exposed to the sudden attack of a superior force, and the pestilence of a climate to which they were unused. These brave men were for months exposed to disease and death, placed in a situation where they could not be succoured, nor any means taken to re-enforce them.3

After the President had succeeded in lulling the popular war-fever, which abated with the retirement of General Vascus from the country, he folds his arms and quietly predicts that "there must be another Fannin massacre before the people would come to their senses." If this did not take place it was no fault of the President, and in his prediction he over-estimated the bravery of the enemy, though that enemy was by him furnished with every inducement to execute his fell prediction. For the credit of our country, the following admissions we record with deep feelings of regret and mortification. These patriotic men, after suffering all that human nature was capable, returned to their homes, beggared, unpitied, and with the denunciations of our President. Their good sense will teach them [25] that, though President Houston is the organ of the executive government of Texas, yet he is not the representative of the moral sentiment of the community; and that, while every good man in Texas sympathized in their wrongs, they will never cease to feel grateful for their heroic services.
 

Chapter Three

 
General Vascus plunders San Antonio. The Texians to the Rescue. General Burleson elected their Commander. President Houston's Orders to General Somerville. His vacillating Conduct in the Campaign. His Call of the Congress and Veto of the War-bill.

The plunder of San Antonio by General Vascus, on the 6th of March, 1842, met a response in the bosom of every patriot Texian: not in the windy gasconade of their President chief, but in that patriotic impulse which, before the 1st day of April, had carried 5000 Texians to the rescue, a large portion of whom stopped upon the Colorado. A large number had already assembled under their veteran leader, General Edward Burleson,1 always the first in the field and foremost in the fight. The enemy fled before them to the Rio Grande, one hundred and fifty miles distant. The Texians were anxious to pursue, having by the law of the land elected General Burleson their leader. President Houston, knowing that, if he attempted to exercise [26] the appointing power over them it would break up the expedition, sent General Somerville2 to take command. This dissatisfied nearly the whole camp,