had taken to arms in his rear, and that the movement agt. the Central Govt. was likely to form general throughout the nation- The troops which occupied Laredo have retired to Saltillo & Monclova- those at Rio Grande (town) it is supposed will likewise make a retrograde movement, and their numbers by no means important in any case.- Disaffection has crept into the arch tyrants ranks- 20@30 men desert daily, & tho Matamoras is almost entirely without a Garrison, he is afraid to send off assistance, least they whould revolt on leaving his Camp.- Our friends, the liberals of Tamaulipas, are arriving in all quarters, and will form a most respectable addition ot our force- Every thing looks most propitious, and unless our head strong countrymen, by a premature Declaration of Independence, rouse the jealousy of the Federal party victory is secured and by one blow, we may calculate over throwing the Tyrant. Santa Anna & his minions · The forces you have and those here and about 350 under Gonzales & Canales- together with the certain assistance we will receive from all parts of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, will prove amply sufficient to givethemost important blow that has ever been struck in the Republic- and place Texas in a situation to dictate to the neighboring states- A small detachment of my Division (20 men) under Col. Grant took on the night of the 30th. ult, Capt. Rodriguez & his compy (26 men) with all their Horses (50) arms ·*c without the loss of a man- which leaves the road clear from Nueces to Rio Grande Matamoras is poorly supplied with troops-out friends are in power- I have reason to believe, that is a quick movement is made, not a shot will be fired - I dispatched a courier, on my first landing, and finding that Genl. Houston had suddenly left for San Felipe, to Bejar & Goliad- and recommended lo Lt Col. Neill to remove all the Cannon form that Post, to Victoria & Gonzalis, except barely enough to protect the alarno- but to maintain his position until farther orders, or an enimy of a superior forc[e] rendered it a matter of necessity, to make a retreat- If it be true that Santa Anna is in the predicment just represented, there is no necessity at present for either- but it [is] safe, to do the first , even now- I shall proceed west- and must beg of you to order the naval force to co-operate with me before Matamoras, between 20th . & 28th. inst. It is useless for me to urge the necessity- It is to apparent to to require a second word- I have the private & counter signals of
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