Colorado and Brazos rivers, a petition was made during the past summer to the Ayuntamiento to divide the county: This petition was granted. The county of Colorado lies on both sides of the Colorado river, in one of the riches and most fetile tracts of land in Texas. A town has been located and laid out on the west bank of the river for a county seat, and named Columbus. It is beautifully situated in the bend of the river, or rather nearly out of the bend. From the site of the town across to the other end of the bend, it is eight hundred yards, and around it by the river it is thirteen miles. The town lot itself is a beautiful grove of live oaks. It bluffs on to the river, which flows on in a clear and rapid course to the bay of Matagorda. The town is situated about seventy-five miles from the bay, just above the level portion of Texas, and hardly in the rolling portion. On the opposite bank of the river rises a dense forest of timber, which, in the summer season, will render the situation of our town very romantic. No building has as yet been commenced, on account of the unsettled state of the country. But if I live lo see Texas thriving and prosperous again, and in a peaceful state, I shall also trust to see Columbus a flourishing town. The Colorado is a stream capable of being navigated as high up as this place, and as the country around is exceedingly rich and fetile, Columbus will no doubt some time be a place of considerable importance. When I last wrote you, I told you that although all was then quet, we were daily expecting a rupture. We have since realized all that we then feared. The Mexican Government for a long time detained Austin in prison and continued to encroach upon our rights and liberties, until at last, in September of this year, an armed force arrived on the Guadalupe river, opposite Gonzales, to demand our arms. They first demanded of us a cannon which the Mexican Government had loaned us to protect the frontier settlements. The citizens of Gonzales replied to them that the Alcalde, Mr. Ezekiel Williams, was at that time from home, that they could not give up the cannon without his permission, but if they would remain where then were till his return, he would give them an answer. To this they agreed! A runner was immediately despatched to the Colorado with the news. A number of men instantly started from this settlement for Gonzales, at which place we arrived on the third day after the /Mexican army arrived. w~--found--qu•ite a number of Texans had
I l I l I
318
Powered by FlippingBook