208
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
The supplies which you call for shall be forwarded immediately. The teams, 5 or 6 in number, and more if they can be procured, shall be put in motion tomorrow evening, or early next day morning. Nothing has transpired relative to our liability to attack at this place, since the date of my last by hand of Mr Bracken, worthy your attention. At the date of that communication, I addressed the people residing east of the Guardeloupe, urging the necessity of a reinforcement, and have much rea- son to expect some increase of force from the sections of Country men- tioned in yours of the 23d. inst. You enquire after Linn and Powers-Both, altho' absent at the moment, have been with me, have acted in concert, and have been very useful to the service. They will probably return to night, or tomorrow. Col. Powers became very much alarmed for the s,fety of his people, (nearly all the men being here,) occasioned by information received by him from a confidential friend at San Patricio: In consequence of which, steps have been taken to remove the women and children, beyond the Guardeloupe River. Being informed that this removal is now nearly, or quite accomplished I expect to see the Emprisario of that Coloney here immediately. Supplies for the poor of these families, and for recruits, have been forwarded hence to the Town of Guardeloupe Victoria This step was recommended too, by the possibility of our being compelled to fall back on that point-one of the most defensible, by a small force, of any whatever in Texas. For some reason or other the peop.le of this place have nearly all left town. I have done, and have said, every thing which I could do, or say, to_pacify and inspire them with confidence-Bu,t they had seen the brilliant equipment of Cos, his sword, and retinue; and they had listened to his flat- tering and captivating speeches; they had attended his parties, and tasted his wine: But we have made no such display-we have no epaulettes, nor swords--we have given no dinners, no parties--and as to wine, we have none to use in the way he used it. Immediately after the occupation of this fort by the force then com- manded by Capt. Collinsworth, two Volunteers, John Williams and John Tool, were dispatched to San Patricio, express, with letters to the Alcalde of that jurisdiction, and to others, soliciting their cooperation. Tool and Williams were both surrendered to the military of Le Panticlan, put in irons, and compelled to work on the Garrison. We are informed also, that, the population of San Patricio, have almost unanimously joined the military. The supplies spoken .of above, will be forwarded to the Ranche of Don Erasmo Seguin, about 10 leagues below Bexar, under the safe conduct of Maj. George Southerland, with 20 men. You can therefore, make such
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