388
WRITINGS OF SAl\•[ HOUSTON, 1836
n man of benevolence and charity, and about this time he established in New Orleans the city's first home for orphans. On June 10, 1818, he married, in New Orleans, a Mrs. Katherine (Krieder) Baker, of Philadel- phia. They had two sons and a daughter. Mrs. Christy died in 1856; Colonel Christy died November 7, 1865. See Yoakum, II, 22, 62; Lamar Papers, I, 415, 550; "\\Tooten, Com7Jrehensive History of Texas, I, 195-196, 220; The Quarterly, V, 336; VI, 170-172; Christy Lette1·s (MSS.), Texas State Library. 3 David N. Burke was captain of a company of volunteers organized at Mobile, Alabama, for the Texas Army. This company was known as the "Mobile Grays"; it arrived at the port of Copano and became a part of Fannin's command. Most of this company were massacred with Fannin on March 27, 1836, but Burke being away from his command on a short furlough escaped their tragic fate. See Muster Roll Books, General Land Office of Texas for a roll of Burke's company. Also see Comvtroller iltili- tary Service Records; and Memorials and Petitions, endorsed, "A Memorial of the Volunteers at Refugio to the Convention." 4 Edward Conrad (February 22, 181u-------, 1846), soldier, signer of t.he Texas Declaration of Independence, was born and educated in Penn- sylvania. He came to Texas in 1829 and settled at Refugio. He suffered many hardships and harrowing experiences on account of drouths, floods, and Indian depredations. When the Texas Revolution broke out he joined the army and became second lieutenant in Captain Benjamin L. Lawrence's ccmpany, a company that had been organized in Kentucky. After the cap- ture of San Antonio in December, 1835, this company seems to have lost its identity, its members going with various other companies organized during the latter part of December, 1835, or the first of January, 1836. It seems that Captain Lawrence, and probably many of his men, went with Johnson on the proposed Matamoras expedition (see W. C. Binkley, Official Correspond.ence of the Texan Revolution, I, 268), and were slain either at Agua Dulce or Refugio. We know that Conrad was with the army at Refugio, but being elected a delegate from his home district to the Convention, he left the army to attend the Convention and was thus saved the fate of his companions (see Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 824). At the Convention he was a member of the committee that drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence. He was also appointed to assist George C. Childress to explain that document should any questions arise concern- ing it (Gammel, I, 826). Edward Conrad was a quiet, reserved man, and after the Battle of San Jacinto had assured Texan independence, he returned to his home at Refugio and refused public .office of every char- acter. See S. H. Dixon, Men Who Made Texas Free, 119-121.
To THOMAS J. RUSK 1 Camp west of Brasos, March 31, 1836.
To Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War Sir: I have the honor to report to you my arrival at this point, with a view to receive reinforcements and supplies. It is the best and nearest route to Harrisburg, or the bay, at which I could have struck the Brasos, and it will prevent the whole
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