Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 192 of 894

IND I N T IlRS AND PIONEEIIS OF TEX. IS.

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mentioned in the order, a coly of wlhich is here
attached, marked No. 3.
On the day of leaving San Felipe the news, or
rumor, from the interior, gave information that tile
enemy was in motion about Saltillo, and might be
expected in April and sooner than had been anticipated,
whici prompted a more speedy action on our
part, with a view of tlirowing aid into the country
in time to be of use in thle first contest, but nothing
is more common than disappointment, for when we
rceaciled Natchez the news had reached there in
autiheitic shape that Santa Anna had besieged the
Ala!mo at San Antonio about the first of March and
in a few days the melancholy news arrived that the
garrison had fallen, and all its gallant defenders
had been put to the sword.
"Gen. Chambers and myself immediately communicate(l
with the most respectalle and influential
citizens of that place and explained the situation
and unhappy condition of our country. In a short
time the most enthusiastic feeling was found to
prevail there
and large meetings were held by the
inhabitants to manifest this feeling, and offer aid
to suffering Texas. And at that time (in the month
of March last) I had the high gratification to learn
from Judge Quitman and Gen. F. Huston that they
would visit Texas, and enlist in her war; and men
of their influence, wealth and distinction, I knew
would induce much efficient aid from Mississippi.
At Natchez I received further orders to proceed
forthwith to the eastern country to explain the
cause of the war, the situation of our country, and
obtain men and means for her aid; wllich order is
here attaclhed in coly, marked No. 4.
" In oledience to said order, I set out on the first
of April last for Louisville, where I arrived on the
12th of that month. When I made known the object
of my visit, and consulted with many of the lealing
gentlemen of that place, as to the best coturse
to pursue, I found the best of feeling prevailing
for our cause and in a few days a mass meeting was
called, which I had the honor, by invitation, to
address on'behalf of Texas, and liad the )leasure
to have tie most generous responses made to tlhe
call for aid. By unremitting efforts I procured to
be raised and dispatched, Col. C. L. IIarrison's
Louisville Battalion, the van of wlich, was Capt.
Wiggonton's company of near one hundre(1 men,
and the balance soon followed, being aifded to do
so by the munificence of the generous citizens of
that city. From there I proceeded to Lexington,
by invitation to meet a State convention then being
held in that place.
i To the convention and inhabitants of Lexington
and the surrounding country, I proclaimed the

cause of Texas, their condition and want of aid in
a pu)blic address. IHere I remained for two weeks
making constant exertion for our cause and having
many meetings upon the subject, wliich resulted in
a display of the most generous an(l noble sympathy
and frienldship in our favor and, ultimately, the
raising and dispatching of the Lexington Battalion
of alout three hun(ired men, and the money for
their outfit and transportation to New Orleans, furnished
by the generous (donations of the high-minded
and chivalrous inhabitants of that city and its
vicinity. From Lexington I proceeded to Cincinnati,
where I made known my objects, and, by the aid of
the most influential gentlemen of that place, a very
large meeting was convened, which I addressed in
favor of our cause; whicll resulted in the raising
of a fine company of about eighty men, who were
furnishedl with an excellent outfit and means for
transportation as far as New Orleans, by the donations
of the well-tried friends of our cause in that
great metropolis. In all of these four named
places I had the good fortune to be aided by advisory
committees, composed of gentlemen of different
places, of the first standing and influence;
and the different corps were raised and dispatched
and the means procured by superintending committees
for that purpose in each place, appointed
by the citizens of the same, who procured the
means by donations and also disbursed the same
for the purpose of purchasing the supplies and outfits
for the different corps and if any surplus remained,
the respective committees paid over the
same to the persons who took command of the
different detaclments.
" This course was a dopted and lursued by my
own req(uest and suggestion, to secure the influence
of thle committees, and secure as far as possible
entire satisfaction. All this was done and the most
of tlhe (ifferent corps had set out for Texas during
this period, when the melancholy news was daily
reaching the United States of the fall of the Alamo
tlie massacre of Fannin, of Ward and of King, and
that Santa Anna was passing triumphantly over the
country, burning and devastating as he went and
that he was in a sliort time to be looked for on the
banks of the Sabine. It was not until late in May
last that the news arrived in that part of the United
States, in such a shape as to be believed, of the
glorious battle of the San Jacinto, and the capture
of the monster, Santa Anna, or as lhis own vanity
induced him to call himself, " the Napoleon of the
West." Many delays necessarily took place from
the confused and distorted statements concerning
this country, which frequently got into circulation
there, and much time was lost and operations had