(3559) [GAINES lo GOVERNOR]
Head quarters, western department, Camp Sabine, Tuesday morning, 28th June, 1836. Sir: 1 last night received information from a high official source in Texas, that the Mexican army at Matamoras, under grneral Urrea, had been reinforced to the number of 7,000 men, and was, on the 13th Instant on its march, and rapidly advancing lowarcls Guadaloupc Victoria, the head quarters of the Texian army, under general Thomas J. Rusk; that the Mexican motto was, "Extermination lo the Sabine, or death," to which the soldiery were sworn, and that the motto of the Texian army was •'Liberty or death.'' This intelligence was preceded by the report of major Sterling C. Robertson, sustained by the deposition of two facts deposed, that lwomen were recently killed, and another wounded on lhl'. watn of the Navasota, in Robertson's colony, about 120 miles Wl'St of Nacogdoches, by the Indians of several different tribes (Caddocs, Kuckies, and others), who had taken and carried away several women and children, of the families of the men killed. The above intelligence, taken into connection with the history of tlw bloody conflicts of the months of March and April last, at thr Alamo, al Goliad, and at San Jacinto, sufficiently in<licalc the character of the approaching events, as well as the necessity of increasing vigilance on the part of the United States, lo maintain our neutral rela.tions, and slay the work of devastation in the disputed territory, and preserve this frontier from the horrors of savage war. To effect these important oujecls, a mounted force fully equal to that of the principle belligerents is necessary. For this purpose I have to request of your excellency, a regiment of mo1111ll!1I ~•11me11, volunteers if practicable, to consist of ten companies, lo he enrolled and repair to this place hy companies or in a hocly, as may he most convenient, via Lillie Rock, Arkansas. Suhsisl1•nt1:, foragc and transportation for the route, will be furnished liy Capt. J. P. Taylor, similar supplies, with camp 1·quipage, arms, &c. will he furnishec.l al Fort Jesup and this place.
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