[2263] [MENARD to------]
Washington, 7th March, 1836. The Mexicans are upon us. Travis writes, on the 27th ult., that he was besieged by more than a thousand men, and he had only about 150 men. On the 3d March, he writes he had sustained a bombardment for seven days, without losing a man, that he had 20 days' provisions for the men he had, and was besieged by three or four thousand, or more, as he had received the news while writing that 1,000 were arriving from the west, and by the rejoicing in the town, supposed that St. Anna himself had arrived. Reinforcements are going on, but we are in great want of all the implements of war - arms - munitions of every description. Beef is plent, but nothing else. There is a considerable share of provisions at La Bacca. Col. Fanning is at Goliad, in great want of provisions - waiting for their arrival from La Bacca; until then, he cannot relieve the Alamo; besides, he expects the enemy by the lower road. Johnson's party has been surprised and cut off at San Patricio; he escaped with two men. Nothing is heard of Grant; we are fearful he is cut off. There is no doubt that St. Anna is in Texas, with 5 or 6,000 troops, and intends to sweep us from the soil if he can; and if we do not make use of all our means and energy, he will succeed before we can get assistance from the United States. It is now the duty of every citizen of Texas to sacrifice to party feeling, and march to the frontier, fully equipped at his own expense, and equip others if he has the means. Our atmosphere is devilish dark, and if men stay at home, we are lost. We will adjourn in a few days, and repair to our own respective municipalities, and try to dispel the apathy that appears to be moving over Texas. No time to speak of business. God bless you, and may God bless us all, and curse the tyrant with his minions; he will have at least a taste of the Texian rifles. We are in the hourly expectation of farther news from the interior and so soon as I am in possession of farther information, I will give it you. The war in Texas has been to us citizens of the south, a subject of deep and thrilling interest. On Saturday next, a large volunteer company will leave this county for the seat of war; and it is probable that I may be one of the number. But little news from the Convention. We have heard that Judge Ellis, of this county, has been elected President of that body, and that their first acts were to declare themselves a free and independent people. [I\L B. Menard]
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