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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1837
If the enemy are not about to advance, I will return to the seat of Government, which will be at Groce's retreat 4 until the first of May. I pray you be so kind as to salute your mama and father. Kiss the little girls and cuff Carlos for me. Will you write to me often? If you do not, I will not die "appie." Sam Houston Miss Anna W. Raguet P.S. My health is restored, and spirits fair! H 1 Dallas News, October 12, 1920. The original document is in the possession of Mrs. R. A. Irion, Dallas, Texas. ~Anna Raguet was the third chlld and eldest daughter of Henry and Marcia (Temple) Raguet. She was sixteen years old in 1832 when her family came to Texas and settled at Nacogdoches. Since her twelfth year she had been carefully taught in the best schools of Philadelphia, and was a brilliant linguist, being able to speak and write well Spanish, French, and German. She was also the pride and idol of her father's life. Sam Houston had met Raguet at New Orleans, and had urged him to investigate Texas as a future home; so when both Houston and Raguet had become resi- dents of Nacogdoches, they grew to be warm and confidential friends. Houston soon realized that any lawyer who hoped to be really successful in his profession in Texas must know the Spanish language, and the brilliant young Anna Raguet undertook the task of giving him the neces- sary lessons in that language. Whether or not she succeeded in training her pupil to efficiency in the Spanish language, one may well doubt; it is true, however, that for several years, he was the suitor for her hand in mar- riage. She finally refused his suit, and married Dr. Robert Anderson Irion, Houston's intimate friend and Secretary of State from June 20, 1837 to December, 1839. This marriage was consummated only one month (April, 1840) before that of Houston to Margaret Lea (May, 1840). Dr. Irion and Anna Raguet had four children, three sons and one daughter. They named their eldest child Sam Houston. There is a very interesting tradi- tion in the Raguet fam;Iy concerning Sam Houston. Briefly told it is thus: In February, 1836, while on the mission to make a treaty with the Indians for the Provisional Government of Texas, he spent a good deal of time in the Raguet home. One day while sitting with his back to the open door of the Raguet home, talk1ng with Anna Raguet and her father, a Mexican slipped up behind him with an up-raised dagger, in an attempt to assassi- nate him; but Anna seeing what was about to happen, sprang up and seized the hand that held the knife, and saved Houston's life. Before he left East Texas to sit as a delegate in the Convention of March, 1836, and subsequently to go forth again as the Commander-in-Chief of the Texas army, he begged of Anna a talisman as evidence of her good wishes in defeating the Mexican army which at that time was invading the country. So, upon his departure she tied upon -him a knitted silken sash (such as military officers of that day wore as sword belts) that she had made for him, and with her own hands belted on his sword. Thus, as did maidens of old, Anna Raguet sent forth her knight to do battle against her country's
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