Jan 14 1836 to Mar 5 1836 - PTR, Vol. 4

Governor of Texas, or the Commander in Chief of the Army, in conformity with said ordinance of 5th December, after which yourself and troops will be considered as having formally entered into the service of Texas and their pay and rations commence from that lime. It is understood that the above-mentioned force of volunteers arc to be received, although the number should not amount lo fifteen hundred men, it is however, not to exceed that number, and they are to be in Texas by the month of March next. The bounty lands for the volunteers are to be located under the direction of Lhe Government, and no claims or rights existing, or for which the Government · of Texas may be compromitted at the time of receiving said volunteers, are to be interfered with.

S. F. Austin B. T. Archer

[ 1827) [BROOKS to BROOKS)

Texas Velasco, Jan 18th 1836 Mouth of Brazos River

My Dear Father

Having written my feelings in the olher sheet I will not proceed to give you a more explicit explanation of this country so far as my knowledge and information extends. I landed at this place and have seen the country for four or five miles Round the whole that I have seen is low marchy passage five and 10 miles across the water courses are lined with trees and undergrowth Live Oak is the principle timber the skirts of timbered land are from 100 yards to a mile wide and as rich as lands can possibly be these are the lands that provide 2000 pounds of cotton per acre the parrary lands are not quite as rich and down here they are only suitable for rice plantations owing to there lying so low on the coast. I went up the River to Collumbia 30 miles there I saw some of the richest and prelliest land in the world it was much hiaher I:) and the woodland skirts much broader. this is as far as I have seen. I have been informed that the interior or up countrie is a rich high El_evated healthy country affording good water and intersperccd with Parrary and woodland land say one third or fourth of the frontier. As to game there is no end to it of every kind there is 2