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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
pretty much as my express detailed them. She returned in com- pany with two negroes- one the servant of Colonel Travis, the other a servant of Colonel Almonte. They both corroborate the statement first made and forwarded to you. Other important intelligence arrived at Gonzales- that the army of Santa Anna had encamped at the Cibolo on the night of the 11th inst., after a march of twenty-four miles that day. The army ·was to encamp on the 12th at Sandy, and proceed direct to Gonzales. The num- ber of the enemy could not be ascertained, ·but was represented as exceeding two thousand infantry. Upon this statement of facts, I deemed it proper to fall back and take a post on the Colorado, near Burnham's, which is fifteen miles distant from this point. My morning report, on my arrival in camp, showed three hundred and seventy-four effective men, without two days' provisions, many without arms, and others without any ammuni- tion. We could have met the enemy, and avenged some of our wrongs; but, detached as we were, without supplies for the men in camp, of either provisions, ammunition, or artillery, and re- mote from succor, it would have been madness to hazard a con- test. I had been in camp two days only, and had succeeded in organizing the troops. But they had not been taught the first principles of the drill. If starved out, and the camp once broken up, there was no hope for the future. By falling back, Texas can rally, and defeat any force that can come against her. I received the intelligence of the enemy's advance between eight and nine o'clock at night; and, before twelve, we were on the march in good order, leaving behind a number of spies, who remained and were reinforced next morning by a number of volunteers and brave spirits from Peach creek. H. Karnes, R. E. Handy, 3 and Captain Chenowith; 1 have been very active. Only about twenty persons deserted the camp (from the first sensation produced by the intelligence) up to this time. I intend desertion shall not be frequent, and I regret to say that I am compelled to regard as deserters all who have left camp without leave; to demand their apprehension; and that, whenever arrested, they be sent to me at headquarters for trial. They have disseminated throughout the frontier such exaggerated reports, that they have produced dismay and consternation among the people to a most distressing extent. I do not apprehend the immediate approach of the enemy upon the present settlement; I mean those on the Colorado, for the
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