If matters press upon us, for God's sake let the troops land at Galveston bay, and by land reach the Brasos! Let no troops march with baggage-wagons, or wagons of any kind. Sam Houston [2476] [PEASE to PEASE 1
Harrisburg 29th March 1836
My Dear Father
I embrace the opportunity offered by Maj. Norton (who is about starting for the United States) to write you a few lines. My time is short and I am very much occupied.- I presume you will learn generally by the public papers of the progress and operations of our army, more fully than I can inform you. Since my last the Garrison of San Antonio has fallen and 170 of our brave men and volunteers from the United States have become martyrs in the cause of Texian liberty and independence. While we mourn their fall we rejoice that their end was so glorious. 1500 of the enemy were killed and severely wounded during the siege and storming of the place. On the fall of the garrison our main army which was rendezvoused at Gonzales and recruiting rapidly-thought best to fall back to the Colorado river, rather than risk a general engagement until our numbers were larger. They now amount to about 1300 and increasing daily-in fine health and spirits. A few weeks or more at most will bring forth important results. Our Convention after declaring independence formed a constitution which is to be submitted hereafter to the people for their radification or rejection, and organized a Govt to act "ad interim", more efficiently than our former Provisional Govt could do, on account of it's peculiar organization. - I will send you a copy of the Constitution as soon as it is printed, and send you with this the declaration of independence. I am yet without letters from you and can not possibly account for their entire failure, but console myself with the hope that all are well at home, so long as I hear nothing to the contrary. I am in hopes that a few months will restore peace to us al least on land, for I feel confident that if we can whip the army now in Texas, they will not be able to send another soon, and the war will then be on the seas.
235
Powered by FlippingBook