WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1835-1836
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[In pencil] P .S. General, I refer this letter to you and can only add that such a step as your taking post at Nacogdoches will SA VE Texas Your friend, Sam Houston. Maj. Genl. Gaines. * [An asterisk in pencil is after the word Treaties, and across the left-hand margin is written] : I made no treaty. Please read and return this letter. Houston.
1 Mr. Franklin Williams's Collection of Houston Materials, Houston, Texas.
To MICHAEL CosTLEY 1 Nacogdoches, T [exas], 1st Sept. 1836.
Dear Sir. .Your note came by Mr. Cook, and was. passed over to Colo. Whisler/ comg [commanding] U [nited] States Troops at this place-I am not advised what course he will take. I want you to watch well, and to keep the men with you in good order. By no means do I want you to begin hostilities : Let us be prudent, for if war does begin it will produce great calamities, and would almost break up our army in the field who would feel compelled to return to the protection of their families, & leave our frontier without an army to protect it. Do be prudent, and do not be first to make a quarrel, with the Indians. Let the Dragoons make a report before you go into the limits of the nation. Yesterday, and this morning, there are men and women of the Cherokees trading in town. When the Dragoons return you shall have their report. Let not the world say that we made a war. But that we have sought to keep peace. Today I hope to hear from Genl. Gaines. 3 Your friend Sam Houston, Comdr in Chief To Capt M. Costley. [Endorsed] : To Captain M. Costley Sept 1836 Nacogdoches 1 The original letter is owned by Mrs. Madge W. Hearne. 1st "This was evidently Colonel William Whistler, who was in charge of the United Sitates troops at Nacogdoches in 1836. He was born in Mary- land and died on December 4, 1863. For his military career see Francis
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