WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
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1835-1836 brought out a battalion from New York for service in the Texas Army. They arrived too late to participate in the battle of San Jacinto, although they had arrived in hearing distance of the guns. In April, 1836, ·Mor.ehouse was put in command of a regiment, and retained that position until the Texas Army was disbanded in 1837. After the establishment of the government of the Republic he served in the Senate of the First Con- gress (1836-1837) ; and in 1836, Houston appointed him brigadier general of the Texas .militia, a position he held until 1839. In 1839 he commanded a fruitless expedition up the Brazos River against the Indians in that region. He died ·at his home in Houston in 1849. See Comvtroller's .Milita1·y Ser-vice Records, Texas State Library; E.W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 1896-1845, 40-41; · Yoakum, History of Texas, II, 119; Encyclopaedia of the New West (1881), 580.
TO GENERAL ALEXANDER SOMERVELLt
Galveston, March lOh., 1842.
To Brigadier General Alexander Somervell : 2 ,Sir ·- You will forthwith repair to the headquarters of the army-take command of the same, and report yourself to the ~ecretary of War. You will proceed to organize them agreeably to the laws regu- _lating the militia, as nearly as the exigency of the case will per- mit, and take your report to the War Department. In regulating your conduct, you will be governed by the ~xigencies of the case, and defend our liberties to the knife. If the invasion proves to be a formidable one, I will be at the army in person. .. I have received General Arista's proclamation; and if he should come on I should be glad to make his personal acquaintance. · .You will maintain the strictest discipline in camp. Have no ·music in camp unless you are ready to attack the enemy. Have t}:ie troops always under arms one hour before day, and let theTIJ, remain in that position until the day fairly opens. Let your 'picket guards be posted at least three miles from the army, when your position will admit of it. Keep a sufficient number on camp guard. Do not dispense with patrols. If a man is taken asleep at ·his post, or on guard, let him be shot. _ If you should ascertain the position of the enemy, and should deem .it advisable to attack them, do so at night. Their surprise will be terrific. Unless you can be assured that you can beat the enemy-fall back. I shall be with you.-Continue to send information by .express. The express will find me at Houston or on my way to .the _army. .
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