The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920 Page: 174
319 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
upon the enemies means until a more formidable and better con-
certed plan of invasion can be arranged.42
Practically all the military leaders had favored the Matamoros
Expedition when it was first proposed. It will be recalled that
the report of the committee recommending the expedition to the
Consultation declared that Austin thought that such an expedition
would cripple the enemy and distract his movements. Down to
the eve of his departure to the United States, Austin, it seems,
took the expedition as a matter of course. In a letter written on
December 22, 1835, to the Council, he, however, expressed him-
self as opposed to Texas sending an invading force against Mata-
moros except in the capacity of auxiliary troops, so as to keep the
Federalist party from turning against the Texans. "General
Mexia," he says, "ought to have commanded the expedition against
Matamoros and only waited to be asked by the Provisional Gov-
ernment to do so."'"
Governor Smith and General Houston at first approved the plan
of the expedition, and on December 17, 1835, Houston, in obedi-
ence to the orders of Governor Smith, had directed James Bowie,
in case he could obtain the services of a sufficient number of men
for the purpose, to proceed to Matamoros, reduce the place, and
retain possession until further orders." There was some delay,
however, in Bowie's receiving this order, and its provisions were
not carried out.
Meanwhile, the Council had warmly been favoring the expedi-
tion and making their own plans with regard to it. Having been
advised" by Governor Smith to keep the volunteers actively and
profitably employed, they determined to use these troops in effect-
ing the Matamoros Expedition. As a preliminary step, they be-
gan to ascertain the views of many of the leading volunteer officers
concerning the proposed expedition. In the Lamar Papers there
are preserved the views of two of these officers, Travis and Frank
W. Johnson. In a private letter to the lieutenant-governor, in
which he declined the appointment of major in the artillery and
recommended Frank W. Johnson for the place, Travis declared
4THE QUARTERLY, IX, 175.
"Brown History of Texas, I, 463-5.
"Houston to Bowie, Yoakum, History of Texas, II, 454.
"Broadsides, Address to the People of Texas by the Council, January
12, 1836. Lamar Papers.174
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920, periodical, 1920; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101075/m1/180/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.