so to do, and after dark they withdrew. Why was this permission refused? We had ample force already across the river to have beaten them. After several hours' delay, the general came across, but the writer has never heard any satisfactory reason why this insolent banter of the enemy was not met.

Early next morning the rear-guard of the army crossed, and a good portion of the day was employed by the general in guarding a fat hog, which, he said, belonged to "these good friends," and which hog our men cast wistful glances at. He, however, was not successful in his kind protection; for his eyes had hardly turned a minute before the animal was killed, quartered, and divided between several messes. [64]

Colonel M'Cullough11 had been sent to the city to demand of the alcalde rations and other necessaries for the army. The alcalde returned a cheerful answer that everything should be forthcoming by the time the army arrived in town, where good quarters were prepared. That evening the army was marched in the direction of the town, encamping one mile from it, in an exposed situation, it being one of the most inclement nights ever witnessed. To this exposed situation the alcalde sent a few old hats and filthy blankets, some few beeves, and less than one quart of corn for each horse. The old hats and blankets should have been an insult to the general, as they were to the men, and the very insufficient quantity of rations more calculated to make men mad than to allay their hunger. Why did the general not go into the quarters provided in the city instead of exposing his men to such a cold rain? was asked throughout the camp, and no answer given. The next morning, when all were cold, wet, and hungry - having had no supper the night before - and expected to be marched into comfortable quarters in the town, the head of the line was again turned towards home, and the army marched rapidly back to the former crossing, to facilitate which the general made a detail, and carried down six large flat-bottomed boats, each capable of carrying one hundred men. A portion of the army recrossed that evening, and the remainder next morning.

[65] Here the army found themselves again upon the Texas side of the river, and their faces fairly turned towards home, after getting in sight of the enemy and not fighting him. With a large majority of the men, strong discontent was manifested by this last attempt to run them home against their will and the interest and honour of the country. Something more was necessary to be done to appease this discontent and satisfy the men in following him home, and Captain Hays was then despatched with his company into the city with this order, "to demand of the alcalde five thousand dollars, or that he, the general, would sack the town." This order was delivered to the alcalde, when he returned to the camp with Captain Hays, bringing with him three hundred and eighty dollars, saying he had no more. Did General S. thus carry out his word, which, however proper or improper it was for him to have made it, as a Texian general