95
PAPERS oF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
auspices of Threspalacios. Genl. Long was so thoroughly convinced of this and strongly impressed with the importance of this policy, that he addressed a letter to his friend Ripley upon the subject, making known at the same time his apprehensions that if Tresp_ala- cios did not bring adequate supplies with him, it would be impossible to restrain the garrison & that he would be compelled either to make a forward movement, or to allow the soldiers to disperse and return to the United States. The letter which he received in reply is so perfectly illustrative of the views of those who were pa-tronizing and sustai'riing the enterprise, that we feel bound, notwithstanding its great length to present it to the reader. Dear General, I duly received your favor by the Three Sisters, and immediately ·sent Capt. Grant to town to a-ssist you all he could.- I regret to sec by that letter, that yon are anxious to ma-ke.a move- ment on Labardie and St. Antonio. You must rest assured, according to my views, tha-t it would be pregnant with misfortune to you. Your resources will and must improve from the naval force which will ·soon be with you; but above all, if you lie still and are not attacked, now that you have authority of the Government o~ Mexico to sustain you, you will find an a-ccession of characer, emigrants and resources every day.- you will understand too, from General Trespalacios the real streng"th of Arredondo, whose policy is to make no movemests till you a-dvance-throw himself into your rear and cut off your retreat, as his men will be mounted, to Galveston. How will you g-et men this ·winter? You can (not) enlist soldiers in the limits of the U. S. The thing will not answer; it being con- trary to our laws, destroys all the reputation and character of your enterprise, and excites the prejudices of t;hinking men a,gainst you. But you can hire at New Orleans as many labourers as you want. Get your men to work and get in an immense crop of cotton and ad- vertise in the New Orleans pa,pers for labourers to go down and pick it. Let every man set to and exert himself, and this a-lone by the 1st of Oct. will give you ample resources, credit and confidence. Bay of St. Louis Octr. 31st. 1820. I wish you to call your offi:cers together and state to them frankly the necessity of this course. If afterwards they are disposed to "look ba,ck'' let them go as quick as they please; there are enough others , to supply their places which will join you. 1 The truth is thousands of persons are now waiting to emigrate to you, provided you can afford them tranquility. This can only be done by remaining in your present position. The moment yon take up a line of march, these people will hesitate till your campaign is finished, and in this way yon prevent them from joining you until another season. Your affair with the Indians was a good one, but is would have been infinitely better for you not to have published it. ·with the present prejudices against you, you had better lie still and let noth-
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