The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 10, July 1906 - April, 1907 Page: 347
ix, 354 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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A Letter from the Army of the Early Republic.
347
A LETTER FROM THE ARMY OF THE EARLY REPUBLIC.
Joshua H. Davis, the writer of the letter given below, was born
in Poplar Town, Worcester County, Maryland, March 5, 1792.
He was the son of John and Mary (Hodge) Davis. In 1812 he
emigrated to Kentucky, and in the fall of 1836 he came to Texas;
where, however, he did not finally establish his residence till 1845.
He died February 26, 1862.
The facts of this sketch have been furnished by Major Davis's
daughter, Miss Texas J. Davis, of Cuero, Texas, in whose posses-
sion is the original of the letter.
Camp Bowie May 31 1837
My Dear
I have written you a number of Letters with much pleasure and
satisfaction. Hoping at the same time to have the same sentiment
reciprocated. But how it is I do not know. The Truth is I have
received only one Letter-That from Willis dated the 9th of
March. We have a mail once every week from the City of Hous-
ton to the Camp. With what anxiety I watch the opening of every
mail can be easier guessed than described. However great my
anxiety I receive no Letters-I am in hopes you are not so unfor-
tunate in the reception of mine-
In the Last I wrote I think I spoke of the murder of Col Teal-
Since that time to the present The Army has been quiet-Feeding
on Bull beef for so Long a time the Animal will occasionally rise
and Bellow out-The officers have then to do their duty and Bring
the soldiers back to their duty and all is over.
The Secretary of War is now in Camp. He intends to Fur-
lough all Except One Regiment and 4 companies of the Regu-
lars--Subject to being called in Camp when it may be thought
necessary-
No Enemy is expected in Texas this summer-I have some
notion to request the Secretary to give me a Furlow with time
enough to go home and return-But I am told by my friends it
will be unnecessary-As the officers of our Regiment are situ[a]ted
to remain in the Army. Take care of the Public property and dis-
cipline the Troops etc-And I may add eat Bull Beef.-Oh what
fun we do have eating Beef Boiled-Stewed-Baked and Roasted-
Notwithstanding the fare we are fat raged and saucy-and feel as
if we could whip our weight in Wild Cats And five times our weight
in Mexicans.
We will move our camp Shortly 15 or 20 miles west of this--
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 10, July 1906 - April, 1907, periodical, 1907; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101040/m1/385/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.