In Prison Santiago City of Mexico May 6th 1843

To Mrs Ann M Walker

Dear Sister I write to inform you I am
in good health, hoping this may find you the same[.] [W]hen I shall
return I don’t know as my experience thus far has only increased
my anxiety & ambition to fight the mexicans [sic][.] I have witnessed the
murder of 18 of my comrades in cold blood and I am determined
to revenge their death if I have an opportunity[.] [I]n Decr [December]
last I crossed the Riogrande [sic] under Gen Somerville with
600 men[.] Gen Somerville thought proper to return after taking
two small Towns and accordingly done so without getting a
fight a large number of the men not being in a situation to
return[,] being without horses or provision and not wishing
to return without a fight[.] 300 in number proceeded down
the river to Mier crossed and took possession of the Town
on the 23rd Decr but disdaining to take what we were
were given there without fighting for it we retired without
molesting any thing to our camp taking the Alcalde as
security for the fulfilment [sic] of the requisition we had
made on the 25th[.] [W]e learned that a Mexican force was
in the vicinity[.] [W]e crossed to give them battle
with 257 [sic; it was 261] men[,] leaving the balance on the east Bank of the
river to guard the Horses[.] [T]he force of the enemy was about
three thousand with two pieces of Artilery [sic] having taken
possession of the strongly built Town of Mier[.] [N]ot with-
standing this great advantage in numbers & position
the Texians gallantly entered the town under a heavy
fire about 7 o clock and after maintaining the conflict for
about 18 hours killing & wounding about three times their
number surrendered only through their own bad manage-
ment or rather for the want of a more determined resolute