The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume II

52

WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1837

note of all the cattle which you may hear of- see Colonel Pettus 3 and Capt. York;• and know if needful who would take contracts and drive Beef and deliver it at the Army. They will be allowed the Hides and Tallow and be paid for the Beef, as slaughtered and delivered Know at what price they would contract and you may make conditional contracts subject to approval. Contractors will be allowed at all times ten days notice of the quantitiy of Beef to be furnished at the Army. My object is to have the Army supplied regularly and prevent all futwre impressments of supplies or any thing else which may belong to the citizens. Bring information of all matters which you may learn relative to the welfare of the country. Make all the haste in your power and report as soon as possible to the War Department. We are advised to look for the Enemy. Let all be on their guard! Sam Houston [Rubric] [Addressed] : To Captain B. J. White Present [ Note on back of letter]: The Auditor will audit this for 14 days at the rate of $3 per diem- Sam Houston [Rubric] 14 da @ 3.00 $ 42.00 [Endorsement]: 9304 $42.00 B. J. White Filed 27th June 1839 Admitted to audit for $42.00 Military- Services John H. Yerby Actg. Auditor Issd. 27th June 1839 No. Draft 11030-C Approved June 28, '39 J. W. Simmons Comptroller. [ Second endorsement]: Audito1.-'s Office Houston, June 27th 1839. THIS DAY came B. J. White and says the annexed Instru- ment is just, true, and original, and the only one he has offered for liquidation: That he owes the Government nothing on his own account, or on account of any other person. Sworn to before John H. Yerby Actg. 1st Auditor. Received Draft. B. J. White. 1Comptroller's Ser-vice Records, Texas State Library. 2see E. C. Barker (ed.), A118tin Pave,·s, III, 190; also, William C. Binkley (ed.). Official Correspondence of the Texan Revolution, I, 104. 3\Villiam Pettus was evidently the man of whom Houston wrote in this letter. According to his own statement 'Yilliam Pettus was born in Mech- -

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