you in language intelligible, because duty to ourselves and duty to Texas requires it. We shall not however address you in that spirit of irritation and indignation which pervades every one in this army; but in the tone which should ever characterize the intercourse between the rulina . b parties in a country, even when they conceive great injury to have been done them, and great cause existing for complaint. It is unnecessary to remind your excellency of the peculiar circumstances under which the companies composing the army, first marched out, nor shall we attempt to describe to you the toil and fatigue, the privations and hardships which they have encoun- tered from the commencement of the war up to this period. Language will not admit of description, but if it will be any information or in the least degree prove beneficial, we will stale that during much of the time, the army was supported on beef without bread and frequently without saJt, and that to most of the army, sugar and coffee have for some time been perfect stTangers; many have been barefooted and most without a change of clothes. Notwithstanding however aJI this, they complained not, because the independence of Texas and the preservation of the women and children were paramount to all considerations, and because, daily supplies were expected to reach us-erroneously supposing that the government officers, were directing all their energies to the sustaining of the army. Of our error we were not convinced, until after the battle of the 21st. A mere handful of men barring their persons between a savage and victorious enemy, and the destruction of Texas, and finally gaining one of the most splendid victories known in the history of modern times, and making prisoner of him who was the projector and director of war against us, had a right to suppose they would be hailed by the officers of the government as the saviors of the country, and that some pains would have been taken to have supplied them with the common necessaries of life, especially when on Galveston Island there was an abundance of provisions, and three steam boats which could have brought them to us within thirty-six hours. Instead of these favorable attentions, however, we were permitted to remain on Buffalo bayou eating beef without bread, while those who had ignobly fled before the enemy, were rioting on the abundance of the public stores. An exasperated army was then restTained only because it was understood that the steam boats would meet them on the Brazos with an abundance of the public stores; and when on the Brazos they were again disappointed, owing entirely to the shameful
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