The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906 Page: 63
ix, 294 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Notes and Fragments.
NOTES AND FRAGMENTS.
TEXAS, FOUR MILES FROM HEADQUARTERS.
April 10, 1936.
DEAR PARENTS:-Since I last wrote you I have been engaged in
arranging an expedition against the Indians, who have com-
mitted many depredations against the frontier. On my re-
turn to the settlements, I learned that our country was
again invaded by a merciless horde of Mexicans; who
were waging a war of extermination against the inhabi-
tants. A call was made for all friends of humanity to rise in
arms and resist the foe. Men were panic stricken and fled, leaving
their all behind them. I could not reconcile it to my feelings to
leave Texas without an effort to save it. Accordingly, I bent my
course for the army and arrived last evening at this place. I shall
enter camp this morning as a volunteer. The army, commanded
by General Houston, is lying on the west side of the Brazos, 20
miles from San Fillippe. The enemy is at that place waiting
an attack. It is reported Houston will attack them in the morning.
What will be the result, or the fate of Texas is hid in the bowels
of futurity. Yet, I think we are engaged in the cause of justice,
and hope the God of battles will protect us. The enemy's course
has been the most bloody that has ever been recorded on the page of
history. Our garrison at San Antonio was taken and massacred;
so another detachment of seven hundred, commanded by Col. Fan-
ning, and posted at La Bahia, after surrendering prisoners of war,
were led out and shot down like bears. Only one escaped to tell
their melancholy fate. In their course they show no quarter to
age, sex, or condition, all are massacred without mercy. If such
conduct is not sufficient to arouse the patriotic feelings of the sons
of liberty, I know not what will. I was born in a land of freedom,
and taught to lisp the name of liberty with my infant tongue, and
rather than be driven out of the country or submit to be a slave, I
will leave my bones to bleach on the plains of Texas. If we suc-
ceed in subduing the enemy and establishing a free and indepen-
dent government, we will have the finest country the sun ever
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906, periodical, 1906; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101036/m1/67/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.