companies of Captains Hays and Bogart, who were ordered to pass up the river [55] bank and prevent any retreat in that direction, while the main force was to approach the town in the rear. At daylight we entered the city, where, instead of meeting an enemy worthy our steel, all our belligerent feelings were turned into shame for ourselves; for we met some women, children, and old men, who seemed as glad to see us as if we had been their near relations. All felt they were badly humbugged; and thus ended what the men, in ridicule, called "the siege of Laredo."2

The authorities then conducted the army to a camping-place about one mile above the town, and promised to supply provisions. About noon, eight or ten beeves were driven to camp and butchered, which was bare rations for one day. They, having been promised supplies of bread-stuff and other necessaries, waited patiently that day for them, and when none, or but a very small and insufficient quantity was furnished, they naturally expressed dissatisfaction. In the evening of that day, the 8th, the general ordered the army down below the town about three miles, in the direction of the San Antonio road. The main road down the Rio Grande was on the west side, and the crossing at Laredo. "Why did the general not cross the river at that point, and take the main road?" was the inquiry in every one's mouth. No satisfactory answer was given, and I suspected, what the next day proved, that he was wending his way home! Feeling as others felt, that, if he did so, it would be a lasting [56] disgrace upon our country and ourselves to return without crossing into Mexico, I took five men with me, crossed the river to the small town of Galveston, planted the Texian banner in the name of our country, demanded of the alcalde five good mules, which the boys took, and recrossed the river to camp. This place was the military station of Colonel Bravo, who was then secreted in Laredo, while his troops were still at that place. Upon my return to camp, I informed the officers that I had been among Bravo's troops, expecting, of course, General Somerville would send and capture them; but his mind was in other ways intent.3

The next day, the 9th, still little or no provisions had been furnished, and the dissatisfaction among our men grew loud and determined. In this state of feeling, the men said that if the general was too great a friend of the Mexicans to feed them, they would feed themselves, and about three hundred marched into the town and took what they pleased. Much has been said by the partisans of General Somerville about the plunder of Laredo, giving that as evidence of insubordination in the army, and thereby wishing to excuse his hasty flight home. Though the writer would neither have advised or countenanced it, yet he cannot be blind to good reasons which the troops had for so doing. Most of these men had already been from their homes three months; they had been promised, time after time, to be led against the enemy; they had been promised [57] that when they reached the Rio Grande they should have all necessary supplies.