The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 38, July 1934 - April, 1935 Page: 247

Letters of the "Dawson Men" from Perote Prison

kept in the family and are now in the possession of Mr. D. C. Glimp
of Lometa, Texas, who recently loaned them to the Library of The
University of Texas to be copied and placed at the use of the public.
Broken and faded, they were painstakingly deciphered by the
University Archivist, Mrs. Mattie Austin Hatcher, and Mrs. Inez
Glimp Boyce, with an occasional aid from this writer.
Taken in chronological order the first six of these letters, includ-
ing one fragment, were written by Richard A. Barkley. His father
and a brother were killed in the "Massacre" and another brother
had fallen with Fannin at Goliad six years before. It is easy to
account for his extreme feeling and for the fact that he was a hard
man for the Mexican guards to handle.
The first letter is unsigned but the handwriting and the direct
continuity with the second letter indicates Barkley as the author.
On the outer fold the letter is addressed to H. G. Woods, William
Harrell, Woods Prairie, Fayette County, Texas.-L. U. Spellmann.
I
Perote Mar 22,-1843-1
To My frends
Robinsons and Woodses Harrell Willsons & others
Sirs- Having a shure chance of gueting a letter conveyed to
you I rite you a few lines- sence I last adressed you things has
changed mutch- In my last letter I told you of a Mr. Roberson
that had binn set at liberty & sent to Texas & for what purpose I
could not tell- I have some good news & some bad- On last
Suday Mr. Maverick-Hutcherson- & Will E. Jones had their
changes taken off and was ordered to Mexico- they started a few
moments signee we wate there return with great anxiety-we
expect to be liberated on their return which will be some 11 days-
On last Monday the two Riddles, & Ofealen was set at liberty they
claimed British Protection they will leave here in a day or two
for Texas I send this by them-- Dr. Booker of Bexar was shot
'The reader will bear in mind that along with the Dawson prisoners
were the Mier prisoners (those who had drawn the white beans) and
also those captured by Woll in Bexar (San Antonio). Of the men named
in this letter, Robinson, Maverick, Hutcheson, Jones, O'Phelan, the two
Riddles, Booker and Jackson were all Bexar men. Fisher, Eastland and
Cox were officers in the Mier Expedition. "Jo" (Robinson), Trimble,
Norman (Woods) and Milvern (Harrell) were Dawson men, the latter
two having been delayed by wounds.

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