[2267) (SMITH to PRESIDENT]
[John W. Smith to President of the Convention, March 7, 1836, about returning from the Alamo on !\'larch 4 and starting back ,,ith fifty men on March 7.] [2268) [-----to the PUBLIC] [Anonymous, Bexar, to the Public, March 7, 1836, describing the attack made on the Alamo by four columns commanded by Cos, under whom were Colonels Juan Morales, Duque de Estrado, anj Romero, and the victory achieved; highly praising Santa Anna.] [2269) [BAKER to JONES, ET AL]
Gonzales 8th March, 1836
Gentlemen:
On day before yesterday I arrived here, accompanied by the companies of Captains McNutt and Robb. I found about one hundred and sixty men here, which, with our force, made about two hundred and seventy, fifty of which started on yesterday for the Alamo. Our force now at this place is about two hundred and twenty men, with an enemy seventy-five miles in our front, fiye thousand strong. Our own situation is critical-too weak to advance, and insufficient to protect this place-and daily expecting two thousand cavalry to attack us. To retreat, however, would be the ruin of Texas; and we have all resolved to abide an attack, and to conquer or die. We are now busily engaged fortifying ourselves, with the hope that the people of Texas, en masse, are on the march to our assistance. Unless they are, the alamo and our post must fall, and all, every man be destroyed. Not one of us will return to tell the dreadful tale or to reproach those that remain for their supineness, or their cowardice. We have come here to repel the enemy, and my company will die beneath their standard sooner than the enemy shall advance, or they retreat. Will the people of Texas longer remain at home? Will any man, under these
C
22
Powered by FlippingBook