WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
154
To GEORGE W. HocKLEY 1
Pr.ivate
Washington, 18th January, 1843.
To Col. G. W. Hockley, Dear Sir,
If you can come, I wish to see you at this place. Nine thousand dollars have been appropriated for seaboard pro- tection-seven thousand for Galveston harbor, one thousand for Velasco, and one thousand for Matagorda Bay. The object of the Secretary of War, as well as myself, is to see you here that we may confer on this subject. It will be neces- sary to have the several points examined, and so soon as that can be done, I wish the fortifications commenced. Inadequate as the sum may be for the protection of the coast, it is all that can be used, and the works projected must be within the scope of the appropriation. All that can be done should be completed by the first of March. If the enemy do .come, they will try to surprise us. The design will be to produce panic, and to overrun the country before our forces can rally. By this plan they can unite their land and naval forces on the bay. I wish them to be disappointed. For this reason, come as soon as you can. Congress has done everything to embarrass me; but I will strug- gle against adversity when the blows are dealt by the hands of men. Do come quickly. Thine Truly, Sam Houston [Rubric] "'Houston's Private Executive Record Book," p. 305, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. See to Hockley, September 1, 2, 1842, this volume.
To A. BRIGHAM 1
Washington, 20th January, 1843
Major A. Brigham, Treasurer Sir.
Please pay the bearer, John Dunlap, Seventy two Dol- lars and seventy eight cents and charge same to the appropria- tion for my salary. Yours truly Sam Houston [Rubric] 1 0riginal in possession of Mrs. Madge W. Hearne, by whose courtesy this copy has been made.
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