January 8, 1836 –- The anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans was celebrated in great style. The volunteer companies turned out in their best array, with all the "pomp and circumstance of war", and were reviewed. Their appearance gave me fresh inspiration, accompanied with a feeling of regret that such soldierly men were not to go on and display their martial powers on the battle fields of Texas. I here equipped myself fully with arms, clothing and other things necessary for the war, and on the 10th embarked with my companions on the schooner "Aurora," Captain Hastings, bound for Matagorda.
We were towed down the river, and on the 12th got over the bar and spread our sails for Texas, having onboard, besides our party, Mr. W. . . . and family and three or four others passengers in the cabin., besides about fifteen volunteers on deck. We had five or six days passage, most of us suffering from sea-sickness. The first land we made was near the mouth of Caney, where was the residence of our fellow passenger Mr. W . . . .. While he was looking at the place, and pointing out his situation, and describing its locality to us, three sails were discovered ahead. As we had some fear of Mexican cruisers being on the coast, we were all attention. To be captured just in site of our promised land and carried to a Mexican prison, was not a very pleasant idea.
Our attention centered on our new neighbors and various conjectures were made as to who and what they were, and what the result would be to us. At length an old sailor declared they were not vessels at all.
His assertion was first hooted at, but he answered: "The wind is blowing fresh from the shore, and will cause a vessel to lean from it. As ours does; those objects are too upright." The force of the argument was admitted and its correctness soon after confirmed, for after nearing them a little more, our fleet was found to be converted into Texan houses. Being situated on the beach and, as sailors say "looming" largely, they looked like sails on the water. We coasted along and reached the Matagorda Peninsula; from the masthead we discovered the town and waters of the Bay. At night, hove to, and kept a strict lookout; it was very foggy. In the morning made sail, and in the course of an hour or two the fog cleared off and we discovered the Paso Cavallo, off which a vessel was lying at anchor. There was no mistake now, it was a bona fide vessel,
no houses and there was a possibility that she might prove to be a Mexican vessel and armed. A good deal of discussion took place, our situation and resources were considered and various propositions suggested some of which were characteristic of bravery, and some prudence. But having the advantage of the wind, we ran on under sail till within about two miles of the
point, when we sent a boat to shore, which returned with a pilot, who gave us the pleasing intelligence that the vessel off the Paso, was the "Brutus", Captain Hurd, with a company of volunteers on board. Captain Shackelford's company, the "Red Rovers" from Alabama. We ran along side and were saluted with three cheers, which were heartily returned. The two vessels
entered the Paso together and came to anchor. The next day the "Aurora" ran up the bay and we at last found ourselves safely landed in Texas, at the town of Matagorda, which consisted of only a few houses, three or four mercantile establishments, two groceries and two boarding houses. It is pleasantly laid out on the prairie facing the waters of the bay on one side extending
in the rear to the river Colorado. I was now at a stand what step next to take. My intentions all along had been to join the army, immediately upon my arrival, but now, there seemed to be no army, at least regular troops. There were, to be sure, some parties in the West. Col. Fannin had a company at Goliad and Col. Travis one at San Antonio. Most of the citizens who
had been at the taking of San Antonio, had returned to their homes, and a regular stagnation in all Military matters seemed to be left. A scheme had been on foot for an inroad to the Mexican Territory, beyond the Rio Grande, and the capture of Matamoras, which seemed to me, wild and visionary, and I felt no inclination to join such an enterprise. General Austin had advised me
to report to the Commander in Chief, General Houston, and be governed by his advice and directions, and this course I would have been glad to pursue, but no one could inform me where he was or where his headquarters were established. The disgraceful quarrel between Gov-Smith and the council was now known, where the former made a great display of billingsgate, and the
latter suspended him and threatened an impeachment. Political and Military matters looked rather discouraging and as I had not intended or prepared myself for private business, I considered it best to wait a while and watch the progress of events, and take course as circumstance might indicate. After waiting a few days at Matagorda, my companions left me to take a trip
up the river. I had promised to go to Lavaca with Stuart and Frye, two young men of Matagorda.
January 27 – - We left in a small boat and went over to Cox Point in company with a lighter, that had a load of goods and a family bound for Dimmit's landing. Cox's Point which has been dignified with the name of a town and described by such in such a manner as to convey the idea of a thriving village, contained a warehouse and one small cabin, in which a
family lived. Dimmit's Landing had a warehouse, a small store and three or four houses. We cruised around here for several days and amused ourselves by hunting and examining the river, bay, etc.
