WRIT~NGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
513
ings were valued at $2,000, and Fannin signed statements to the effect that they had been used for government purposes; also, he recognized the taking of the supplies-tent cloth, clothing, tobacco, sugar, etc.-from Western's store. When the Mexicans came to Goliad, they killed Bennet, and took what remained of the stock of goods-valued at $2,000. Western remained in the service throughout the war, and remained in the cavalry-rank of major-through 1838. He was a major in the regiment commanded by Juan N. Seguin, ·and was the Major Western who made the address in English at the burial of the charred remains of the victims of the Alamo on February 25, 1837. While in the ranger service in 1838-1839 he rendered valuable service among the Indians as interpreter as well as service as a ranger officer. In 1841 he was appointed Indian Commissioner, or Superintendent of Indian Affairs, a position he retained until Texas became a state. See The Southwestern Histo1·ical Quarterly, XXV, 158, 170; XXVI, 200; Comptrolle1-'s Military Service Records; Public Debt Papers; and Papers on Indian Affairs, Texas State Library. See also William C. Binkley, Official Correspondence of the Texan Revolution, I, 35, 40, 69, 140. To SANTA ANNA 1 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF HOUSTON, March 21, 1842. To His Excellency Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of Mexico: Most Excellent Sir,-Your communications 2 to Mr. Bee and General Hamilton, dated at the palace of Government of Mexico, have been recently presented to my notice. At the first con- venient leisure I have not failed to appropriate my attention to the subjects embraced in the scope of your remarks. They would have met a more ready attention had it not been for a marauding incursion made by a Mexican force upon the defenseless town of San Antonio on the inhabited frontier of Texas. Apprehending that the force had some other character than bandits and plunderers, commanded as it was by regular officers, it produced a momentary excitement and claimed the attention of the Executive; but as the bandits have withdrawn, characterizing their retreat by pillage and plunder, as has been usual with Mexicans, I am left at leisure to resume, in tran- quility, the duties of my station. In reference to your correspondence with Mr. Bee and General Hamilton, I have no remarks to make in reference to the com- munications which those gentlemen assumed the individual re- sponsibility of making to you. The very nature of the corre- spondence manifests the fact that it was not done under the sanction of this government, but rests solely upon their action as
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