as she disembarked. This was to be her home she quickly found Colonel Morgan, together they waited for the other indentured people. The following morning dawned a beautiful coral sky as the small party proceeded toward Morgan’s Point/ New Washington. There were small red brick buildings, and a few cabins; Colonel Morgan pointed out the New Washington Hotel which was where Emily would be working. Emily smiled to herself as she realized the beauty of the land around her. Huge oak trees with Spanish Moss hanging from the branches, the fragrance of the sea filled her lungs, she thought: ‘If this is freedom it is a lovely feeling.’ The land of Texas was a beautiful sight, with no snow like there was in New York City in December. She entered into the indenture with demureness, she wanted this to work out for her.

March 6^th, 1836

News of the fall of the Alamo spread like wildfire reaching New Washington by the end of March. Alarms were sounded and guesses as to where Santa Anna would strike next. Santa Anna had shown no mercy, no quarter to the one hundred and eighty-two combatants in the Alamo. People began to panic several weeks after the fall of the Alamo, the question was answered on April 19^th, 1836, when Colonel Juan Almonte and his dragoons arrived amid the dust and thunder of horses hooves. Almonte was after President David Burnet, his cabinet, and his family. Emily had noted that Almonte had missed Burnet by only a few moments. She reckoned that Almonte had arrived at Santa Anna but was not too far behind, she thought about the one hundred and eighty-two defenders at the Alamo, who fought valiantly and died valiantly back on March 6. She thought maybe she could seek revenge on Santa Anna. Two days before Almonte arrived General Sam Houston came to see Emily, with her help his plan would succeed and Santa Anna would be forced to surrender:

“Miss Emily I am asking you to do something distasteful, I need you to distract General Santa

Anna while I prepare my troops for a surprise attack. I ask you to do this in the name of

Texas.”

Emily, her blue eyes twinkled like diamonds as she turned to face Sam Houston:

“General what is it you require of me, I have only been here at Morgan’s Point for a short

time. This is my home now, Texas must survive. I will do whatever I must to help you.”

They discussed the plan, just exactly what would be required of Emily, she agreed to aid Houston; the battle of San Jacinto took place the following day. Sam Houston rode back to camp, hoping this young mulatto girl would go through with his plan.

April 20^th, 1836

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna sat silently surveying the land; good ground surrounded by Buffalo Bayou and San Jacinto Bay. Santa Anna was pleased with the location at Morgan’s Point, his army would push Houston’s army now camped near Buffalo Bayou into the San Jacinto Bay, he would drown every mother’s son of for rising up against Mexico. Almonte rode up to Santa Anna:

“General, we have found some slaves, there is one I think you would like to meet. She is

a mulatto, beautiful young woman.” Santa Anna loved beautiful women, although he was married. He smiled lecherously at Almonte: “Bring her to my tent tonight Colonel, that will be all.”

Emily allowed herself to be captured, according to the plan. Later that evening she found herself in Santa Anna’s tent:

“Ah, senorita Morgan? Is that your real name? You are one of the most beautiful women

I have ever seen, your eyes are blue like diamonds sparkling in the sun.” Emily began to understand she was in “over her head” but she was determined to aid Sam Houston. Santa Anna his dark eyes luminous reached out to touch Emily. She was repulsed by his quick action but played along hoping to keep him distracted during the battle.

April 21^st, 1836

Emily arose that morning, she made a champagne breakfast for Santa Anna, who was more than pleased. Not only was Emily beautiful but she could cook! She awoke him with a kiss on his neck, he stood up, and she led him to the breakfast table in the tent they had shared the night before. Later, after breakfast Emily dressed in her finest dress, and with a smile on her face, she began to strip Santa Anna. Mean Sam Houston climbed a tree to observe Santa Anna’s tent, he noted Emily doing what he had asked of her in the name of Texas. He knew now he could win the battle even though he was outnumbered. He climbed down from the tree, it was time. He returned to camp sat quietly for a few moments then gathered his men:

“We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest and must conquer or

perish. It is vain to look for a present aid there is none at hand. We must act now or abandon all hope."

all hope. “Remember the Alamo!” Remember Goliad.”

Almonte hoped Santa Anna would go into battle; he noted movement in the underbrush, suddenly they were surrounded, and the entire battle was over in eighteen minutes. Santa Anna was captured, and Houston and his army were victorious.

When Colonel Morgan heard what Emily had done to aid Texas he freed her from her indenture. She returned to New York. “She’s the Yellow Rose of Texas.”