WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1831-1836
25
To ROBERT HousToN McERDEN [McEWEN] 1
Nacogdoches, Texas, 7th Sept., 1836.
Cousin Robert ::i - Through the care of Major R. Lloyd, a gentleman of Colombus, Mississippi, I take pleasure in forward- ing to you as a present, the saddle & Bridle rode and owned by Gen'l Santa Anna, at the battle of San Jacinto. It was presented to him by Gen'l Seisma, and is said to have cost $ 850.00 You will find the stirrups, Gold, embossed with Platina. The saddle and Bridle were sold as spoils after the Battle of the 21st of April, and were purchased by a friend for me, without my wish or knowledge. He gave for the caparisons $ 325.00. I had no ostentatious foible to gratify, or idle vanity, by becoming the owner of any of the spoils taken in Battle, because they once belonged to any particular individual. I present them to you as an evidence of grateful affection, and should you, not desire to retain them, you have my permission to present them to General Jackson, or to Doctor John Shelby; otherwise they are to remain in your family as my collateral kindred. You will please present my affectionate regards to my dear Counsin H. & family. Sam Houston [Endorsed] : I certify the foregoing to be a true copy Nath'l Amosy, Sec'y. 1 Courtesy of Mr. Temple H. Morrow, Dallas, Texas. 2 The name McErden of this document is evidently a mispelling for McEwen. Robert Houston McEwen of Nashville, Tennessee, was a cousin, close friend and intimate associate of Sam Houston from boyhood until 1829 when Houston left Tennessee. The affectionate friendship of these cousins was never broken throughout their lives, although their association, of course, was never close after Houston went to Texas. It was at Robert McEwen's home that Houston and Eliza Allen spent the first few days of their honeymoon; and it was Robert McEwen who always acted as Houston's trusted agent at Nashville whenever there was important busi- .ness to be attended to there, both while Houston was at Washington as a congressman from Tennessee, and later when Texan affairs prevented him from looking after his interests in Tennessee. See Houston to Captain Alexander Campbell, April 25, 1815.
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