Castlemans on the Colorado River
Augt 4 1823
The Govr. of this Province Dn Luciana Garcia has appointed me
a commissioner to carry into effect the grant made by the supreme
Govt of Mexico to S. F. A. and has ordered me to inform the
inhabitants of the Colorado and Brassos that the superior Govt. has
appointed Mr Austin a Lieut Col. of Militia and also that he has full
powers to administer justice and preserve good order in the colony
untill it can be regularly organized agreeably to the constitution and
laws of the nation. The Govr. therefore commands jou to recognize
Mr. A as invested with the above powers and that you cause the men
under your command to do the same. Obeying his orders in all
things relative to the good order prosperity and defense of his
settlement, and the service of the nation. You will therefore without
delay communicate this order to the men under your command and
to the inhabitants in your neighborhood
El Baron de Bastrop
Enclosed you will receive an order from the Baron de Bastrop the
commissioner of the Govt. directing you and the men under your
command to recognize me as your commander, you will therefore in
the future make all your official returns, reports or other
communications to me.
I shall leave here in a few days for the Bay you will therefore
keep your station at that place untill further orders.
You will without delay collect the tobacco and all other articles
left by Hawkins or Hanna and take the necessary measures to pre-
serve them until my arrival you will also collect all the
information in your power relative to the situation of the river at its mouth
and for fifty mites-up—how many rafts are there and their
distentions—how many branches or channels does the river divide into and
their size, highth of banks, whether timbered or prairie, whether
subject to overflow depth of water, and distance from the Bay to the
place where they separate from the river— And any other
information possible calculated to give a full and correct knowledge of that
part of the river and adjoining coast.