wro le you lasl to lhis place 115 miles throuuh torrents of rain d O ' mu an~ water. I had remained a f cw days in St. AugustiJJe when Capt. Kimble from Clarksvellc, Ten. a lawyer of whom you may recollect lo have heard me speak arri\'ed wilh a small company of select men, 4 of them lawyers. I joined them and find •them perfect gen Liemen. \Ve arc waiting for a company daily expected from Columbia, Ten. under Col. HiU with whom we expect to march to head quarters (Washington) 125 miles from here, where we shall join Houston the commander in chief and receive our destination. I may or may not receive promotion as there are many very meritorious men seeking the same. I have become one of the most thorough going men you ever heard of. I go the whole Hog in the cause of Texas. I expect to help lhem gain their independence and also to form their civil government, for it is worth risking many lives for. From what I have seen and learned from others there is not so fair a portion of the earth's surface warmed by the sun. Be of good cheer Martha I will provide you a sweet home. I shall be entitled to 640 acres of land for my services in the army and 4444 acres upon condition of settling my family here. Whether I shall be able to move you here next fall or not will depend upon the termination of the present contest. Some say that Santa Ana is in the field with an immense army and near the confines of Texas, others say since the conquest of St. Antonio by the Texians and the imprisonment of Genl. Cos and 1100 men of which you have no doubt heard, that Santa Ana has become intimidated for fear that the Texians wi!J drive the war into his dominions and ,is now holding himself in readiness lo fly to Europe which latter report I am inclined lo discredit, what is the truth of the matter no one here knows or pretends lo know. Tell Mr. Smith not to think of remaining where he is but to be ready to come to this country at the very moment the government shall be settled, as for a trifle he may procure a possession of land that will make a fortune for himself, his children and his children's children of its own increase in value and such a cotton country is not under the sun. 1 have just been introduced to Mr. McNiell a nephew of Mr. S. who is now in this place and appears to be much of a gentleman. Give my most kind affection to Amelia and Mr. Smith and to my own'Dcar Mary and James give a thousand tender embraces and for you my Dearest
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