WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1813-1817
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wish to continue in the army, for the wounds which I received will in some degree render me unfit for other pursuits in life. I have evinced to the world that whenever it is necessary to risk my life for the safety of my country that I will do it, & Sir if you feel yourself justified in using your influence to have me continued in the army you may rest assured that I will be ever grateful for the same 3 Sam!. Houston Lieut 39 th Infy 1 0riginal in the War Department, U.S. Courtesy of Colonel M. L. Crim- mins, a photostat from his private library. 2 Joseph Anderson (November 5, 1757-April 17, 1837), a senator from Tennessee, 1797-1815, was born near Philadelphia and died in Washington, D.C. BiograJJhical Dfrectory of the Am.erican Cong1·ess (1928), 641. 3 0n March 22, 1815, Joseph Anderson transmitted Houston's letter to the War Department with a recommendation that he be retained in the army. Letter from Joseph Anderson to the War Department, War Department, U.S. Courtesy from Colonel M. L. Crimmins, a p~otostat from his private library.
To JAMES MoNROEl
Maryville March 1 st · 1815
Hon. James Monroe 2 Sir, I address you with diffidence owing to my being a·stranger to you, But one circumstance that gives me assurance is I am the man who has fought & bled for my country at a time when it was necessary not that I was impelcl to it by any other force than love of country, I quit the peaceful walks of scholastic life at the age of twenty years & enlisted a private in the 7th Regt of Infy. and by merit or good fortune was promoted to Ens. in the 39 th Infy from a sergeant in the 7 th and it is yet my wish to remain in the service if consistent with your pleasure. I conceive that if any individual is entitled to the patronage of Government, I am. I have given proofs of my Valour & fidelity in the cause of Liberty and in return I carry honorable scars, for no less than two wounds did I receive at the Battle of Tohopeka 3 one by an arrow, & another by two rifle balls which lodged in my shoulder & have since been extracted & I am now so recovered as to do active service. You no doubt will think proper to make yourself acquainted with my private character in case you do,· I refer you to the
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