WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1835
327
the Guadalupe River from the sea to the old Spanish n11ss1on settlements of Refugio and Goliad, which they included. James Power was a member of the Convention of 1836, a representative from Shelby district. See Trans- lations of Empresario Contracts, 142, General Land Office of Texas. 3 Houston to Governor Smith, December 26, 1835. 4 There were three Captains Allen in the Texas army in 1835-1836, but the one to whom Houston refers in this letter, was, no doubt, Captain John M. Allen. On December 17, 1835, the General Council elected him captain of infantry (Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 678) an! sent him to the port of Copano (/ bid., 696, and 705). John 1\1. Allen was born in Ken- tucky, but when a mere boy entered the United States Navy in search of adventure. After serving out his term of enlistment, he left the navy to become a soldier of fortune and engage in the Greek revolution for inde- pendence. It is said that he became a close friend of Lord Byron, and was with the poet at Missonlongi at the time of his death, April 12, 1821. Returning to America in the early days of 1835, John Allen enlisted in the unfortunate Tampico Expedition; he escaped with other prisoners after that expedition failed, and came to Texas to offer his services. On Decem- ber 17, 1835, he was elected to the rank of captain and sent to guard the port of Copano, but before his arrival at that post he was ordered to go to New Orleans and Mobile to act as agent in buying supplies for the Texas army, and to get supplies for a Texas navy. After the Battle of San Jacinto he was again sent to the United States on recruiting service, and enrolled about two hundred and thirty men for the Texas army. On Decem- ber 2, 1836, he received his honorable discharge (Service Record No. 1536, Texas State Library). He moved to Galveston, and there, March 14, 1839, · was elected the first mayor of that city; and received reelection each year until 1846. After the annexation of Texas, he was appointed United States Marshal, a position he held until his death, February 12, 1847. See Homer Thrall, A Pictorial History of Texas, 478. Dixon and Kemp, Heroes of San Jacinto, 90.
To DAN CARLOS BARRETT 1
Washington, 30th Deer 1835
Dear Colo 2 •
On tomorrow by light I wish Capt Poe 3 to set out for San Felipe, & Velasco. He will be with you on the first! You are advised!!! I wish you could send Wallace• to me? What has become of the Indian Treaty business? Let that be done, and Houston will be at Copano instanter! I rely upon you; to aid me in serving the country. God speed you ! Salute my friends- You know them- The moment that I return from the Treaty, I will be on the march. Write to me, and often. Houston. Col Barrett [ P. S.] Say to Judge Hanks 5 that I will recommend him for
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