others, called for volunteers, and when General Burleson arrived the third day, as I promised, they were ready for the onward march. General B. informed them that he would proceed to the upper Colorado counties and Washington, raise what men he could, and join them upon the San Antonio River in two weeks; adding that, if it should then be their desire for him to lead them, he would not shrink from the responsibility. He proceeded to Washington for orders from the President, not doubting that his proclamation of the 16th of the month previous, authorizing the troops to elect their own commander, would be denied. The President knew full well that, if Burleson received orders, the men would follow him and the enemy would be punished. This he never intended to perform, but merely told General B. that General Somerville had his orders. Burleson, always obedient to the lawful authorities of his country, returned [41] home, and left the future conduct of the campaign to the President and General Somerville.

During this time, from the last of September to the first of November, volunteers pressed forward to the San Antonio River, all eager to follow the enemy, and punish him in his own country. In the mean time, the President had sent to General Somerville, at Matagorda Bay, to proceed to Bexar and take command, at which place he arrived about five weeks after he had disbanded the troops at Columbus. Here General S. found about twelve hundred men scattered around the town, at from one to ten miles, in some six or eight encampments; and, instead of concentrating his camp, or organizing and drilling his men, he sits down in the town for two weeks, receiving the hospitalities of those very individuals who just before had been foremost in entertaining General Woll. Much talk had been excited against these individuals in the Texian camp for their open and kind reception of the Mexican general; and now that they had a favourable opportunity of taking shelter under the protection of the Texian general by feasting and fandangoing him, no pains in this respect were spared to win that favour; and from the two weeks' carnival he held in the town, we are bound to believe that they won it. This brought about the 17th of November, and with it a most cutting north wind, which was as uncomfortable to those men without blankets, lying still in an open prairie, as General [42] S.'s luxurious indulgences in the city were to those who had blankets. During this cold weather, it was told in camp that the general would have been out "that day," but had stopped that night to attend another fandango. What was murmur and dissatisfaction before against the general's operations, now became loud and bitter denunciations.3 Many believed that nothing would be effected under him, while others were more highly indignant at not being provided with those absolute, indispensable munitions of war, which could have been easily obtained from the hostile citizens of Bexar. Some wanted more powder and lead, which were known to be in the town, and which had been tendered General Woll, but