[2752] [BORDEN ACCOUNT]
April 14, 1836 On the 26th of March Gen. Houston having heard that the enemy had received large reinforcements and marched two divisions above and below Beason's ferry, finding himself J.90 weak lo make detachments, felt he was to be encircled in asmall parceloftimLcr, with an army that was the last hope of Texas. Foreseeing that if ever the enemy should come on his rear he would have to starve on the bank of the Colorado, leaving the country entirely unprotected, or lo share the fate of Fannin in the attempt to cross the prairies that were on his rear, our General wisely ordered a retreat on San Felipe, which place our forces reached safely on the next day, without having been at all molested by the enemy. From that point Gen. Houston directed his troops to Groce's ferry, as that point offered the best and easiest crossing-place on the Brazos, and of course was most likely to be aimed at by the Mexicans; and by taking possession of the steamboat Yellowstone, which was lying at that place, he secured lo himself the means of transporting, in a few hours, his whole force at any place where the enemy should make his appearance. At the same lime he ordered a force of nearly two hundred men at San Felipe, and as many at Fort Bend, to annoy the first movements of the enemy, should they attempt to cross al those places, till himself might come down to make an effectual resistance. On the evening of the 29th some scouts, detached by Capt. Baker, who commanded al San Felipe, came in, saying, they had seen the Mexican advance guard within a few miles of San Felipe, which place they would probably reach before day-light; this report was the cause of the town being immediately set on fire and destroyed, with several thousand dollars worth of goods, which could have been carried over the river had not the scouts been too much blinded by their fears, as they had mistaken a drove of catlle for a squadron of cavalry, and the Mexican troops did not make their appearance till the sixth of April. On the 10th inst, as we are informed, a large force of the enemy suddenly made their appearance al Fort Bend, (half way between Columbia and San Felipe,) and immediately began swimming the river, as the Texian force al that post, which was said to be 250 men, amounted, in truth, to about thirty-five. At the same time a force of above a thousand having marched along the sea shore, appeared at the mouth of the Brazos, and occupied Brazoria. These reports have
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