[ Autographs ] HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE LETTER ON PATRIOTIC LETTERHEAD Confederate soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to. on rare Confederate 12-star flag and cannon letterhead, Richmond, Virginia, July 30, 1861. Lt. Robert K. Gaston, Co. H. 1st Texas Infantry, writes to his family at home. Iin part: "...Our Cavalry took about 600 more prisoners on last Friday near Alexandria. They had got lost from the Yankee army at the Manassas fight, and they had been straggling about in the woods until discovered by our troops. There are still several thousand troops at this place. They are coming in from all quarters. If any of the boys from Smith county are anxious to get into the war, you can tell them to come ahead. They will be needed before the war is closed...The Texians have a great reputation here as fighters. The people here lookupon a Texan Ranger (as they call all Texians) as a person who don't care for anything. They say that they would as soon fight devils...we will have enough to do if we get into a fight, to sustain our reputation...Tomorrow, President Davis will present our battalion witha banner made by the ladies of Richmond...". The Texas Infantry were considered among the best troops in the Confederacy. Some toning, otherwise very good.