WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
131
Subject, which will be presented, always keeping in view, the safety and Success, of his command - the preservation of his flag, and the honor of h1s country.- The troops by obedience to his orders, and imitating his example will establish the highest claims to the admiration and gratitude of their fellow Citizens and the Government of the Republic. Sam Houston. P. S. One Colonel,-One Lt. Colonel, and two Majors will be elected. Each company will consist of at least Sixty Six men rank and file, and where the requisite number of men cannot be raised in any county, they ·will be made up elsewhere - and where a larger number than is specified above report themselves they will be received. Sam Houston. [ Endorsed] : I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and full and complete Copy of the original received by Col. Ben- nett and on file in my office-at Montgomery, 4th August, 1842. W. H. Fowler, Secretary for 3rd Regiment. 1 Original in Sam Houston State Teachers College, Huntsville, Texas. Photostat copy in The University of Texas Library. zJoseph L. Bennett came to Texas in the spring of 1834, and settled in what is now Waller County. When the Texas revolution broke out he joined the Texas army and remained in service throughout 1836 (See Bounty Certificate No. 3067, General Land Office). On about March 1, 1836, Colonel Bennett's company set out to join Travis at the Alamo, but upon 1·eaching the Colorado river heard of the fall of the Alamo, therefore dis- continued the .march. Shortly after this, Bennett joined Houston's main army at Beeson's Crossing. ·when the army was reorganized on April 8, Captain Bennett was elected lieutenant colonel of the second regiment of Texas volunteers, and in this capacity he participnte·d in the battle of San Jacinto. On May 27, 1837, President Houston appointed him colonel of a reg:ment of mounted gun men for the defence of the frontier. Colonel Bennett served in the House of Representatives during the third and the fourth congresses of the Republic (November 5, 1838-February 3, 1840) as representative from Montgomery County. In 1842 he raised a battalion for the Somervell Expedition, but most of his men becoming displeased with the conduct of the campaign returned home soon after the expedition had reached the Rio Grande. After their departure, Colonel Bennett joined the battalion commanded by Major Bartlett Simms, but he did not become a member of the Mier Expedition. Before he ventured on this Somervell
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