WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
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My advice is that you give your whole time and attention to your studies, in order that you may be prepared to assume that position to which your graduation would entitle you. Very Respectfully, and Truly your Friend, Sam Houston [Rubric]. 1 Original document is in the collection of Rosser Papers, Alderman Library, University of Virginia; a microfilm copy is in The University of Texas Library; also see Executive Reco,·ds, 1859-1861, p. 251, Texas State Library. Thomas Lafayette Rosser (October 15, 1836-March 29, 1910), soldier, engineer, was born on his father's farm, Campbell County, Virginia. He was the eldest son of John and Martha Melvina (Johnson) Rosser. The father moved to Texas in 1849 and settled in Sabine County on the Sabine River, where he developed a frontier plantation. The boy Thomas went to school at Mt. Enterprise, Texas, until he was sixteen years old. He entered West Point Military Academy, July 1, 1856, but resigned at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was a classmate and a roommate of George A. Custer. Thomas L. Rosser was very active during the Civil War, progressing step by step to the rank of brigadier general. On May 28, 1863, he mar- ried Betty Barbara Winston, of Virginia. After the close of the war, he found himself embarrassed to support his family. After a time of almost poverty, he found employment with various railroads, and finally became chief engineer of the Northern Pacific. By 1886, he had acquired a com- fortable fortune, returned to Virginia, bought a fine estate, "Rugby," near Charlottesville, and became a gentleman farmer. In 1898, President McKinley commissioned him brigadier general in the United States Army; and he commanded a brigade of Northern volunteers at Chickamauga throughout the Spanish-American War. In 1905, he was appointed post- master at Charlottesville, a position he held at the time of his death. Two daughters and a son survive him. See Dictionary of American Biogmphy, XVI, 181; also C. A. Evans (ed.), Confederate Military History (1899), 650-660.
To COLONEL THOMAS CAROTHERS 1
Executive Department, Austin, Texas, Novr. 19th, 1860. Colonel Thomas Carothers, Huntsville, Texas Dear Sir, Your letters of the 13th have been received and their contents noted. You asked if the "reports of the Directors, as to convict labor" has been received. The following extract from their report received some months since is everything that has been filed in this Department except the slip I returned. The witness says that he had 4 convicts at work at the said Murray Farm for five days in January last. That during the
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