Houston v1

398

WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1836

town of Cameron, the present county seat of Milam. Bryant lived at this fort with his famlily, and it soon became the headquarters for all the Indian fighters of Central Texas, and whenever the~e rangers went out on an Indian expedition, Bryant was always chosen their leader. On March 16, 1839, he, at the head of a party of fifty-two men, had a fight with a band of Indians led by Jose Maria near the present town of Marlin. The Texans were forced to retreat in confusion. Bryant died at his home, Bryant Station, on March 4, 1857. See Dixon and Kemp, He1·oes of San Jacinto, 415.

•

To HENRY W. KARNES ( ?) 1

Camp West of Brazos, April 6, 1836. Maj [----] : I wish that a company of Spies would range as suggested by you. The army increases and the enemy do not advance as yet. Reinforcements are arriving from the East. The army is in good spirits, and the General sober. Sam Houston Com. in-Chief. 1 Texas State Gazette, March 1, 1851. ZThere is no way to determine with accuracy the "Major" to whom this letter was w1·itten. It was probably addressed to Henry W. Karnes. In an introductory paragraph, the editors of the State Gazette (H. P. Brewster and J. W. Hampton) state that it was an extract from a letter "written by Houston at one of the gloomiest periods of the Texas Revolution." They also state that it was_ found among a "mass of old letters that have recently come under our examination," but they fail to say to whom the letter was written.

To DAVID G. BuRNET 1 Camp West of Brasos, 6th April, 1836.

To D. G. Burnet, Esq., President of the Republic of Texas: Sir: I have kept the army together under most discouraging circumstances, and I hope a just and wise God, in whom I have always believed, will yet save Texas, and that confusion and dis- may may yet seize upon her enemies, and chastise them for their cruelties and oppression. I am sorry that I am so wicked, for "the prayers of the righteous shall prevail." That you are so, I have no doubt, and hope ·that Heaven, as such, will help and prosper you, and crown your efforts with success in behalf of Texas and humanity. I am very truly your friend- Sam Houston. , 1Hobby, Li/ e and Times of D. G. Bm·net, 28.