[3066) [MARSHALL to MARSHALL)
Velasco, Texas, May 15, 1836.
My dear Ann:
I write you upon Sunday evening, surrounded by soldiers and bustle, and there is such a confusion of tongues, English and Spanish, that it is diffict~lt to compose my mind so as to write; I will, however, briefly stale my progress to you since J left you, as I have some reason to fear that a teller that I wrote you from Orleans may nol have reached you, for a gentleman told me he saw my letter addressed to you and left at the Texian Agent's Office in Orleans at Galveston, Texas. I staid altogether a week al St. Louis, and took passage for N. Orleans in a steam Boat, and after a week's passage arrived there; I staid one week there, and took passage with a Company of Volunteers for Texas, but in consequence of delay at the Balize and calm winds, we were a week getting to Galveston Bay and Island; there we staid three days, and then came to this place where we are to be stationed for the present as a guard upon the Mexican General, Santa Anna, and several of his Officers. There are several hundred Mexican prisoners at Galveston Island, including General Cos and mosl of the Mexican Officers. This is the same General Cos who was taken al San Antonio and was paroled, and broke his parole and returned with soldiers to attack the Country. This is a delightful place at Velasco, healthy and pleasant, nothing like as warm as with you, the sea breeze blowing constantly. There are plenty of good provisions and good water. Texas is agreed on all hands to be a most delightful and desirable country, but I must defer saying more about it until I shall have seen more of it for myself, not having been off the sea beach yet. As I wrote you, there are fine droves of cattle pasturing in view; the beef is said to be excellent, so is the milk, but I have tasted of neither yet. · There were but about twenty soldiers here when we arrived, and it is said they are going away, when the only guard upon the great and important Santa Anna, will be our Company, consisting of about thirty men al present. The principal functionaries of Lhe Texian Government arc at this place.
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