WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
479
of consequences." He came to Texas on January 14, 1832, and located thirty miles west of .Nacogdoches. There he participated in the battle between the Texans and Mexicans in 1832. On November 28, 1835, he was appointed captain of a Ranger company by the Provisional Government of Texas (Gammel, Laws of Texa$, 600). At the Battle of San Jacinto he served as a private in the company of Captain Henry Karnes's cavalry unit, and when Rusk was informed that the Mexicans were concentrating at Matamoras (May 29, 1836) he ordered Major Burton with his mounted Rangers-a company of only twenty men-to ~cour the coast from the Guadalupe to Refugio, believing the Mexicans would attempt to land some- where along that coast. Burton proceeded to the coast near Copano, and his commanded on June 2, 1836, captured the boat, Watchman, loaded with supplies for the Mexican army. On June 17, they a'.so capturei the Comanche and the Fanny Butler, which were also loaded with Mexi- can supplies. These boats were all carried as prizes to Velasco. For this feat Burton's command were nicknamed the "Horse Marines." On Novem- ber 10, 1836, Burton was appointed a commissioner to treat with the Indians (Secret Jom-nals of the Senate, 20-21), he was a member of the Texas Senate for the First, Second, and Third Congresses, serving in those bodies from October 3, 1836, to January 24, 1839. While a member of the Senate he was appointed one of the commissioners to select a site for the permanent capital of the Republic. See Wooten (ed.), Comprche11sive Histo111 of Texas, I, 146, 300. Yoakum, II, 180. Dixon and Kemp, 309-311. 5 Nathaniel Robbins. See Houston to Nathaniel Robbins, March 13, 1836.
To CAPTAIN THOMPSON 1 Executive Department, Columbia, 10th Novr. 1836.
To Capt. Thompson of the Texian Schnr. Col. Fannin Sir: You will please furnish passage to John Dynoswski, Thomas Lulaski, and Francis Vasnowski, on board your vessel to the United States- and charge the same to the Government of TEXAS. Sam Houston [ Rubric]
1 Comptroller's Military Se1-vice Records, No. 688, Texas State Library.
To THE CHIEFS OF SIX TRIBES 1 Executive Department, Columbia, 11th Novr. 1836.
To the Chiefs of the Wacos, Towacconnies, Towassies, Kechies, Ionies & Comanchies, and all other Indians wishing to be friends: Brothers: I have heard, that you wish to talk with your white brothers and to smoke the Pipe of Peace! Bad men have stolen horses and made war and brought trouble upon the white and red people. It is now time to be at
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