J. Michie, Dr. Boys and Alex H. H. Sl11art, Esqrs. and such other prominent gentlemen of Staunton as may be disposed to favor me with their testimonials of my character. Their letters may be directed to Gen. Houston or to Col. Fannin in Velasco, Texas, or to myself on an envelope containing their address. The letters must be postpaid in Staunton to New Orleans by you or they will never reach here and you had better write a request on the outside to the Post Master in the latter place to forward them to Velasco without delay. It would be a great advancement of my interests if you would not lose a moment in complying with the above request. I am at present stationed at Velasco, a small town at the mouth of the Rio Brazos de Dios. There are about 250 men assembled here and tomorrow I commence the tedious duty of drilling recruits. As soon as we are organized, and reach something like a state of discipline, it is contemplated to reinforce us and then detach us lo attack the city of Metamoras in the State of Tamaulipas. This will be the commencement of a regular and systematic invasion of Mexico and I trust I shall live lo see it end beneath the walls of the Capitol of Santa Anna's iron ruled doininions, that we will ultimately succeed, I can not entertain a doubt. I know too well the materials of which our army is composed lo think for a moment that they will flinch in the hour of peril. We are all animated by one spirit, defiance to tyrants-and ohr watch word is "Texas and Glory." Our war cry is Liberty or Death. We must triumph. I can not, I will not believe otherwise. Tell Mother to feel no alarm on my account. Tell her to reflect that I am in the hands of an all wise being and the God of Battles will dispense to me whatever fate he may deem my due, and be assured, my dear father, and my dear mother, that I will never disgrace either the name of a soldier or that of a Virginian. You shall never blush for your wayward boy's conduct on the field of battle. 1 forgot to tell you that I arrived here the 20th of this month. The vessel in which I sailed from New New York, the Schooner, America, was wrecked away on the Brazos Bar, and we escaped from the wreck in an open boat with the utmost difficulty to another vessel that lay securely outside the tremendous breakers which dash along the coast in a gale of wind from the North. As soon as the vessel struck and b~!l'.an to fill, the sailors
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