The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 11, July 1907 - April, 1908 Page: 157

New Light on the Tampico Expedition. 157
NEW LIGHT ON THE TAMPICO EXPEDITION.1
Goliad Texas February 22d 1836
Dear wife I at last have Came to an oppertunity to right a
few lines to you. Nearly fore months has inlaspt sine I roate to
you. It would take Several Sheats of paper to inform you the
ups-and downs I have seen Sence I Last roate to you-the morn-
ing af[ter] I Roate to on the 6th of november I left N Orleans on
Board of the Mary Jane a fine Shuner [schooner] for Texas as
I Soposed with one hundred and fiftey men. My object of goin
was to Build forts-the object of the men on Board was to Go to
Texas to Volenteer in ade of the Caus of Libertey. So we pro-
seeded down the River to the mout [mouth] and Came to anker.
Jenaral Mehear [Mejia] Came forred and we Receved him. thare
ware one hundred and three americans and 47 French the Meri-
cans [Americans] ware divided into two companeys, one Cauld the
Grenadeers-of which Mr Allen was Elected Capton-the other
was Cauld the Sharp Shuters which-I must blush wen I tel you
I was Elected Capton. You must think how my vanatey was Rased
to find myself at the head of fiftey one men as there Commandor
with the title of Capton Dedrick. We put to See all in good Spirits
-we were at See about five days wen a Storm Came on and Blewe
us to See Som distants out of our Cors-the men began to Gro
1The original of the letter printed under this title belongs to the records
of the 'General Land Office of Texas (File No. 1079' Vouchers of the Court
of Claims). It is accompanied by a sworn deposition dated Philadelphia,
September 16, 1857, signed by John B. Pearce, which shows that they were
filed to identify Mrs. Hannah Dedrick as the widow of the writer of the
letter, George Dedrick. The object of this proof was to establish her right
to land claimed as due him for his services to the Republic.
The letter is directed as follows:
Mrs H Dedrick
Philadelphia
No. 345 North Third Street
Pennsylvania
U. S.
Concerning George Dedrick the deposition says only that he emigrated
from Philadelphia to Texas in 1835, and that according to reports from
Texas he was among the victims of the massacre at Goliad, March 19, 1836.
In connection with this letter should be read "The Tampico Expedition,"
by Eugene C. Barker, THE QUARTERLY, VI 169-186.