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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
To HENRY RAGUET 1 Camp West of Brasos, 7th Apl. 1836.
My dear Sir, I send this note by my friend Maj. Ingram 2 and commend him to you. The spies of the enemy are at San Felipe, and one of them was wounded by our men. There were some 30 in number of the spies. I trust in God that we will give to our enemies such a reception on the Brasos, as will let them know that we deserve liberty. There is no certainty that the army is advancing! The men are in good spirits and I trust will do good work- Col. Rusk 3 is here, and from his presence, I hope for the best results, and am well satisfied he will see the crisis over! He proves himself a Patriot and a soldier! There is the most perfect harmony in camp. Let his Lady know that he is in fine health & spirits. And says his presentiment is as good as he would wish. He says "Victory and Independence!" You will be so kind as to salute, with great regard your family, and, all the Ladies & my friends. Don't get scared at Nacog- doches- Remember old Hickory claims Nachez as "neutral Ter- ritory-" Give my compliments to the Bowl, 4 and tell him that I hold him by the hand as a friend- that I am always true. Your friend Sam Houston (Rubric) Col. H. Raguet 5 [Addressed] : To Colonel Henry Raguet Nacogdoches Texas by Maj. Ingram 1 Raguet Papers, The University of Texas Library. 2 See Houston to Rusk, March 23, 1836. 3 This was Ira Ingram. He was a representative from Mina (Bastrop) to the Convention in 1832, and was a representative from Matagorda to the First Congress of the Republic, and was the Speaker of the House of Representatives during this First Congress. See J. J. Lynn, Fifty Yca1·s in Texas, 247-270, passim; also, Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 479, 497, 1087. •The Bowl was the first Chief of the Cherokees at this time. ~Henry Raguet (February 11, 1796-December 8, 1877), son of James M., and Ann (Wynkoop) Raguet, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, but his father was a native of France. Henry Raguet was reared in Bucks County, and was given a good classical education'. While still a very young man, he moved to Ohio and engaged in the mercantile business at Cincinnati. In 1831, he made a trip on horseback to New Orleans, where he met Sam Houston ?nd Colonel John Durst; and upon a cordial invitation from his new acquamt- ances, he accompanied them to Nacogdoches, Texas, and from there to
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