WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
397
the United States troops sent to protect the Texas border along the Rio Grande. The trouble on this border at this time is commonly known in Texas as the Co1·tinas Wars. The Texans considered Major Heintzelman the most efficient of the United States officials that had been sent out to quell these border troubles. During the Civil War he rendered brilliant service, and was rapidly advanced in rank, as reward of merit in various engagements. He died in 1880. See Heitman, Registe1· of the United States Army, I, 521; John Henry Brown, History of Texas, II, 381. ·
To JOHN B. FLOYD 1
Austin, January 3rd, 1860.
Hon. John B. Floyd, Secretary of War- Dear Sir: I have been advised by Major Ben McCulloch 2 that the two six pounder cannon used at San Jacinto against Santa Anna in 1836, called by us the "twin sisters," 3 can be obtained from the War Department in lieu of other arms due the State of Texas, at their appraised value. It is a matter of pride with the State, and particularly with those who participated in the battle of San Jacinto, to procure those arms for the State. They should never have been given up by the State in the Treaty of annexation. They are worthless to the General Government, but would be highly prized by the State as a relic of her revolution. I request the Government through you to make to the State of Texas a donation of those guns. Should this request not be incompatible with the usage of the government, please turn the guns over to the State at their appraised value, as above sug- gested, and I will feel grateful. Sam Houston. 1 Govenio1·s' Letters; also Executive Reco,·ds, 1859- 1861, p. 8, Texas State Library. John Buchanan Ployd (June 1, 1806-August 26, 1863), governor of Virginia, Secretary of War of the United States, Confederate general, was appointed Secretary of War by James Buchanan in 1858. He served in that capacity until the latter part of 1860. For biographical sketch, see the Dictiona,'Y of Ame1·ican Biogmphy, VI, 482-483. 2 For a sketch on Ben McCulloch and citations to many sources for bio- graphical materials concerning him, see Volume V, 502. 3 The "Twin Sisters," were two six-pounder brass cannon, a gift from the people of Cincinnati, Ohio, to the revolutionists of Texas. They arrived in Texas barely in time to be used at the Battle of San Jacinto. E. W. Winkler, in the Southwestern Historical Q11a,·terly, XXI, 61-68, has writ- ten a sketch concerning these cannon. It is the most satisfactory to be found. There are many other articles concerning the "Twin Sisters," which
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