crowned with complete success. Bul the failure of any detachment from above, lo move, as we had been assured, some one would, lo cut off his movement on Bexar; with the paltry force of 50 men, enabled Cos to throw himself into that place; and the subsequent forbearance of Lhe main army to push its marches, assault, and storm that place, when panic struck by the loss of this, and by the approach of a large force, have, as if controlled by some malignant star, resulted in a train of evils, well calculated lo test the firmness of the stoutest hearts; and may result in the prolongation of the present campaign, till the enemy will have had time, not only to reinforce, and releive Cos, but push into the Country, a powerful army to open another. But altho' the first, and even the second object, proposed in the outset, to be achieved by the capture of this post entirely failed, nevertheless, the quantity of supplies taken, have enabled us to send considerable aid in amunition, flour, sugar, Coffee, &c &c, to releive the necessities of the main army before Bexar. We have also been enabled lo furnish supplies of subsistance to the poor of the families, that were removed from the Mission of Refugio, to Gaudaloupe for safety, when husbands were in the service at this Post. But we can no longr pursue this policy. Our stock is nearly consumed, both of amunition & subsistence, and our Volunteers are suffering for winter clothing. On the 9th ulto I dispatched Maj. Geo. M Collinsworth to the east, for a supply of clothing and for amunition, with letters to the committees of safety of Matagorda, Columbia, Brazoria & Quintana. But no return, answer, or other information from this gentleman, or touching the business confided lo him, has yet been received. A careful examination of the above, will conduct you to a tolerable knowledge of our present situation. And your Ex. will also include the facts omitted above, that, 15 of the force here, are now on the sick list, some of them dangerously ill-that, about the sme number, altho' nol reported sick, arc so indisposed that they are hardly able to mount guard-that, soon after the occupation of this post, the sore tongue became general among our horses, & having no corn, when this complaint had visited nearly all, to recruit, and put them in a thriving condition, most of our animals are now unfit for service, and some have died. Indeed, if attacked now, by a large force, I could neither hope to make a successful
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