[1955) [HOUSTON to SMITH]
Municipality of Washington, January 30, 1836 Sir: I have the honor to report lo you that, in obedience to your order under the date of the 6th., I left Washington on the 8th, and reached Goliad on the night of the 14th. On the morning of that day I met Captain Dimil, on his return home with his command, who reported to me the fact that his caballada of horses (the most of them private property) had been pressed by Dr. Grant, who styled himself acting commander-in-chief of the federal army, and that he had under his command about two hundred men. Captain Dimit had been relieved by Captain P. S. Wyatt, of the volunteers from Huntsville, Alabama. I was also informed by Major R. C. l\'lorris that breadstuff was wanted in camp; and he suggested his wish lo remove the volunteers farther west. By express, I had advised the stay of the troops at Goliad until I could reach that point. On my arrival at that point, I found them destitute of many supplies necessary to their comfort on a campaign. An express reached me from Lieutenant-Colonel Neill, of Bexar, of an expected attack from the enemy in force. I immediately requested Colonel James Bowie to march with a detachment of volunteers to his relief. He met the request with his usual promptitude and manliness. This intelligence I forwarded to your excellency, for the action of government. With a hope that supplies had or would immediately reach the port of Copano, I ordered the troops, through Major R. C. Morris, to proceed to Refugio mission, where it was reported there would be an abundance of beef- leaving Captain Wyatt and his command, for the present, in possession of Goliad, or until he could be relieved by a detachment of regulars under the command of Lieutenant Thornton, and some recruits that had been enlisted by Captain Ira Westover. On the arrival of the troops at Refugio, ·1 ascertained that no breadstuffs could be obtained, nor was there any intelligence of supplies reaching Copano, agreeably to my expectations, and in accordance with my orders of the 30th of December and 6th of January inst. directing the landin~ and concentrating all the volunteers at Copano. I had also advised Colonel A. Huston, the quarter-master-general, to forward the suppl_ies he might obtain at New Orleans lo the same point. Not me~tmg the command of Major Ward, as I had hoped from the early adv1_ce ~ had_sent him by Major George W. Poe, l determined to aw~•t his arrival and the command of Captain Wyatt. With a view to be m a state of readiness lo march to the scene of active operations
187
Powered by FlippingBook