I
am still here, in fine spirits and well to do, with 145 men.
I have held this place 10 days against a force variously estimated
from 1,500 to 6,000, and shall continue to hold it till I get
relief from my countrymen, or I will perish in its defense.
We have had a shower of bombs and cannon balls continually falling
among us the whole time, yet none of us has fallen. We have
been miraculously preserved. You have no doubt seen my official
report of the action of the 25th ult. in which we repulsed the
enemy with considerable loss; on the night of the 25th they
made another attempt to charge us in the rear of the fort, but
we received them gallantly by a discharge of grape shot and
musketry, and they took to their scrapers immediately. They
are now encamped in entrenchment on all sides of us.
All
our couriers have gotten out without being caught and a company
of 32 men from Gonzales got in two nights ago, and Colonel Bonham
got in today by coming between the powder house and the enemy's
upper encampment. . . . Let the Convention go on and make a
declaration of independence, and we will then understand, and
the world will understand, what we are fighting for. If independence
is not declared, I shall lay down my arms, and so will the men
under my command. But under the flag of independence, we are
ready to peril our lives a hundred times a day, and to drive
away the monster who is fighting us under a blood-red flag,
threatening to murder all prisoners and make Texas a waste desert.
I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms, yet I am ready
to do it, and if my countrymen do not rally to my relief, I
am determined to perish in the defense of this place, and my
bones shall reproach my country for her neglect. With 500 men
more, I will drive Sesma beyond the Rio Grande, and I will visit
vengeance on the enemy of Texas whether invaders or resident
Mexican enemies. All the citizens of this place that have not
joined us are with the enemy fighting against us. Let the government
declare them public enemies, otherwise she is acting a suicidal
part. I shall treat them as such unless I have superior orders
to the contrary. My respects to all friends, confusion to all
enemies. God bless you.
