386
TEX.\ STATE LIBR,\RY
contend, not only with the privations of a long and painful campaign: he had not only overcome the immence distance to march hi men into Texas: but he had to procure himself the mean of subsi tance for tho e men, for the government had not a cent in it treasury; but the honor of his country and his own reputation, required extra- ordinary effort on his part, and •finally' he was enabled to collect about 7 000 men and just the means uffieient to march into Texas. Before the campaign was oppen, he lo t about 2,000 men between ick deserted and other wise, because be had to travel 1500 miles in winter season. •'othing however could prevent him, from fulfeeling hi duty: he directs General Urrea to march with a 1000 troop along the coast, while he marched with the main army towards Bejar: here he stopped for a few days to ·upply his ar~y, and afterwards .di- rected General Gaona with a strong force to go to Nacogdoches, while he continued to an Felipe de Austin and Ur~a to :Matagorda with 500 troops more tht:t were sent to him. Gl. Santa Anna feeling no strong opposition on his way, and understanding that the enemy was retreatina to the other side of the Trinity, crosses the Brasos, with 500 selected troops, forces h [is] march towards Harri burg and reaches that place, continue his way to Lynchburg, and there he learns to his great astonishment that the texian army lie behind him. He attacks the ennemy on the 20th of April: the ennemy makes a £al e retreat to the woods: he discovers the object, and encamps in sight of the texian army. The next day he receives a reinforcement of 500 men under Geueral Cos, and prepares him elf to .attack the ennemy in the night of the same day; but while re tina at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and allowing the troops to get some thing to it, he is surprised by the ennemy, scarcely believing that he would dare to attack him, and ha scarcely time to prepare his men and give the word for charaina the ennemy, when the mexicans give a\vay in the greatest conffusion and di.soraanize themselves. 1 othing then is capable to stop them: the Battle then i over, the te.xians obtain a compleate victory make a number of pri oners and Gral Santa Anna himself is among them. Such being the re ult of the campaign, I have nothing to add, but ju. t to a ure you of the entiment with which, I arn Your Obt. Servt. J. 1 . Almonte [rubric] [Endor ed] Almonte concerning l\Iexico. No. 372 1836 May 30, W. D. REDD TO r [. B. LAMAR Victoria :\lay 30th [1 36] Dr Col After con ultin with my friends I think that the be t speculation which I can •ntcr upon at preasant is that of pnrchnsing the bend wright of individuals who arc judiciously intitle to them undc1· such con ic.lerations I have conditionally given to i Ir. l\Jordeica the mt'mber of the Georgia Dnttulion the sum of three hundred dollars should it
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