purpose of both acquiring essential information & not incurring suspicion he has gone for a few days to Saltillo lo visit Santa Ana- He will be back to l\fonterey in this- Time is precious & not a moment. should be lost- Fear nothing for Bexar or Goliad or any point of Texas if an allack is made on Matcmoras- The enemy will be competed lo change his place of allack & we wiIJ maintian the war in his own Co[unlry I & with his own means with every advantage on our side. [T] he true policy is lo unite all your forces here, leaving small garrisons in Bexar & Goliad & proceed withour delay into the interior- With 150 @ 200 men I will engage lo keep Santa Anas partizans in play from the Town of Riogrande to Reynosa, cut off any reinforcement he may wish lo send lo the coast & leave you thus lo take possession of Matemoras & even Tampico if neces[sary] without his beign able to send aid to these points- I can raise the whole country agst. him & then the interior must move so as to compel him to a retrogate movement- Your energies must be kept active to prevent reinforcements by sea & then you play a perfectly secure game. Quickness in your present movements will prove the salvation of Texas- delays at all times are dangerous but more particulatly so al this moment. All depends upon you & I feel convinced you will enter warmly upon your preparations & sp[e] edily advance.- By a letter recd. in Mier on the [?] ult. from a person of credit in Saltillo it appears that very serious movements in the Stales of Zacatecas & Guadalaxara agst. Santa Ana were likely to induce him to return incognito to the interior leaving the com[ma] nd of the Army to Genl. Felisola.- If this proves Correct, & from collateral evidence it appears probable, it will be equal to a victory to us as Felisola is an old woman- & Santa Ana will not retire unless the Wigwam is in serious uproar."-
[F. W. Johnson]
(2052) [JOHNSON to ROBINSON]
Private
San Patricio Fehy. 9, 1836
To Janes W. Robinson Esq. Dr Sir.
I beg lo enclose a copy of my private letter to Col. Fannin of this dale- lo keep you informed of all that passes, which you can show to such persons as you may deem of your confidence.- To this I have [nothing] to add unless it be lo impress upon you the necessity [of carrying) the War out of Texas, & of endeavouring
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