384
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
AUSTIN TO GENERAL GAINES
Columbia, Texas, July 4 -1836
MAJOR GENL. EDMUND P. GAIN[E]S SIR
I arrived here a few days since from the U. S. and find this country still threatened with war and its evils. The Indians have commenced active _hostilities on the whole line of the frontier along the upper or San Antonio road. I am told they are all Northern indians with rifles, principally Har- per's ferry, an arm that is not used by the native tribes of Texas. 'fhe Mexicans are concentrating their forces at Matamoras and h~ve no doubt advanced to the river Nueces by this time. Genl Urrea is the com- mander-in-chief, he has already been joined by Genl Cortazar with fresh troops from the interior. The movement of the Mexican Army into Texas again, will embolden the indians west of the Mississippi, who no doubt communicate with those to the east of that river, and the probability of an indian war on the South western limits of the U. S. appears to be much stronger than it ever was. I confidently believe that the movement of the troops under your com-• mand to Nacogdoches will stop an indian war and preserve the tranquility of the U. S. frontier. Such a movement wiil meet with the approbation of the Govt of Texas, as you will perceive by the letter of President Burnet, which accompanies this, and I am confident it will receive the most decided sanction of the people of Texas. The president of Mexico Genl. Santa Anna, who is now a prisoner in this place, assures me in the most decided and unequivocal terms of his desire to end this Texas war on the basis of a recognition of our independence, and he has written to Genl. Jackson, requesting the mediation of the U. S. Government to terminate the war on that basis. The packet which I herewith send you for Genl. Jackson, contains Genl Santa Anna's letter to him and many other important papers of great in- terest to the public service of both countries, and I therefore must beg the favor of you to forward them with the least possible delay, by express, or in such manner as you may deem expeditious and safe- I have no hesitation in saying that I believe Genl. Santa Anna is sincere, and in good faith, in the promises and offers he has made to this Govt. to acknowledge our independence and admit the mediation of the U. S. but,he can do nothing as a prisoner, or until he returns to Mexico and reasswnes the Govt. or to the Mexican Army and resumes the command, and such is the state of public opinion here and in our Army that he can not be re- leased until he gives such guarantees, as will satisfy both Army and the people of his sincerity, Now the guarantee of Genl. Jackson will be suffi- cient, and I believe that yo,ir guarantee, in conjunction with the establish-
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