WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
367
Ampudia, with a party of fifteen cavalry, took Dimmit and his men prison- ers and carried them off to Matamoras. After some time they were put in chains and started on the march for Mexico City. At Agua Nueva they made their escape from the guard, but were soon retaken. Seeing no hope of escape from a terrible imprisonment filled with inquisitional punishment, Dimmit terminated his own life by taking an overdose of morphine. See Yoakum, II, 12, 59, 312. Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 817. Johnson-Barker, Texas and Texans, I, 277. Thrall, A Pictorial History of Texas, 531. George Glasscock, Diary of the Mier Expedition (MS.), Texas State Library.
TO JAMES COLLINSWORTH 1
Headquarters, Gonzales, March 13, 1836. To James Collinsworth/ Chairman of the Military Committee: Sir, I have the honor to report to you my arrival at this place, on the 11th inst., at about four o'clock, P. M. I found upward of three hundred men in camp, without organization, and who had rallied on the first impulse. Since then the force has increased to more than four hundred. I have ordered their organization at ten o'clock this morning; and hope to complete it, and prepare to meet the enemy. The enclosed statement,s which came here a few moments after my arrival, has induced me to adopt a course very different from that which I intended before the information was received. The enclosed order to Colonel Fannin will indicate to you my convic- tions, that, with our small, unorganized force, we can not main- tain sieges in fortresses, in the country of the enemy. Troops pent up in forts are rendered useless; nor is it possible that we can ever maintain our cause by such policy. The want of supplies and men, will insure the success of our enemies. The conduct of our brave men in the Alamo .was only equalled by Spartan valor. I am informed that Colonel Fannin had about seven hundred men under his command; and, at one time, had taken up the line of march for the Alamo, but the breaking down of a wagon induced him to fall back, and abandon the idea of marching to the relief of our last hope in Bexar. Since then, he has written letters here, indicating a design to march upon San Patricio, and also the occupation of Copano. So that I am at a loss to know where my express will find him. From the Colorado I forwarded, by this place, an express to him to meet me, with all his disposable force, on the west side of the Cibolo, with a view to relieve Bexar. The news of the fall of Bexar, corroborated by so many circmn- stances, compelled me to change my plan, as the enclosed order
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