James Morgan to Sam Houston, May 10, 1843 - Page 2
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much at stake—above all your confidence, and was disposed to do nothing by which yourself
or the Admnl could be reflected on—and willing to lay down my life in support
of the Country. In this expedition I had nothing to gain personally, and every thing
to risk—and did risk every thing—life & all and so far every thing has gone well to
raise our Country in the estimation of every friend it has at home & abroad I hope.
But above all, My Dear Genl, the vessels, so far, are Safe. Had they gone direct
to Galveston & there all the officers of ours turn’d adrift—penny less, vessels dis-
mantled or sold, men & officers unpaid, there is no telling what an exasperated
of men would not have done! In one of Com. Moore’s communications
to the Commissioners at N.O. he mentions threats that had been made in that place
on a former similar occasion[.] So, as I have before said, under all circumstances
this visit to the Mex. Coast, at this time, is a judicious one. We came after the
whole fleet at one time! The Montezuma having left Telchae 24 hours before
our arrival! I have given the particulars of the engagement to the Sec. of
War & Marine to which please be referred[.] And I assure you that we
could have captured he whole Mex. fleet in twenty minutes could we
have closed with it! There is no doubt about the disaffection of their crews
of foreigners—and who say that they will not fight if we can get near them[,]
but the Steamers keep at a respectful distance I assure you. We thrashed
them soundly, notwithstanding their far famed _____ [?] Guns! The morning
of our arrival & action, Genl Ampudias & Gov. Mendez was [sic] about concluding
a Treaty[.] The articles had been drawn up & discussed & partially agreed upon
indeed, the Treaty wanted nothing but the signatures of the parties to complete
it—a truce having been agreed on some days before—when the appearance
of our vessels & their (the Yucatan) Gun Boats uniting with us in the Action
broke it all up! Ampudias threatened to Bombard the town again, which he did not
do, however—but kept up the truce on his own hook [?]! Solicited another interview
with the Yucatan Govr, in which he denounced St. Anna for having
deceived him, in regard to the true state of affairs in Yucatan, and is evidently
anxious to get out of the Country altogether! This he cannot do while our
vessels are here, for he cannot communicate with his fleet[.] We have driven
it out of Service—raised the Blockade of Campeachy [sic] & enabled ____ [?]
with his Gun Boats to capture three vessels that were supplying the
Mex. fleet with provisions of Coal! ____ [?] & Lemos, Mex. Genls who
capitulated near Merida, surrendering some 3,000 Mex. troops & who were
by Capitulation to leave the Country in 12 days, are with said Capitulated troops
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James Morgan to Sam Houston, May 10, 1843. Andrew Jackson Houston Papers # 3047, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.