Sam Houston to Governor Henry Smith

To Governor Henry Smith
Head Quarters Goliad Jany 17 1836

To His Excellency Henry Smith

Sir:

I have the honor to enclose for your information a communication from Lt. Col. J.C. Neill, under date of the 14th inst. Colonel Bowie will leave here in a few hours for Bexar with a detachment of from thirty to fifty men. Capt. Patton's Company, it is believed, are now there. I have ordered the fortifications in the town of Bexar to be demolished, and if you should think well of it, I will remove all the cannon and other munitions of war to Gonzales and Copano, blow up the Alamo and abandon the place, as it will be impossible to keep up the Station with volunteers, the sooner I can be authorized the better it will be for the country. In an hour I will take up the line of march for Refugio mission with about 209 efficient men, where I will await orders from your Excellency, believing that the army should not advance with a small force upon Matamoras with the hope or belief that the Mexicans will cooperate with us. I have no confidence in them and the disaster at Tampico should teach us a lesson to be noted in our future operations.

I have learned that Colonel Gonzales is somewhere on the Nueces with one hundred and seventy men, but accounts vary as to the actual number. They are to cooperate in the eastern Confederacy, I am told.

I will leave Captain Wyatt in command at this post until I can relieve him with thirty-five regulars now at Refugio. I pray that your Excellency will cause all the regulars now enlisted to be formed into companies, and march to headquarters. It will be impossible to keep up a garrison with the volunteers. Do forward the regulars. Capt. Smith had been relieved, and I met him on his way home today. Captain Patton will return to Lavaca county and bring on company as soon as possible. I have sent to Captain Demit to raise one hundred more men and march to Bexar forthwith, if it be invested; and if not to repair to headquarters with his company. Captain Patton will do likewise. I would myself have marched to Bexar but the Matamoras rage is up so high that I must see Colonel Ward's men. You have no idea of the difficulties I have encountered. Patton has told you of the men that make the trouble. Better materials never were in ranks. The government and all its officers have been misrepresented to the army.

I pray you send me copies of Austin's letters, or rather extracts. If the Council is in session I do wish they would say something about the Confederacy.

Pleace [sic] send me frequent expresses and advise me of your pleasure.

Sam Houston