The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume II

60

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

two acts above specified, and also for the object of consumating an alliance with the Lord of that Island and. receiving from him such snpplirs of annmition and provisions as he might be able to furnish. The sperific instructions which he carried with him, are not known. It is onl:v known that he disappointed the expectations of his Chief, and produced infinitely more mis·chief than good: . . . ·while the Supreme Council was thus engaged with the c1v1l affairs of government, the disposition of the military force stood thus. David Long-the General's youngest brother-was stationed on the Trinity river, with a considerable quantity of merchandize to barter with the Indians for horses and mules. Johnson was sent to the Nava• sota and the Yegue on a similar expedition; while l\Iajor Smith, with forty men, ocupied the Cochattee Village. ·walker was ordered with twentv three men to fortify on the Brazos, which he attempted tc, do at the Old LaBahia Crossing, meeting on his march five of Johnson's men who united with him. The Mexican population in Nacogdoches, though unreliable in the hour of danger, was nevertheless attached to the cause, and manifested their readiness to abide by its consequences. 'fhe Genl. himself was pretty constantly occupied in negociating for supplies-arranging for the augmentation of his force-remonstrat- ing against the interferrence of the American authorities at Fort Jesup in his affairs, and at the same t.ime impatiently waiting intelli- gence from Biglow; upon the result of whose mission his own move- ments in a great measure would have to depend.- Such was the state of affairs, when General Long was suddenly called to Galveston Island. He was called thither by the inexcusable derelictions of Biglow. 'fhis unfortunate officer, instead of executing his mission with that punctuality and effi-ciency which its importance demanded, abandoned himself to dissipation as soon as he arrived at the Island; and by his continued intoxication, excited the disgust and contempt of Lafitte, to such an extent, that the latter would have no communication or connection with him. 'fhis rendered it neces- sary t1iat General Long should proceed forthwith to that point himself, and accomplish in person what his drunken agent had failed to achieve. ·The establishment of amicable relations with that heroic operator on the gulf, was a matter of too much importance to be neglected or postponed. His position & resources could make him a very efficieut ally or a very formidable enemy. Without his friendship and assist• ance, it would be almost impossible for the General to organize that section of the country or derive any advantage from its par::s.- llence the necessity of his repairing thither without delav. He is now on the eve of setting out. Before his departure ho~'l'ever we will bring up the history of another individual whose adventures' ,tad character are no less extraordinary than his own· and who is ·with nil his exalted qualities, his equal fully, in every respect-in' intel- lectual vigor, as well as nobility of soul.- Long's Expedition Chapter 2nd. Indeed the history of Mrs Long is so intimately connected with

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