After the siege of Bexar in 1835 and before the fall of the Alamo, the newly formed government of Texas determined that mail routes were necessary during “…this momentous crisis in affairs of our country…” The destinations, frequency and connections described below provide a window into the decisions made regarding transportation by the leaders of Texas. Although a courier service of men on horseback, it provides the first hint at what would later become stagecoach routes in the Republic of Texas.
December 26, 1835
Telegraph and Texas Register (San Felipe de Austin [i.e. San Felipe], Tex.) Vol. 1. No. 12, Ed. 1, Saturday, January 9, 1836.
General Post Office
Notice is hereby given, that the post office law recently passed by the General Council of Texas, now in session, has made it discretional with the post master general whether to cause a mail to be carried to each of the municipalities or not; and believing that, at this momentous crisis in the affairs of our country, all are alike interested in having facilities of communication established throughout the country, I will therefore received sealed proposals at my office in San Felipe de Austin, until the 15th day of February next, for carrying the Texas mail on the following routes. viz. :
No. 7. From Jefferson, by Chambersburg and Zavala, to San Augustin, 122 miles, once in two weeks.
To leave Jefferson on Thursday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at San Augustin the following Saturday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
To leave San Augustin on Sunday, at 7 o’clock, A.M. and arrive at Jefferson on Tuesday following, at 7 o’clock, P.M.
No. 8. From Whiteside’s, by Tenoxtitlan and New Nashville to Viesca, eighty-five miles, once in two weeks.
To leave Viesca on Friday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at Whiteside’s the next Sunday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
No. 9. From San Felipe by Mercer’s and Texana to Victoria, one hundred miles, once every two weeks
To leave San Felipe every other Monday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at Victoria the next Wednesday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
To leave Victoria every other Thursday, at 7 o’clock, A.M. and arrive at San Felipe the next Saturday , at 7 o’clock, P.M.
No. 10. From Victoria, by Goliad and Refugio, to San Patricio, one hundred miles, once in two weeks.
To leave Victoria every other Thursday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at San Patricio the next Saturday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
To leave San Patricio every other Sunday, at 7 o’clock, A.M. and arrive at Victoria the next Tuesday, at 7 o’clock, P.M.
No. 11. From San Felipe, by Phillip’s and Cook’s Island, to Matagorda, ninety miles, weekly.
To leave San Felipe every Sunday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at Matagorda every Wednesday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
To leave San Matagorda every Thursday, at 7 o’clock, A.M. and arrive at San Felipe next Saturday, at 7 o’clock, P.M.
No. 12. From San Felipe by Wade’s, Gotier’s, Eblin’s and Burleson’s, to Mina, ninety miles away, once in two weeks.
To leave San Felipe every other Monday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at Mina the next Wednesday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
To leave Mina every other Thursday, at 7 o’clock, A.M. and arrive at San Felipe the next Saturday, at 7 o’clock, P.M.
No. 13. From San Felipe by Beason’s and Daniel’s, to Gonzales, ninety miles, once in two weeks
To leave San Felipe every other Monday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at Gonzales the next Wednesday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
To leave Gonzales on Thursday the day after the arrival of the mail from San Felipe, and arrive at the later place next Saturday, at 7 o’clock, P.M.
No. 14. From Gonzales, by Sandies and the Cibolo to Bejar, seventy-six miles, once in two weeks.
To leave Gonzales every other Thursday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at Bejar the next Saturday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
To leave Bejar every other Sunday, at 7 o’clock, A.M. and arrive at Gonzales the next Tuesday, at 7 o’clock, P.M.
No. 15. From Bejar to Goliad, ninety miles, once in two weeks.
To leave Bejar every other Sunday, at 7 o’clock, A.M., and arrive at Goliad the next Tuesday, at 7 o’clock, PM.
To leave Goliad every other Friday next following the arrival of the mail from Bejar, and arrive at the later place the next Sunday, at 7 o’clock, P.M.
Note – It is requested that the bidders will be at the General Post Office in person, or by some authorized agent, on the 16th day of February next, for the purpose of entering into bond with approved security, for the faithful performance of their contracts. As it is not improbable that there may be some differences between the actual distances and those stated in the foregoing advertisement, it is expected that bidders will inform themselves, and act accordingly. By the Post Office law, it will be seen, that the Postmaster General has a right to make such changes and alterations on any mail route under contract, as he may think necessary; and if by such change the distance is increased or lessened, a corresponding change will be made in the contractor’s pay.
JOHN R. JONES
Postmaster General
San Felipe de Austin
December 26, 1835
