Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1911-10-26
NEW.slM HOUSTON
"a 20 LETTER PUBLISHED


Barker. OF the school OF History. and
editor 81 the Quarterly OF the Texas
state Historical association. gives
out an interesting letter written by
General sam Houston during the
years Of his Young manhood
The letter which follows was pre-
sented to the University OF Texas
during the rast summer by Prof. II.
G. LYLE. OF the Mcnonough School for
Bows. near baltimore, Md Il was
written 10 his rreat-uncle. Alexander
Campbell. whose farm adioined the
Houston homestead near Lexington.
Va. Houston was az the time slowly
recovering from the desperate
wounds which he had received the
preceding August IN the battle Of
To-ho-pe-ka The peace to which he
refers was. of course, the treaty OF
Client with Great Britain. Instead
of being dishanded." Houston was
promoted 10 a lieutenancy in the reg
ular army, and remained in the ser
vice until May. 1918. when he re,
signed The letter was written when
Houston was just past %. and Is one
of the earliest manuscripts that We.
have from his pen. Ii has been said
that Il Houston was christened s.
mel. he never called himself by the
name or signed il in that torn.
The letter indicates. however. that
In his youth Houston sometimes in
dulged himself in the full scriptural
praenomen. The letter Is published
in the october number of the Quar-.
tcrlv OF The Texas State Historical as
sociation.
The Letter Verbatim.
cambridge, April %. 1915.
Dear Sir:
When left YOU ! expected TO have
written to YOU before now hut not
knowing whether or not | would long
remain stationary | have omitted
writing and | suppose the restoration
NJ peace will supercedc the necessity
of doubts on the subject. for 4, Is very
probable | will De disbalded. tho, |
will not know before the first OF May.
| " am continued In service II Is very
likely my destination viii soon be
New Orleans, and Il discontinued
think Il probable will reside In
| Knoxville. for II will be proper for
me to pursue some course for a liveli-
hood which will not be laborous as
my wounds are not near we'll, and |
suppose Il will be- impracticable for
disbanded officer to marry for the(y)
viii be regarded as cloathes. ont of
fashion, not worn so much. altered
before thctyl gre worn hu | will not
dcspond, before am disappointed
and | suppose that will be some time
for will not court any OF the Dear
Girlcs before | make fortune and
! II ! come no better speed that ] have
lone heretofore, II will be some time.
but } hope before this reaches you or
soon after you viii naNe It In your
power to inform me " oLr mar
riarc 10 Misc \ Steele for when
left virginia | thot It was not far off.
have not any news of Importance to
write you, people here are much graf
flied az the restoration Of peace, and
MS We are all Republicans we do not
think II Is n dishonorable peace, the
officers OF the army would rs soon
war had continued. or the MAJOR part
lof them as relates to me, would not
want peace II ! did not believe II was
promoting the happiness OF the COM
mwuity at large but at any time an
willing to sacrifice my wish to the
welfare of the Republic Please pre-.
sent my w1rmest respects to your
mother and all whom you believe are
my friends am sincerely your
friend. SNML HOUSTON.
addressed on reycrsel
Capy Alexander Campbell
I nxtpwtnV