You will arrest all deserters from the army, and pass them over to commands on their march lo Lhe army. All persons without furloughs or discharges, or whose furloughs has expired, are deserters, and as such must be registered and reported to the government, if not apprehended and sent back.
Sam Houston.
[2745) [HOUSTON to THOMAS]
Headquarters, Camp al Groce's April 13, 1836
To David Thomas, Acting Secretary of War
Sir: This moment yours of yesterday has reached me. I have the honor to remark, that taunts and suggestions have been gratuitously tendered to me; and I have submitted to them without any disposition to retort either unkindness or imputation.. What has been my situation? At Gonzales I had three hundred and seventy-four efficient men, without supplies, even powder, balls, or arms. At Colorado with seven hundred men, without discipline or time to organize the army. Two days since, my effective force in camp was five hundred and twenty-three men (aggregate). I had authorized Captain Martin to detain a force there of at least two hundred men. I had sent to the bottom opposite San Felipe one hundred and fifty men; and had reason to expect Lhe attack would be made, and an effort made to cross the river at San Felipe, or at the point at which I was, as the prairie, at the latter point, approached nearer to the river, and the bottom was better than at any other point on the river. The cannonade was kept up al San Felipe until yesterday morning; and as the river was very high, and it was reported to me that the enemy were preparing rafts at that point, I had every reason to suppose Lhat they intended to cross there, if possible. On the previous night, in consultation with the secretary of war, we concluded to pass the river to this side. At ten o'clock, A.M., yesterday, I commenced crossing the river, and from that time till the present (noon) Lhe steamboat and yawl (having no ferry-boat) have been engaged. We have eight or ten wagons, ox-teams, and about two hundred horses, belonging to the army; and these have to pass on board the steamboat, besides the troops, baggage, &c. This requires time; bul I hope in one hour lo be
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