crucllics of Santa Ana in rousing the sympathy of the US for her and she must nol part with a grain of that Lcncfil by shooting any prisoner at this late period Santa Ana is no douht a monster but Cos who has forfeited his life by the rules of war acted under the orders of the other and may Le the most worthy at any rale he is in a situation to have more of public sympathy because it is believed he was forced lo a breach of the rules of war by Santa Ana- A nation gains immortal fame by even errors on the side of Humanity while it can suffer irreparable injury by acts strictly Just but nol called for by the situation al home. On this head the Lest men of Texas must deliberate to salisfy the spirit of retaliation at home and high expectations of your friends in the U.S. Delay is the only remedy for the former and as much kindness as possible lo the prisoners is· the Course for the latter- Gen! Houston stands above all complaints which have reached this Country, that of delay appears to be the strongest., for which he deserves the highest honors and all mililary men adopting the same lardy policy much suffer-prudence wall caJlcd one of Washingtons rascally virtues by Conway Lee etc, but the man who has firmness to resist the Cttrrcnt of his army al such times deserves well of his country- The single circumstance of preserving a camp wilh the appearance of resistance-When Panic was desolating the Country is enough to place Genl Houston high in Military rank, the Complaints against him are considered idle or the offspring of tl1at impatient spirit so common in military life- You have a confidence in Gen! Houston of great worth and so long as he can serve Texas with the same prudence it is wise to employ him. No man living save Genl Jackson could have the same weight in your wars as he Major Grooms of the volunteers from this [ends here abuptly J
[Possjbly by Joseph Ficklin or John M. McCalla)
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