Philip Dimmitt to Stephen F Austin, 10-15-1835
Summary: Announcing his succession to command of the post. Suggesting capture of Lipantitlan. Sending certain Mexican volunteers to Austin
Goliad
8. in the morning
To Genl. S F Austin Com. in Ch. of the army of the people,
Sir
I dispatch this by J. A. Padilla, With a Small detachment of Creole
troops. These may be made very useful perhaps, if retained as
expresses—and are placed at Your disposal. The broken battallion
organized here on the arrival of Capt Smith and Alley, became disaffected
I am satisfactorily informed that there are at the Cantonement on the
Nueces, 3 ps Small Brass Cann. a considerable supply of arms and
amunition, and a Valuable Caballada, and only 30 or 40 men. I Suggest the
propriety of reducing this post. It will give security to the frontier,
Supply us with some important means of defence, Strike a panic and
encourage the counter revolution in the interior and if a dash were made on
Matamoras the Stroke—might be followed by the most important
consequence to the present and future repose of Texas.
My individual means and services are at the disposal of my adopted
country, to free Texas of an armed Soldiery.
The Detachment which goes with Padilla is commanded by Sen Placido Venevedas.
Doct. Baylor goes with them, and can give you much important information He is a gentleman, and a soldier was in action at the Storm of this post, and behaved bravely
Capt. Collinsworth has returned to Bay Prairie' for more men. A few
are expected here to day from Power's Colony below this.
Padilla and Placido Venevedas are in favor of receiving the privates,
Captured here, into our service—But I am afraid; Your order on this
subject, however, as on all others, herein submitted, are solicited; and every
immediate command, to execute them.
Amongst those who took possession of this fort, there has been no dissenting, no dissatisfaction; they all have acted, and still act, in concert. It is greatly to be regreted that this is not the case in every instance, Every effort should be made by all, but more especially by those of the staff, to keep dissention out of our camps.