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spies so that I could attack the enemy at day break-when to my aston- ishment and surprize I hea[r]d the sound of the enemies Bugle, which proved to be that Genl Cos was on his march & as I learned afterwards to reinforce Genl Santa Ana, -Genl Cos' movements being so sudden & having been thrown upon the mercies of the world, consequently knew not of the movements of even our own or that of the enemy- Finding that Genl Cos had left his late encampment threw me into a difficulty, as I left my baggage-at Majr Brighams place so that I should be able to make a forced march to attack Cos'.-The enemy having decamped and belivng that Genl Huston was on the Trinity or Sabine river fell back for my sick baggage, when on the following morning my spies brought in sundry prisoners who gave me the first intelligence of a battle having been fought and won by the Texians- Having been so unfortunate as not to have participated in the first & great battle, concluded to give battle to Genls Urrea, Sizma 65 & Filisolia 66 who had possession of Columbia & Brazoria when I gave orders for my con:id to make a forced march upon the above places- -A few hours before my arrival the enemy had Evacuated Columbia having a guard for the purpose of destroying the public & private stores, when my advancd guard fired upon them & fortunately saved the Town &c- Had I have been but a few hours Earlier I might have captured some 15 of the Mexican principal officers-as after fb.ey had given the order of. march they leisurely visited the (Landing, (Marion) to make whatever discoveries that should offer for diserters &c &c E. Morehouse No. 1647 [183-? , F. W. THORNTON, [HOUSTON? TEXAS], TO [1\I. B. LAMAR, HOUSTON? TEXASJ 67 Dear Sir Agreeable to your request I shall endeavour to state to you some facts relative to what is called the Tampico ex- pedition. As to the manner in which the expedition was gotten up I know but little about it; having arri.ved in New Orleans. the same evening the vessel sailed. I was informed whilst at supper that a vessel was about to sail for Texas in half an hour from that time, being on my way to Texas I went on board a perfect stranger, finding quite a merry set: the manner in which the night was spent, may well be immagined this was on the 7th of N ovr 1835. in the morning of the 8th we found ourselves at sea. We then elected our officers & were a happy set until we sailed beyound the the [sic l mouth of the Bra7.0s river, immediately after which we learned our destin_ed port at which m_any at first murmured: but on being told that it was as well to fight for Texas in Mexico as in Texas & also of the many advantages to be
"'Sesma. 0 'Filisola. 07 .A. L. S.
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