WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
394
Grande; so it was in this condition of constant surveillance that he died in 1895. This sketch has been compiled from many sources; see especially Ben Stuart, Texas Fighte1·s and Frontie1· Rcmgers (MS.), 91-98, The University of Texas Library; John S. Ford, 11,[emoirs (MS.), The University of Texas Library; Heintzelman Papers (MS.), Library of Congress; Re7Jorts from the Rangers, Texas State Library; Thrall, A Pictorial History of Texas, 528-529.
To ALEXANDER C. HILL1 Executive Office, Austin, Texas, December 31, 1859.
To Captain Alexander C. Hill. You have authority to contract for rations and forage sufficient for Twenty one men and horses from this place to Brownsville, Texas, and send vouchers to the office of the Auditor and Comptroller of the State. · Sam Houston. 1 Exec1.1tive Records, 1859-1861, p. 17, Texas State Library. Alexander Campbell Hill (September 2, 1834-October 31, 1897), son of Sally Brown (1790-1867), and William Hickman Hill (1788-1853), was born on a farm near Franklin, Tennessee. He was educated in the schools of his neighborhood and at Bethany College, Virginia, a school established by Alexander Campbell, for whom he was named. His parents came to Texas in 1852 and bought a farm in Travis County, twelve miles east of Austin. Young Hill continued to live with his parents on the farm, but during the late 1850's he became a well-known and popular member of the social circles of Austin. He staunchly supported Sam Houston for Governor in 1859, and with other friends of Houston, sponsored the inaugural ball, December 21, 1859. This ball was a brilliant affair, and was attended by citizens from all parts of the State. A prize, a large basket of the finest champaign, was offered to the couple who should be adjudged the best- looking and the most graceful dancers at the ball. By unanimous con• sent it was awarded to Alexander C. Hill and his dancing partner, Miss Roxanna Thompson, who later became Mrs. John A. Gordon. Soon after this event, Houston commissioned A. C. Hill captain of a company of spies, and sent him to Brownsville with important papers to the commanders of the United States and the Texas troops who were fighting the bandit Cortina. (See Ranger Papers, Ranger Musterrolls, also Hill to Houston, February 9, 1860, Texas State Library.) The muster· rolls show that this spy company was enlisted for "twelve months, or so long as the service is necessary." Hill's letter of February 9, 1860, reports that Cortina had quieted down, that the people along the border were returning to their homes and to their ordinary vocations; that Cortina had offered to make a treaty with the government of Texas, provided he be given $4,000, and that the men who had basely insulted him be pun- ished; otherwise, he declared that he would continue his business of stealing, fighting, robbing. In conclusion, Hill said, "Cortinas is not the only man who is stealing property in this country. There is quite a number engaged
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