this garrison can march early to-morrow, there can be no protection from the massacre even to the Sabine. That stream has so flooded its banks, that hundreds of families will be there to-morrow unable to cross, and will probably be sacrificed. The extremity will not admit of delay; and if you can order five hundred men lo march to-morrow, with their muskets and ammunition for ten days, (provisions are abundant in Texas, and I will procure them,) I will be enabled to return immediately to the Sabine, and rally as many riflemen on the road; who will have confidence alone from knowing that the United States troops will sustain them. My object is singly to save the women and children; and that object accomplished, so far as it is now possible, I shall have done all for which I have embarked my zeal; and, with your immediate co-operation, thousands of lives can be saved; without your aid, all are liable to be destroyed, and may now past the hope of relief. Be pleased to give me an immediate answer by the gentleman who takes this, Mr. Dart, a highly respectable merchant of Natchez. Permit me to add, that a delay of one day is the probable sacrifice of hundreds of lives. The road from Nacogdoches to the Sabine is one unbroken line of women and children, on foot, with nothing but their clothing on their backs. Such is the distress, and a small picture of it.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, John T. Mason. [2748) [RUSK to PUBLIC]
War Department Head Quarters Army Brasos 13th April 1836
To the People of Texas Fellow Citizens
Calls have been made upon you so frequently and so few of you are yet in the field when all ought to be that I have my doubts whether another call would be any more effectual than those which already have been made upon you. Nevertheless standing in the relation which I do at the present moment I would not feel that I had done my duty were I not again to urge upon you Lo turn out, defend your country, preserve your liberty, avenge the death of
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