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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 183S
Cherokee village from Matamoras, and say that the Indians of the prairies and a Mexican force, are about to attack this por- tion of Texas; the counties of San Augustine, Sabine, Tenahaw and Bevil, as well as Nacogdoches, will forth-with organize the MILITIA of each county. The following requisitions are made to sustain the United States forces, until reinforcements can arrive at this place from General Gaines, viz: sixty-four from San Augustine, fifty-six from Tenahaw, fifty-six from Sabine, and thirty-three from· Bevil. The troops will repair to this place with the least possible delay, and report to the commanding Gen- eral as soon as they arrive. This call is made through the Judges of the several counties, and they must be regarded as the law of the land; the troops will be detained only a few days; so soon as General Gaines can send reinforcements to this place they will be discharged. Let arms and ammunition be brought, at least one hundred rounds is requested. The commander-in-chief will be with the freemen of Texas if they have to meet an enemy; all the men in Texas must have their arms in order; to have liberty we must be watchful. Sam'l Houston Commander in Chief 1 Cumberland Presbyte,·ian (Nashville, Tennessee), September 28, 1836. The Cumberland Presbyte,-ian copied the proclamation from the Natchez Com·ier but did not give the date of the issue.
HOUSTON AND OTHERS TO ANDREW JACKS0N 1
Nacogdoches, Texas, Sept. 11th, 1835. To his Excellency, Andrew Jackson, President of the U. S. SIR: The undersigned committee of vigilance and safety, for the department of Nacogdoches, feel constrained from the peculiar situation in which they are placed, to address your excellency on a· subject of grave and serious importance to the community of which they form a part. During the last spring, two men, one by the name of Archibald Hotchkiss, an empressario, and Benjamin Hawkins, a quarteroon Creek Indian, made a contract with Apothleyahola, and other chiefs of the Creek nation, who were at this place, to procure for them a grant of land, which had been made by the Mexican government to general Felasolo.~ In consideration of which the Indians were to pay to them the sum of one hundred thousand
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