Jay Stout’s replied to my message of Oct. 10:
You mentioned that Hardaway’s narrative is the smoking gun. I guess that I missed that part. Does he write that JPT was at the fight at San Jacinto. Can you forward me that portion of his narrative?
I replied that day:
Thanks for maintaining your interest. I’ve attached the complete Hardaway narrative, which will be posted on the website in the next couple of days. The passages relevant to JPT are quoted in my original application. Go to Application for Recognition tab and click on Correspondence Record. Go to Email #10 and you’ll see the links to the 3-part application packet of 27 Aug. 2011, one of which is “JPT: A Brief Biographical Sketch.” In there you’ll see Hardaway’s connection to JPT.
One of my upcoming projects is some sort of bio sketch of Hardaway himself, a very interesting character. It was he who initiated the eventual construction of the monument at Goliad.
Jay Stout replied the same day:
Thanks for pointing me to the relevant material. After reviewing it, I’m still at the 50/50 point as to whether JPT was at the actual battle.
Here’s where I think the sticking point is: After Hardaway, Moses, Andrews and JPT come together, Hardaway describes how, later, he and Moses (without Andrews and JPT) investigated the other camp and were happened upon by six of Houston’s mounted “spies.” Then the group of spies plus Hardaway and Moses were fired upon by a Mexican party. Then, Hardaway describes how “we” went on to join Houston’s army.
But he never mentions that Andrews and JPT were retrieved out of their hiding spot, or that they otherwise joined with Hardaway, Moses and the “spies.” It might be supposed that they did. But it might also be supposed that, upon hearing the gunfire from the Mexican party, JPT and Andrews simply went deeper into the brush and “went to ground” for a while longer and never joined Houston until after the battle.
I’ll bet that’s the sticking point with “officialdom.” JPT is not listed on any of the rolls associated with San Jacinto. And Hardaway’s account in the context of JPT is too ambiguous. When Hardaway says “we” it’s maddening. It’s impossible to know if he means him and Moses, or if he means him, Moses, JPT and Andrews.
I think that’s the rub. Is Andrews offically listed as a participant at San Jacinto? If so, that would lend more weight to your case as it should be assumed that JPT and he were rejoined with Hardaway, Moses and Houston’s riders.
Anway, that’s my take on it. Still, as I said before, JPT’s service is nonetheless exciting regardless of whether or not he was at San Jacinto.