March 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2012
Autograph letter signed from Galveston, Republic of Texas, dated 11 March 1842, during the first of two attacks Santa Anna would make against Texas that year. The letter, written to the unidentified author's father in New York, describes a ''body of Mexicans...fourteen to twenty thousand strong...'' The three page letter reads in part: ''...although it is generally said Mexicans are not men of military talent they have certainly planned this expedition admirably and with great secrecy. The first intimation we had except vague rumor was not more than four days since and there are now more than fourteen thousand Mexicans this side of the Rio Grande nearly all our frontier towns are taken and the people falling back. The citizens throughout this portion of the country are turning out almost en masse. We shall try and meet them west of the Colorado...Santa Anna has been foiled once in this country and has not come the second time without being prepared. The forces from Houston leave to day and will leave this place on today and tomorrow. I am going down the coast in the Brig of War Wharton to cut off their supply vessels which are expected from New Orleans...Should we not be able to repel the invaders Texas is lost...'' Minor separation to folds of 7.75'' x 9.25'' card style letter with remnants of red wax seal. Overall in very good condition. A fascinating piece of Texas history unfolds on the pages of this letter.
Eyewitness Account of Santa Anna Attack on Texas -- "…invaded by a large body of Mexicans…Santa Anna has been foiled once in this country and has not come the second time without being prepared…"
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