Houston v1

WmTINGS OF 5AM HousTON, 1836

389

country passing the Trinity. The force of the enemy has been greatly exaggerated, I have no doubt. But the deserters have spread universal alarm throughout the country. I wish you to send flour, sugar, and coffee, on pack-horses, to this point, as soon as possible. Don't send by wagons; and let the pack-horses be well hobbled at night. My horses and bag- gage-wagons in camp give me all the care I have, except my gen- eral solicitude. One of my Spies has just returned from a scout, and reports that he went ten miles beyond the St. Bernard, on the road to Beason's, and saw nothing of the enemy. T\vo others went on, and said they would see the enemy if they had to cross the Colorado. Mr. E. [Deaf] Smith is out, and, if living, I will hear the truth and all important news. For Heaven's sake do allay the fever and chill which prevails in the country, and let the people from the east march to the camp! Supplies are needed on the route from Nacogdoches to this point. The enemy would have been beaten at the Colorado. My intention was, to have attacked him on the second night after the day on which the news of Fannin's destruction was reported by Kerr- but for that news, and the march of strong reinforce- ments, prpobably arriving that night, to the enemy. Previous to that, the troops were in fine spirits, and keen for action. The reinforcements promised to our army never arriving, has kept us in a mood not so enviable as could be wished for. Send daily expresses to me, and do let me know what to rely upon. I must let the camp know something, and I want every- thing promised to be realized by them. I hope I can keep them together; I have, thus far, succeeded beyond my hopes. I will do the best I can; but, be assured, the fame of Jackson could never compensate me for my anxiety and mental pain. Sam Houston. P. S. I have somewhere between seven and eight hundred effective men. Two nights since, when it was reported that the enemy were on this side of the Colorado, the citizens of San Felipe reduced it to ashes. There was no order from me for it. I am glad of it, should the enemy march there. Our troops have suffered much from heavy rains and dreadful roads. 1 Yoakum, Histo·1·y of Texas, II, 487-'188. Morphis, History of Texas, 237- 239. The A1·kansas Advocate, April 29, 1836. 2 Erastus [Deaf] Smith, the most famous scout of the Texan Army. See Houston to Collinsworth, March 13, 1836.