Fortress of Goliad Nov. 13th. 1835
To Gen. Stephen F. Austin,
Com. in Ch. of the Army of the People,
Sir, Yours of the 8th. inst. by express was duly recd, on the night of
the 10th and would have been answered much sooner had not events here,
which it required time to control, prevented. Your request relative to the
Volunteer Greys, was promptly complied with; and this corps will proceed
immediately to Head Quarters.
As to the force under my command, recent proceedings of a few
disaffected individuals here, borrowing assurance from events which cannot
long favour their views, but on which they rely for the moment, prevent
an immediate movement of any portion of it in the direction of Bexar.
Mr. Augustin Viesca the former Executive of this State, arrived here
day before yesterday, accompanied by Doctors, Grant and Cameron, Col.
Gonzales, and others. On being informed of their approach, I ordered an
escort of four Americans and two Mexicans, to meet, receive, and conduct,
Citizen Viesca and suit, to the quarters provided for his accommodation.
This order was directed to Capt. Morris of the N. O. Volunteers, and was
executed.
As I did not conceive myself duly authorised to receive this Gentleman
in an official capacity, no such reception was either given or intended. On
being applied to for orders to give him a different reception, and on my
refusing to grant it, a strong, but by no means general excitement arose,
and opposition to good order was immediately developed. Part of this
opposition was made within the fortress—but it originated without; and
from this quarter, an attempt was made to carry the purpose of the
discontented into effect. These occurrences transpired evening before last.
One of my men refused when on parade, (and had engaged others to follow
his example,) to bring his gun to a shoulder when the order was given,
steped out of the ranks and commenced a harangue to the Company. I
instantly ordered him under guard. Immediately after he was marched off,
another of the disaffected, (one of those who followed Irwin in the late
movement which resulted in the loss of a valuable young officer,) came
from the house of Western, (the abode of the disaffected,) to the door of
the room where his associate had just been confined, threatened to release
him, and drew a pistol on the guard.
I met the mutiny by detailing 15 men, under command of Leuit. Bordon,
to proceed to the house of Western, where the self styled liberator of the
man under guard had fled for protection, (and where too the physical force
of the friends of the mutiners was then concentrated,) with orders to take
the fugitive and put him under guard
This order was executed by Leuit. Bordon with a promptness, firmness,
and coolness, which does both him and the men under his command, the
highest honour.
The occupants of the house refused to surrender the fugitive, or to open
the doors for the entrance of Bordon; and a threat that the "first man who
entered should be killed", was distinctly heard without. The order was
then given to force the door. Whilst carrying this into effect, the door was
opened and the mutiner surrendered.
During the absence of Luiet. Bordon from the fortress, and whilst he
was before the house of Western, Adjutant West over was ordered to
reinforce Bordon with a detachment of 10 men. He refused to obey this
order in presence of the Compy-, when I informed him that I considered
him no longer an officer. He retired. During these proceedings, the
company under my command behaved in a manner highly creditable, both to
themselves and the service— All, excepting Westover, were ready to
maintain order, and obey the command of their officers.
The proceedings, of which the foregoing is but a brief outline, viewed
in connection with the Character, influence and known exertions of several
individuals, to encourage insubordination, diffuse discontent, and excite a
spirit of opposition, both in and out of the fort, imposed on this
commandancy the hard necessity of placing the Town and environs of Goliad,
under martial law—This measure has accordingly been adopted, and a
copy of the order is herewith enclosed.
The detachment sent to the Nuecis, of which I informed your Excellency
in a former communication, returned on the 10th inst. The Cannon, arms
and ammunition at that post were taken—7 of the enemy were killed, and
12 or fourteen wounded. Sixty five of the enemy were engaged—and only
14 of our men were brought into the action. Savriago put off, during the
action for Matamoros. Among the wounded of the enemy, are all the
Members of the Ayun°. of San Patricio, the Judge, and Sheriff of that
jurisdiction.
One only of our men, was wounded,—William Bracken—none killed—
All returned that went out. Bracken lost three fingers off his right hand.
The enemy retreated, and, we are informed, in the direction of Matamoras.
As to the particulars of this engagement, I am sorry to inform you, that,
all I have here stated, is founded on the verbal statements of the men on
the ground. Altho' again and again requested to report, the officer in
command, has made no report in writing. If the information of several
of the men placed under his command can be relied on, Westover obeyed
no part of the order under which he acted. I reserve the particulars of
this affair, so dishonourable to the commanding officer, so gallantly
contested, and so [successfully] terminated by the brave men under his
command, for the subject of a future communication.
I have dispatched Maj. Collinsworth to Matagorda for a supply of
Blankets and winter clothing for the company under my command, for Buck
shot, musket flints, etc—and in the event of his failure to procure the
articles there, he is instructed to proceed to Columbia, Brazoria, and Velasco.
To aid him in the prosecution of his commission, he was furnished with
communications addressed to the Committees of Safety of all those Towns.
I have pressed into the service a caballardo on the way from the Interior
to the United States, consisting, of 40 to 50 animals, said to belong to one
Bartolo Pajas, have had them valued, and distributed among the
Volunteers—The 'Greys" have participated in this distribution, many of whom
are still unprovided with horses.
Please instruct me on whom the command of the post, on the Nuecis,
recently reduced, now devolves. I am informed, inofficially, that the
citizens there, have declared for the Constitution of '24, and are now under
arms in the cause of Texas. Should you think proper to place this post
under my command, it will afford me pleasure to provide for its defence.
P. Dimitt Comd [Rubric]
[Addressed:] No. 1 By Express To Gen. Stephen F. Austin Com. in Ch.
of the Army of the People— Head Quarters.