infurmalion rcccivedthc largcsl portion of Lhc Enemies force will be directed against Lhal place
Wm Ward LL Col Comdg Gar.
[Endorsed: l
Forl Milam Fehy 21. Leller of Wm Ward-
[2144) [BENTON to ------1
Near Nacogdoches, 22d Feb., 1836. Dear Sir-A month's sickness had reduced me almost Lo Lhe
grave. I am now better and traveling on.
Official information has just reached us that Santa Anna has crossed the Rio Grande, and is marching against us with a large army for the purpose of exterminating us. l will place myself in the infantry as a private soldier, and if he pass our bayonets I will be deceived. Nearly all our troops are riflemen; no body of infantry lo lodge on to form squares, or rush on with and crush the enemy. \Ve will die hard, for it will be truly victory or death with us. Our volunteers have consumed our provisions and a great many have lefL us- jusl whal I expected. Gen. Cos and his Lroops, we arc informed, have broken Lheir parole, and are returning against us. The country on the Rio Grande is given up to a brutal soldiery. Seven or eight hundred American citizens from the U.S., reside in Mctamoras. Women are treated worse than language can paint. If we cannot defend the country in any other way, we can do it effcclually by adopting the Russian mode of defence, against Napoleon in 1812. A great many rivers cross Texas running from north to south. The country becomes Loo sofL for cavalry and artillery in wet weather- and if the Mexican troops confine themselves to the sea coast to receive supplies, the climate wiU destroy them. I write this in haste; you will know my weak state by my bad writing. A gentleman is waiting lo lake this on. I hope it will reach you safe, and that you will publish it, in hopes that this information may arouse our brave young men in the west to come on as fast as possible to our assistance. Beef is plenty in the country.
Your friend, Jesse Benton.
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