disposition of the major part of the people of Texas to believe that the War has ended but of the fallicy of this idea any man of good sense must be at once convinced- We are war with a Nation weak & inefficient is true, but numbering several Millions of inhabitants. They are proud haughty & vain & who lives to see it will see, that defeating Santana at the head of fifteen hundred men does not terminate this War. It must be done by an army & we must give them more proofs of our prowess before we can secure our rights- My own opinion is they will fall back to Bexar, perhaps to Monteray- but unless they are traped by an army of respectable numbers & disiplin they assuredly make another Campaign This as I before have stated to you is the statement of officers & under such circumstances we made an army respectable in numbers & dicpline This is the time & we now have an opportunity of raising such a one- permit this excitement to abate & we are thrown upon sholes for the next 5 years of our lives You know with what reluctance I accepted the command- You know my reasons for declining it when I did & you know the reasons which influenced me to take it when I did- I have no desire to hold office and its thousand troubles The Army is now in a condition that no difficulty be added by the appointment of a suitable Major Geni. what you informed me it was your determina• tion to do immediately- This course is now due to the Country for let me repeat no time is to he lost in organizing an army- I have no desire for such an affair & on the contrary will positively not accept it were it tendered- I appointed Col Benj F Smith my adjutant General he is a man of military talents & will [illegible] to the command of the army
I have the honor to be with great respect Your obt.
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Servant Thos. J. Rusk
Brig Gnl Comdg.
[Endorsed:]
Gen Rusk 'f o Honl. M B Lamar May 12th 1836
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