[ 1461] [WHITAKER Lo WHITAKER]
Tampico, Dec. 12, 1835. My dear brother: Prepare lo read these lines, conveying the news of my unhappy fate, with the same firmness that you would have done had you been summoned to attend my death-bed. But reflect that the momentary pang which separates temporal and eternal life shall have passed ere this reaches you. To be brief, as the time allotted me to compose my mind for this event is short, I have only to say, that instead of arriving in Texas a free man, and at large, as I had supposed when I left you, the vessel was taken to Tampico, and myself and companions were compelled to march in arms against a cily which I had never seen, and to shoot down Lhe inhabitants of a country that had never offended me: resl assured that this was an order not very faithfully execu Led, the consequence of which was, that a great many prisoners were made, among whom I am now confined under sentence of death, to be shot on Monday morning al 7 o'clock. It is, however, a great consolaLion thal I die innocent of any crime, and feel heller enabled lo encounter death Lhan I could have expecled. Presenl my dying affections lo you wife and family, and believe me lo remain your affenlionale brolher. Thomas Whitaker. To Mr. Wm. H. WhiLaker, New Orleans. P. S. Endr.avor lo broach the intelligence as smoothly as possible to our aged father, and remember me to all my friends in Pennsylvania.T.W.
I I , l
[1462) [AUTRY to AUTRY]
I I i I I . I I • I I '
[Dear Wife]
Nachitoches, December 13, 1835 . About ~O minutes ago I landed at this place safely after cons1derah_le peril. About 20 men from Tennessee formed our squad at Memphis, and all landed safely at the mouth of Red River. Major Eaton and Lady were on board the Pacific, lo whom I suppose I was favourably introduced by Mr. Childress, from that however or
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