WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
371
Mrs. H. joins me in kindest regards to you; we pray for your eminent success. Thine truly, Houston [Rubric] Mussina. I will try to send you a copy of my speech. I suppose that some of the papers wou'd like to make extracts? H. Not read over. [Endorsed] : Independence Tex. Aug 6/59. Genl. Sam Hous- Houston to S. Mussina 0 Personal Letter. 1 Franlclin Pcipers, The University of Texas Library. The original letter is is the Houston Public Library. ~see this speech, July 9, 1859. 3 See the Texas Almanac, 1859, for Labadie's accusation against John Forbes, Commissary General at the battle of San Jacinto. When this accu- sation went the rounds in the latter part of 1836 and 1837, Forbes demanded an investigation, through a court-martial. That body found Forbes innocent of all charges made against him, and even declared that he had performed his duties "honorably, honestly, and generously." But Labadie stirred up the charges again in 1859, whereupon Forbes entered suit against him and the Richardsons, publishers of the Almanac, for libel. Forbes claimed that Labadie was merely the stupid and bribed agent for General Sidney Sher- man and others of his old enemies, who weer trying to stir up slander against him after the death of General T. J. Rusk, who had sat on the court-martial and knew all the details of the old charges that had been made against him concerning the disposition of the spoil after the battle of San Jacinto. Forbes's complete exposition of the matter and other papers relative to this report that Labadie was renewing, are to be found among both Mrs. Madge W. Hearne's papers, and those of Mrs. Margaret John. Photo- stats of both of these collections are to be found in the Texas State Library, and The University of Texas Library. See also, Houston to the Editors of the Civilian and Gazette, October 26, 1868. 1 Hamilton Stuart. See biographical sketch in Volume IV, 420. ~John Wood Harris. See Volume V, 314. 0 Simon Mussina (July 8, 1806-February 11, 1889) was born of German- Jewish parents in the city of Philadelphia. (See Cohen, The Jtws in Texas, 142-143). Young Simon 1·eceived a good education in his native city, and was trained by his father in the mercantile business. In 1821, he accom- panied his father to Mobile, Alabama, on a business trip; there they were quarantined, because of an epidemic of yellow fever. Finally, the son made his way to Clark County, Alabama, while the father went on to Pensacola, Florida, where he was drowned while attempting to cross a swollen creek. He had on his person a large sum of money in gold-the bulk of the family fortune-and this money was never recovered. The family was left practically destitute, and Simon had to become the support of his mother and several younger brothers and sisters. He set
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