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The New York Times article entitled “Sham Houston” above (column 2) says [my bold text where it appears below]:

Houston was sent to the Banks of the Colorado to oppose the advance of Santa Anna. The Texas force, numbering 1,450 men, well armed and aided by two pieces of artillery in competent hands, excelled that of the Mexican leader, and numbered in its ranks some of the most chivalrous fighters of the War of Independence. It was expected that with such odds in his favor, Houston would at once put to rout the hero of the cockpit, and returning, give Texans welcome assurance of their independence.

Let’s check some facts. From “Texas, A Historical Atlas” by A. Ray Stephens:

Santa Anna followed closely on Houston’s trail from Gonzales, continues eastward to the Atascosito Crossing of the Colorado River, marched to San Felipe on the Brazos River, and then turned downstream to the Fort Settlement (present day Richmond) area because the Texan rear guard prevented his crossing at San Felipe. . . . With his main army of approximately 3,400 officers and enlisted men remaining on the Brazos until summoned, Santa Anna crossed the Brazos at Thompson’s Ferry, two miles above Fort Settlement, and led a unit of approximately 900 choice combatants to Harrisburg on the Buffalo Bayou and New Washington on Galveston Bay as he unsuccessfully pursued Texas government officials.
The Mexican president/commanding general turned back towards Lynch’s Ferry when he learned that Houston had begun a march in his direction. Both opposing commanders knew of the other’s movements through spies. General Martin Perfecto de Cos with 540 men from Fort Settlement arrived at Santa Anna’s camp the morning of April 21, which reinforced Santa Anna’s forces. The opposing armies met for battle near the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and the San Jacinto River, where on the afternoon of April 21, 1836, the Texan army attacked the Mexican camp with remarkable results.

If Houston had tried to fight Santa Anna’s army at the Colorado River, he would have faced 3,400 + 900 = 4,300 men of the Mexican army. Houston would have been outnumbered, and his army was not all that well trained. He was wise to retreat until he faced better odds. The Mexican army also had at least one canon, which Santa Anna took with him across the Brazos. Santa Anna may have left more canons with his main army at the Brazos River.

From Houston’s report about the Battle of San Jacinto, in which the Texas army defeated the Mexicans and captured Santa Anna [Source: “Documents of Texas History” by Wallace, Vigness, and Ward]:

About 9 o’clock on the morning of the 21st, the enemy were reinforced by 500 choice troops, under command of General Cos, increasing their effective force to upward of 1500 men, while our aggregate force for the field numbered 783. At half past three o’clock in the evening, I ordered the officers of the Texas army to parade their respective commands, having in the meantime ordered the bridge on the only road communicating with the Brazos, thus cutting off all avenue of escape [rustbucket: or to block or delay additional Mexican troops arriving from the Brazos River].

From “Sam Houston, The Great Designer,” by Llerena B. Friend:

When Houston reached Gonzales, he found some 374 men ready to fight – psychologically ready, but with few arms, inadequate provisions, and little ammunition. At Gonzales he learned that the Alamo had fallen and that the Mexican Army was moving eastward. Decided to retreat, he reached the Colorado River with 600 men by March 17; on March 28 he was at the Brazos. [rustbucket: 600 men? But, but, the New York Times article above had said that Houston had had 1,450 men, fully armed, at the Colorado River, excelling what Santa Anna had.].
To the charge that insubordination of Houston’s men forced the Battle of San Jacinto, there is a possible answer in Houston’s letter from Harrisburg to Henry Raguet, just two days before the battle: “We go to conquer. It is wisdom growing out of necessity to meet the enemy now, every consideration enforces it. No previous occasion would justify it. The troops are in fine spirits, and now is the time for action.”

The New York Times has not changed from back then. There had been talk of running Houston for President in 1860. The New York Times apparently was going to stop that by disparaging Houston.