From
the twenty-fifth to the present date the enemy have kept up
a bombardment from two howitzers, one a five and a half inch,
and the other an eight inch,-and a heavy cannonade from two
long nine-pounders, mounted on a battery on the opposite side
of the river, at a distance of four hundred yards from our wall.
During this period the enemy have been busily employed in encircling
us in with entrenched encampments on all sides, at the following
distances, to wit: In Bexar, four hundred yards west; in Lavallita,
three hundred yards south; on the ditch, eight hundred yards
northeast, and at the old mill, eight hundred yards north. Notwithstanding
all this, a company of thirty-two men from Gonzales, made their
way in to us on the morning of the first inst. at three o'clock,
and Colonel J.B. Bonham (a courier from Gonzales) got in this
morning at eleven o'clock without molestation. I have fortified
this place, so that the walls are generally proof against cannon
balls; and I shall continue to entrench on the inside, and strengthen
the walls by throwing up dirt. At least two hundred shells have
fallen inside of our works without having injured a single man
from any cause, and we have killed many of the enemy. The spirits
of my men are still high although they have had much to depress
them. We have contended for ten days against an enemy whose
numbers are variously estimated from fifteen hundred to six
thousand men, with General Ramirez-Sesma and Colonel Batres,
the aid-de-camp of Santa Anna, at their head. A report was circulated
that Santa Anna himself was with the enemy, but I think it was
false. A reinforcement of about one thousand men is now entering
Bexar from the west and I think it more than probable that Santa
Anna is now in town, from the rejoicing we hear.
Col.
Fannin is said to be on the march to this place with reinforcements,
but I fear it is not true, as I have repeatedly sent to him
for aid without receiving any. Colonel Bonham, my special messenger,
arrived at La Bahia fourteen days ago, with a request for aid,
and on the arrival of the enemy in Bexar, ten days ago, I sent
an express to Colonel F., which arrived at Goliad on the next
day, urging him to send us reinforcements; none have yet arrived.
I look to the colonies alone for aid; unless it arrives soon,
I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms. I will, however,
do the best I can under the circumstances; and I feel confident
that the determined valor and desperate courage, heretofore
exhibited by my men, will not fail them in the last struggle;
and although they may be sacrificed to the vengeance of a Gothic
enemy, the victory will cost the enemy so dear, that it will
be worse for him than defeat. I hope your honorable body will
hasten on reinforcements, ammunitions and provisions to our
aid so soon as possible. We have provisions for twenty days
for the men we have. Our supply of ammunition is limited. At
least five hundred pounds of cannon powder, and two hundred
rounds of six, nine, twelve, and eighteen pound balls, ten kegs
of rifle powder and a supply of lead should be sent to this
place without delay, under a sufficient guard.
If
these things are promptly sent and large reinforcements are
hastened to this frontier, this neighborhood will be the great
and decisive ground. The power of Santa Anna is to be met here
or in the colonies; we had better meet them here than to suffer
a war of devastation to rage in our settlements. A blood red
banner waves from the church of Bejar, and in the camp above
us, in token that the war is one of vengeance against rebels;
they have declared us as such; demanded that we should surrender
at discretion, or that his garrison should be put to the sword.
Their threats have no influence on me or my men, but to make
all fight with desperation and that high-souled courage that
characterizes the patriot, who is willing to die in defence
[sic] of his country's liberty and his own honor.
The
citizens of this municipality are all our enemies, except those
who have joined us heretofore. We have three Mexicans now in
the fort; those who have not joined us in this extremity, should
be declared public enemies, and their property should aid in
paying the expenses of the war.
The
bearer of this will give your honorable body a statement more
in detail, should he escape through the enemy's lines.
God
and Texas-Victory or Death. 13
PS
The enemy's troops are still arriving, and the reinforcements
will probably amount to two or three thousand.
