WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
308
To SAM HOUSTON, JR. 1
Cedar Point, 23rd July, 1861. My Dear Son : Supposing that on last night you had a fine wet time of it, and the benefit of a pleasant today for drill, I write to you as I can send it by Mr. Armstrong, who wishes to take Tom some shoes. I am happy to tell you that we are all well, except Willie, who has a chill, but I hope that it will be the last; and Sally has been ill of fever, but today she is much better. Will be well I hope soon. ·Had my friend Dr. Smith been at home, I would have sent for him. Now·a days Esculapius is transformed to Mars. I had hoped, my dear son, that in retirement my mind would be engrossed, so far as I am concerned with the affairs of the times, in the cares of my Domestic circle and matters concerning my family alone, and that I could live in peace. In the train of events now transpiring, I think I perceive disasters to Texas. The men and arms are all leaving this quarter of the theatre in the great Drama, which is playing, and is to be played. I know not how much statesmanship Lincoln may have, or General- ship at his command, and therefore I would not be wise to Prophesy. But looking at matters as they seem to me, his wise course, I would say is, that Texas is his great point in which to make a lodgment and thereby make a diversion from the seat of war. Texas in his possession, and the Gulf is his with Fort Pickens as a convenient Point. The assault upon Texas will require two armies & weaken the army of Eastern operations. If Texas is attacked she must be in her present isolated condi- tion. She can look for no aid from the Confederacy, and must either succumb or defend herself. Are our means sufficient to do this? What is her situation as has been represented by the news- papers? Has she arms, men, ammunition, in an emergency to defend herself? Arkansas is crying for ·help. Our frontier is again assailed by the Indians, and she will be left alone in her straits and without means. Missouri must yield to the pressure by which she is surrounded. The States of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas must soon silence her, and then Arkansas without means, as she says, must be overrun, and then Texas must be the Ultimate Point in the campaign of subjugation and spoil. Under these circumstances, is it wise for her to send, unasked and at the instigation of "Major Marshall," her men and arms? That wretch has been a blotch on humanity and will be a
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