The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 68, July 1964 - April, 1965 Page: 371
574 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Notes and Documents
"the sick and wounded, together with the three boys who were
left at Matamoros, were secretly marched out of town . . . and sent
on foot to Tampico."2 The next Usher letter is from Tampico
on April 2, 1843.
Dear Sister:
I am now on the eve of setting out for the City of Mexico. We
leave here at four o'clock this afternoon a foot, a distance to travel
one hundred and thirty leagues. They have already marched us on
foot six hundred miles. Our situation is a very trying one. I have
not language to depict the suffering already experienced. We average
from eight to fourteen leagues per day, with but one short allowance
to sustain life.
This morning very unpleasant and heartrending news has reached
us, to wit, that every tenth man of those Texans, who were sent out
direct from Matamoros to Mexico have been shot. The reason as-
signed for this cruel and abominable severity, their having risen on
their guards, and attempting to make their escape. This the boys did,
but were subsequently recaptured, after having retreated some one
or two hundred miles on their way to Texas. The cause of their
recapture, want of food and ammunition. The reason my not having
been with them was, in consequence of sickness, which detained me
in Matamoros, with some five others, who with three small boys and
two wounded convalescents were subsequently sent to this place.
It is now over three months since our surrender, a detailed account
of which I gave you in a former letter from Matamoros. God only
knows what our fate will be. I am fearful our captivity will be
of very long duration, therefore I have to request that you, and
friends in Carolina, will endeavor to enlist all influence you can,
in my behalf. However, deem my case almost hopeless. Believing no
influence can succeed in liberating me, I will suggest the propriety
of trying to obtain the interference of some of the U. S. Heads
of Departments, and members of Congress, with the Mexican Min-
ister at Washington.
Also I will suggest the propriety of trying to enlist in my behalf
the influence of some of the Catholic clergy in the City of Mexico.
This might be done through the influence of some of your Catholic
acquaintances in the U. S. But enough of this subject. I know
you and friends will do all you can. The Foreigners in this place
are now engaged in making up a small subscription to supply us
with a few necessities, which we much need.
In great Haste
Your affectionate Brother
Patrick Usher
2Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston), May g, 1848.371
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 68, July 1964 - April, 1965, periodical, 1965; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101198/m1/442/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.