( Source; Austin Papers / UT Barker Center, U.S.A. )

In the light of your British plans to invade Mexico ( refer to Mark Axworthy's article in E.D. No.2. Vol.8. PP.60-70 ), I thought that you might enjoy seeing Stephen Austin's plans.

"Were I to decide on the character of the force to be employed it should be principally light troops, - if the "corps of invasion" consisted of 25,000, there should not be more than 12,000 Infantry of the Line, - of Cavalry at least 4 Regiments and (word unclear) still better, - the remainder composed of Light Artillery, Riflemen and Light Infantry.

With a force so constituted you could always keep your points clear and have an eye to the flanks - with the additional advantage of recurring prompt and accurate intelligence.

Without access to my journal I can neither afford you the names of place, nor distances - With that before me I can tell you a mile, the number of marches from the Rio Grande to the City of Mexico upon either of the three routes - by Matamoros - Camargo or Laredo - and the distances from village to village and from spring to tank with the character of the roads - and the capacity of the country for affording subsistence - I have travelled the distance 5 times and kept a diary each time."

( Thanks Kevin, could become a what-if wargame for somebody. T.D.H. Kevin has also wrote to say that the diary of Lt. Col. José Enrique de la Peña, is going to be sold soon, let's hope that the buyer of it is not a pro-Crockett supporter otherwise we will never see it again, or any of it's unpublished details that the manuscripts contain. T.D.H. )