WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1838
268
continually by mail or· Express. Enclose all letters to me, Care of Col. J. Snively, Nacogdoches Sam Houston Col. G. W. Hockley 1 Domestic Con·espondence, Texas State Library. 2 Jacob Snively. See Houston to Jacob Snively, January 24, 1837. 3 Lysander Wells was born and reared in Middletown, Connecticut. On his way to Texas in 1835, he enlisted in Captain Sidney Sherman's company on December 18, and from letters written to him by Captain Sherman and Colonel Rusk, we know that he was an ensign (engineer) in rank. When the Texas army was reorganized, he was elected Major of the Second Regi- ment of Cavalry. That regiment was commanded by Colonel Sherman. Then, on May 22, 1837, the Texas Senate confirmed the appointment of Wells as Lieutenant Colonel of Cavalry. (See E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the; Senate, Republic of Texcts, 1836-1845, 50.) On November 13, 1838, Houston raised his rank to that of Colonel, and on January 30, 1839, he took command of the First Texas Regiment of Cavalry. In this capacity he participated in the Council House battle in San Antonio, in 1840. On May 9, 1840, he and Captain William Redd of the First Regi- ment of Texas Infantry had a quarrel that subsequently resulted in a duel; Captain Redd was killed instantly, while Colonel Wells died twenty days later from wounds received in the duel. The Houston Public Library possesses a number of letters written by Colonel Wells. These together with other papers that belonged to the man, constitute the Wells Papers. They give considerable information concerning the duel and other bio- graphical data. See also E. W. Winkler (ed.), Sec1·et Journals of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 1886-184"5, 22, 59, 114, 136; and Dixon and Kemp, Heroes of San Jacinto, 293. 4 Nathaniel Townsend was consul at New Orleans in 1839 (See E. W. Winkler (ed.), Sec1·et Jo1wnals of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 1886-1845, 126.); on May 21, 1839, he was trying to recover for losses suffered in 1836, on account of the burning of San Felipe. (See La1na1· Papers, II, 570.) GHouston nominated John Birdsall Chief Justice of the Republic to fill the vacancy created by the death of James Collinsworth. Prior to that appointment, Birdsall had been Attorney General, and that is the office that Houston writes of his resigning. (See Houston to Birdsall, February 22, 1838.) GAlbert S. Thruston. See Houston to Thomas Toby, January 20, 1837.
TO JOHN BIRDSALL 1
Nacogdoches, 4th Aug. 1838
Hon. John Birdsall 2 Sir
I have the honor of appointing you Chief Justice of the Republic of Texas, (pro tern) to fill the vacancy which has re- sulted in consequence of the decease of the Hon. James Collins- worth. 3
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