TEXANS AWAIT RELIEF AFTER THE ALAMO AND THE GOLIAD MASSACRE

TEXANS AWAIT RELIEF AFTER THE ALAMO AND THE GOLIAD MASSACRE
GEORGE H. KENNERLY (1790-1867) American soldier, explorer and Indian agent, officer in the War of 1812 serving under William Clark; later Supervisor of Indian Affairs. Fine content A.L.S. 'G. Kennerly' and again 'GHK', 2pp. 4to., Natchitoches, LA, Mar. 21, 1836. Kennerly writes home to St. Louis as U.S. troops gather on the border of the U.S. and Mexico at the Sabine River, while awaiting the arrival of Gen. Edmond P. Gaines, commander of the Southwest District. Gaines had been overseeing operations against the Seminoles in Florida when Santa Anna's victory at the Alamo sent Sam Houston and the Texian Army fleeing towards the U.S. border. Kennerly writes the day of the Battle of Compano, and only two days after the Goliad Massacre, and news of these events have not yet reached the U.S. forces on the border. The news of the fall of the Alamo had already raced through the U.S., Santa Anna's execution of all prisoners' further inflaming passions in favor of intervention. In part: '...I wrote you a few days since Maj. Herron, with a request that he would on his arrival in New Orleans place the Letter in the hands of some one of the Captns running a Boat to St. Louis, it being the shortest route, as the Maile is one month in going...I shall send by the Swiss Boy, a steam Boat that runs to Natches...The Troops are still in the neighborhood...encamped, and very disagreeably so. It appears that we have gotten out of way of all news, as we can hear nothing from Florida, or from Genl. Gaines...until his arrival I cannot tell when it will be in my power to come home...P.S. Give my best respects to Genl. Atkinson and tell him I will write him...that I think I shall sell[his slave] Clayborn for a least $1200...and may probably get it, as Negroes are very high here...' Heavy water staining not greatly affecting legibility, rough and brittle right margin, overall just good condition.