Houston v1

309

WIUTINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1835

To A. HITCHINSON

San Felipe, Nov. 30th 1835 My dear Sir: By the hands of Mr. Shelby and Mr. Dameron, I had the pleasure to receive your favor of the last month. I am pleased with the young gentlemen ; in one I found the son of an old friend. The young gentlemen will return for the present. ·By the first of March we will require aid, and efficient aid it must be. 10,000 men were ordered by Santa Anna to Texas. We can dress them with 5,000 men, and more I would not ask. We will want at least 3,000 volunteers, and more than that will be ac- ceptable to us in our need. You will learn from the young gentlemen my views of the present crisis. You will learn that the Independence of Texas is the ultimate mark for which we strive, and the prize for which we battle!!! There must be some well-fought fields before we are what we must and ought to be.- Free!! The sun of Auster- litz may shine on the arms of T'exas. She never can be con- quered by the Mexicans, if she warred alone, if we had the cash; but men and money both are best for us. We will soon negotiate a loan and have money plenty. It is probable that San Antonio will soon fall; but if she does not for the present, it is not important to Texas. The only rea- son it has not fallen, was the want of munitions of war- no can- non, and the men only went out to fight and to return to their homes in ten days; they have been out for months, and many of .them half clad, having taken only one suit of clothes. No men are more patriotic or brave on God's earth, than what the boys of Texas are. They want only discipline and munitions to do anything. I have recommended the gentlemen to take the oath of fealty to Texas before leaving here. They go with my best wishes in hopes to see them in the spring with hundreds at their backs. My health is good again. Sam Houston A. Hitchinson 2 , Esq. 1 Clipping from Clinton Gazette (Clinton, Mississippi), January 2, 1836, Asbury Papers, The University of Texas Library. 2 A. Hitchinson has not been identified.