little garrison, who have so nobly resolved to sustain themselves until our arrival. Our force is small compared with that of the enemy. It is a desperate resort, but we hope the God of Battles will be with us-that victory will again perch on the bright little banner of Tcxian liberty and that the civic militia, now aroused to a sense of their danger and the proximity of their implacable and mercenary foe, will appear in their strength, that the young lion will arise in the majesty of his untried strength and our youthful Republic make herself worthy of the high destiny at which she aims. If by forced marches we can reach Bexar, a distance of more than a hundred miles, and cut our way through the enemy's lines to our friends in the Fort, our united force thus advantageously posted, may perhaps be sufficient to hold out until the militia can be collected to reinforce us. If the militia doe not rendovous promptly, I apprehend much. But the sin be upon their own heads. We have resolved to do our duty and to perish under the walls of the Alamo, if stern necessity requires it. We are but poorly prepared to meet the formidable host of Mexicans, arrayed against us. I am now acting aid-de-camp lo the Comander in chief. having resigned my appointment of the Adjutancy lo the 1st Regi- ment. I have also been acting as chief engineer to the post and but for this occurrence, would have had it in a tolerable stale of de- fense in a short time. The ordnance and l\lagazinc were also placed under my charge. From this circumstance, you will readily and rationally infer, that there are but few professional soldiers here, when one of my age with but few months experience has so many important trusts confided to him. My duties have been arduous in the extreme, having besides the above appointments, frequently to drill the Regiment and companies, and this must be my excuse for not having written home as often as I might have done otherwise. By the way, I have not heard from home either by letter or other- wise since I left New York. Why have you not written? And now my dear sister, I would ask you to look upon my situation in its proper light, and lo indulge in no unnecessary fears. I am a soldier both morrally and physically. Death is one of the chances of the game I play and if it falls lo my lot, I shall not murmur, and you should not regret. I shall write to you as soon as some thing dccissivc occurs. We shall probably be attacked by tht> Mexicans on our way to Bexar, and if I should die, my services will
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