225
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
GEORGE HUFF TO AUSTIN
[DeWitt's, October 3i, 1835. See Calendar.]
AUSTIN TO BOWIE AND FANNIN1
Head Quarters on the Canal above Bexar Oct. 31 st 1835
To CoL 0 • }AMES Bow1E AND CAPN· FANNING, I have taken a position on the Alamo Canal at the mouth of a dry gully about one mile from town,-There is one, a little nearer, but it can not be occupied to day- I have certain information that all the surplus horses except about 250 or 200, were started to Laredo last night. The number that left·is reported at 900 head- The escort does not exceed hventy or •thirty men- I have dispatched Capn· Travis with 50 men to overtake and capture them- He has good guides and I have np doubt will succeed- I have to inform you that a servant of Antonio de la Garza came into camp today bringing a proposition from the greater part of the S. Fer- nando Company of Cavalry, and the one of Rio-Grande--to desert- This • man was sent to procure a guarantee for them, when they come out- I have given the guarantee and have now to communicate, to you the mode in which they will come out to us--when etc.- He says they will be obliged to come in the day time, upon some occasion of alarm, when they are or- dered out,-These troops are stationed in the house of Padilla in one of the lower labors which Col. 0 Bowie understands the situation of- It would be well then for you to morrow to make a diversion on that side, so as to produce the necessary stir; so that they may be ordered out, and thus give these men the chance to come out as it were on duty and then•escape-- They will present themselves ·with the britch of their guns advanced or a white flag-Padilla has many acquaintances in those companies, who sent in Garza's servant (Jose Ortis) to have an understanding with him as to the guarantee and the mode of joining us.- In regard to the measure of harassing the enemy to night as was spoken of, before ~e parted, by simultaneous firing on the town, I have today thot I am obliged to decline it; owing partly to the condition of the men here at present, having lost ·so much sleep last night; and partly to the difficulty of crossing the river from here, so as to cooperate in time with the men on foot- As you will make a diversion tomorrow for the purpose of bringing out the Deserters, you will therefore decline anything of the kind tonight unless·you think it better to proceed on your part- If you think so you can act as you think best, in that respect, but without expecting
1 From Army Papers, Texas State Library.
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