201
THE AUSTlN PAPERS
and If so it will be Indispensable for the members in camp to Give us their approbation and recommend further.assumptjon of responsabilities. • R. R. ROYALL President council [Addressed:] Genl. S. F. Austin Commander in Chief Head Quarters Near Bexar-By Ths Barnett Esqr-
PHILIP DIMMITT TO AUSTIN
Fort Goliad Oct. 21st 1835
To GEN. S. F. AUSTIN SIR, This is dispatched to give you i[!telligence of the intended movements of the Enemy. By information recd- from a Mexican early this morning, who says he is only two days from ,Bexar, we are informed that Cos is fortifying rapidly-that 500 men were· to arrive there today from the interior; and that, as soon as they should arrive, he intended sending a strong force here, to retake this post. I inclose you intercepted letters on the same sub- ject. They speak for themselves. Our effective force is still 50 men. By the express which left here yes- terday morning for Head Quarters, I wrote to Capt. Alley, urging the neces- sity of his joining me with his command, as speedily as-possible; but 30 odd hours have elapsed, and no answer, nor have I any reason to expect one or to see him, unless he is ordered to return by the Gen. We have done all we could in the way of repairing arms, and are still do:ng. About 50 p:kes and bayonets are handled. All the breaches in the outer wall are repaired, and the bastions will be done tomorrow. Some of the men are sick-but all are in good spirits. But 50 men, against an army, in so large a field as this, leaves too many blanks, too many points unprotected; in case of an attack by a large force, to promise success. Your orders are solicited. They are expected. Of the little band !hat entered this place on the night of the 9th., inst., many have re- turned home, and others say they will go in a few days. Inform me what _I shall do in this matter? How shall I keep the men together? Or, shall I permit them to go and come as they please? I will now add more fully_ to the above, of the information given by the Mexican this morning. He says, all the squares of Bexar are _fortified that works are raised at every angle for the effective use ·of their artillery. I am decidedly of the opinion from all that I can learn, that the day is gone by for the present when that place can be taken by storm without a great and disheartening loss of,. valuable men. Starvation by siege, pre- sents itself to my mind as the cheapest, most certain, an~ most efficient
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