touching at any point to the eastward if any information should reach you which would make such a step advisable. Immediately on your landing you will report yourself to the officer in com- mand of the place
John A Wharton Adjutant General
[Addressed:] Capt. Samuel Williams Present [2170]
[BROOKS to BROOKS]
Fort Defiance, Goliad, Texas, Feb. 25th, 1836. My dear Sister:-From the hurry of a preparation to march, I have stolen a moment to write to you. An express from San Antonio de Bexar received here a few moments since, with intelligence that the Mexican Army under Santa Ana, were in sight of that place and preparing to attack it. He heard the firing of cannon after he had gained some distance towards us. He estimat- ed their strength at from three to five thousand men. Bexar has a garrison of 156. They have retired to the Alamo, determined to hold out to the last and have solicited reinforcements from us. We have 420 men here, and have been engaged in repairing the Fort, and mounting artillery. Commanding Officer, in the field, Gen. Fannin, has made Goliad his Head Quarters, from the conviction of its importance, as being advantageously located for a depot of reinforcements, clothing, provisions and military stores. It com- mands the sea coast particularly, Aransas and Matagorda Bays,- and consequently the only convenient landings for vessels of any tonnage. The only troops in the field at this time are volunteers from the United States, and they probably do not exceed 800, and perhaps but one third of them are near the scene of action. He was therefore compelled to remain in this place in order to prepare it as a depot, and to forward provisions, et cetra. From the want of cavalry, we have been unable to obtain any accurate information of the enemy's movements. Thus Bexar has been left exposed and the Mexicans availing themselves of the advantages thus unavoid- ably offered them, have marched against it with all their force. With a forlorne hope of 320 men, we will start tonight or tomor- row morning at the dawn of day in order to relieve the gallant
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