436
WmTrNcs OF SAM HousToN, 1836
1 Sylveste,· Papers, Rosenberg Library. 2 James Austin Sylvester (1807-April 9, 1882) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but moved to Kentucky in his early youth. On December 18, 1835, he enlisted in the company of volunteers that Captain Sidney Sher- man was rasing for the aid of Texas. This company left Nacogdoches on February 29, 1836, for Gonzales. Sylvester must have gone on ahead of his company, however, for on January 10, he had been contmissioned as captain of the reserve army of Texas by Governor Henry Smith (see Sylveste,· J?ct7Jers, Rosenberg Library, for original commission). On March l 2, 1836, the Texas Army was reorganized at Gonzales. Captain Sherman was made lieutenant colonel and William Wood succeeded him as captain. James A. Sylvester was made second sergeant and colo1· bearer of the company, and as such went into the Battle of San Jacinto. He, more than any other man, accomplished the capture of Santa Anna on April 22, 1836 (see Co1nptrolle1· Military Service Record, No. 1046, Texas State Library). He was honorably discharged on June 18, 1836. The document above shows that on August 3, Houston presented him with a printed pamphlet con- taining the names of the men who had fought at San Jacinto. In 1842, James Sylvester was a member of the Somervell Expedition, but the next year he removed to New Orleans, and lived there for the remainder of his life. In 1874, he wrote a letter to the editors of the Democ,·atic Statesman (Austin, Texas), in which he explained the circumstances attending the <'apture of Santa Anna (see Dixon and Kemp, The Heroes of San Jacinto, 142-143). He was for a number of years a member of the typographical force of the New 01·leans Picayune. He was never married. He died April 9, 1882, and is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, New Orleans. See Sylvester Pavers, Rosenberg Library; Comptrolle1· Military Service Rec- ords, Texas State Library; Dixon and Kemp, The Heroes of San Jacinto, 141-143.
To THOMAS J. RusK 1
Nacogdoches 8th August 1836. General, I received with pleasure your letter of 20th Ult. I was happy to learn the prosperous condition of the Army. I have heard much said in commendation of its state of discipline. The necessity for subordination has doubtless impressed itself upon every [body] with the Army. Rumors have reached this place, that it is in ... advance upon Matamoras. As to the propriety or impropriety ... I suppose there can be little diversity of opinion. For my own [part] I find no reason in support of the project. I cannot see what can be gained by it. Suppose the army was to advance and take possession of Matamoras [with]out the Joss of lives- the character of our troops and [the] duration of their time [of] service would not authorize belief that we could garrison and maintain [the] place-- a cooperation by sea and land would be necessary. Have we a [complete] superiority
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