I regard that it is out of my

power, from the situation of my

wound, to repair forthwith to

[the] army and arrest its madness, or

denounce the campaign. By one

out of one thousand chances, it

may succeed, but it is now

undertaken in the face of invi-

ted mediation by the U[.] States

and a violation of faith at

this time by Texas, will operate

more deleteriously upon us in a

moral point of view than twenty

victories would repair. It is the

vices but not the virtues of Nations

which are first held up to notice

and which gives the first impress

of National character, unless the

latter are consistent and striking.

The humanity and generosity

shewn to Sant [Santa] Anna and his

army, when taken prisoners, wou’d

by one faithless transaction on the

part of Texas be sullied forever!

And by one foolish campaign

resulting from rashness, the recog-

nition and establishment of her

Independence may be obstructed

for years to come if not defeated

forever. Our war ought to be de-

fensive! Not a war of invasion!

The kind and very flattering opin-

ion, which your [sic] pleased to express