Lesser-Known Letter Penned On Same Day As Travis’ Plea From The Alamo To Be Released By Land Office

[Press Release from the Texas General Land Office]]
AUSTIN - On February 23, Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, will unveil a letter from the Land Office archives written more than 171 years ago. Patterson said the letter, written by a soldier fighting for independence from Mexico, is much like e-mail soldiers in Iraq send home today.

“J.C. Logan was a soldier in a foreign land, opposing tyranny,” Patterson said. “But writing home to his family, he tells them he’s OK, he complains about the bad chow and he states a firm resolve to do his duty. Letters from the front like this tell the true story of a nation at war.”

The following excerpts - with their many misspellings, odd capitalization and sparse punctuation - are from Logan’s letter: “We are all most naked as we are cutting up tent Cloth to make us Panteloons,” he wrote. ” * a good many of us are bare footed & worst of all the Schooner that was bringing Provision & Clothes has been wrecked * I did intend to return to the united states at this time but there is a force from mexico of about 7000 men marching to retake this Country again & our whole force at this time dont Exceed 800 men but we are willing to meet them * ”

Kentucky native J.C. Logan wrote the letter on Feb. 24, 1835, at Goliad, the same day William Barret Travis penned his defiant plea to all Americans from the Alamo. Under James W. Fannin’s command, Logan was one of several hundred men holed up in the presidio at Goliad, awaiting Mexican General Santa Anna’s armies.

Like many of the other 35 million documents in the Land Office archives, Logan’s letter needs professional conservation.

That’s why Patterson is urging all Texans to donate to Save Texas History this March and honor 171 years of Texas Independence. Online donations can be accepted, or individuals may purchase a print of a historic Texas map from the Land Office archives. All proceeds from the map sales go toward preserving more maps and other historic documents at the Land Office.

“Celebrate Texas Independence and help Save Texas History in March,” Patterson said.

Online donations to Save Texas History are both easy and tax-deductible. Simply visit http://www.glo.state.tx.us/archives/savetxhist/donate.html to make a donation.

Purchasing a map replica is also easy, and they make great gifts for home, office, or classroom.  The collection can be viewed by logging on to www.savetexashistory.org.

Most maps are just $20. Maps over 48 inches in size are $40. Each is printed on demand. Orders can be called in directly to the Archives and Records Division of the GLO at 1-800-998-4GLO (4456).

The Save Texas History Program is a unique campaign that brings together private and government efforts to preserve the 35 million maps and documents at the Texas General Land Office. The maps, land grants, surveys and field notes - the very documents that trace the creation of modern-day Texas, include Stephen F. Austin’s original Spanish field notes, and records bearing the signatures of Alamo defenders Jim Bowie and William Barret Travis. Also at the Land Office is a document granting 1,280 acres to the heirs of Davy Crockett.

After items are conserved they are digitally preserved and made available to the public via the Internet.  The Digital Preservation Project of the Save Texas History Program has been recognized by the Texas Historical Commission for its monumental effort to digitally preserve these historic treasures.

“It is our goal to scan and digitize all 35 million documents housed in our archives,” Patterson said. “This is a weighty task, and when completed, will be unparalleled by any other historic preservation initiative in Texas.  I am proud to lead this initiative and I hope all Texans will join this effort.”