WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, l8 1 i2
509
To THE EDITOR OF THE Galveston Advertiser [ ?] Houston, Texas, March 17, 1842 Dear Sir- The news by express from Austin up to 13th inst., is that the enemy have evacuated San Antonio after having plun- dered the place. They were laden down with baggage and march slowly. Colonel Hays is harassing them on their march. They only march about eight miles each day. The troops from Austin and those on the frontier are marching to overtake them and beat them. War shall now be waged against Mexico, nor will we lay our arms aside until we have secured recognition of our independence. Until then I will never rest satisfied, nor will the people of Texas. We invoke the God of Armies. Your friend, Sam Houston 1 The Western Weekly Review (Franklin, Tennessee), April 8, 1842. The above named paper stated that this letter was copied from The Galveston Advertiser (no date given) and was prefaced thus: "On March 17th President Houston caused the following letter, in the nature of a proclama• tion, to be issued th1·ough the public press." There is no way to kno" certainly to whom the letter was addressed, but since it was published id the "Galveston Advertiser" it was probably addressed to the editor of that paper. No issues of the Galvesto1i Advertiser are available. TO GENERAL ALEXANDER SOMERVELL 1 Executive Department, City of Houston, March 18, 1842. To Brigadier General A. Somervell : Sir,- You will have received the order of the Secretary of War of the 12h., March. You will conform to the same unless you are perfectly assured that the enemy are advancing in force into the country. In that event you will meet and beat them. It is of vital interest to the nation, that farmers should not be detained from their homes at this important season of planting. Some may have a disposition to go to the Rio Grande-to march to the frontier without orders and in a tumultuous mass, and in parties without concert or orders. This will expose them to every disaster that can arise from insubordination. Let any who may proceed without your orders call to mind the fate of Johnson, Grant, and indeed, all the disasters of the Spring of 1836. Defeat or disobedience of orders, at this time, will carry with it a deplorable influence upon our cause if we are
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