lead, munitions of war of every kind, tobacco, &c.; also, 5 day's rations for 1200 men, to wit: 40 sacks of flour of 6 arrobas each, 1200 lbs. sugar, 600 lbs. coffee, 200 pairs of strong coarse shoes, l00 pair of do. pantaloons, and 100 blankets.
        "By order of the general commanding," &c.

As is customary in cases of this kind, when a requisition is made upon the alcalde of a Mexican town, he apportions it among the different citizens in proportion to their ability to furnish, and they had nearly complied with the whole requisition, when the difficulty of transporting it to camp that evening presented itself, owing to there being no teams in readiness. Night was drawing near, and to return to camp without the requisition, and without any guarantee of its forthcoming, would have been placing undue confidence in a Mexican's word. Under this state of things, Colonel Fisher ordered the writer to take the alcalde to camp as a hostage to its fulfilment, which he promised should meet us the next day lower down the river, and opposite the town. Accordingly, the march was recommenced in perfect order, the alcalde being mounted and under a special guard. Here was a town, the largest and richest upon the river save Matamoras, in our possession all day without the least possible depredation [77] being committed; and we think it a sufficient answer, as well to President Houston's charge of robbery against the Mier men, as to those who returned home with General Somerville. At any rate, we will not dignify this malicious falsehood by any farther refutation.

The advance reached the river about dusk, when a melancholy incident occurred by the accidental discharge of a gun, and the killing of one of the smallest boys in the army. This youth, by the name of Yocum, aged fourteen years, was one of the very few troops we had from the county of Liberty, was in a high degree manly for his age, and deserved a better fate.8

The army recrossed the river to their camp, which was upon the second bottom above the landing. The alcalde was exceedingly anxious to go up and see the commanding general, and arrange with him, for he yet believed that the troops which entered Mier were but the advance guard of the army, and that the remaining portion of the twelve hundred were in camp. The writer informed him that he was under his special charge, that he had his orders what to do, and that he must be content until the requisition was complied with. He said that "the requisition would doubtless be down by the morrow, as such were his orders." After eating a piece of mutton, which we insisted he should join us in, we gave him part of our blanket, and, as the most respectful mode of guarding his honour, for he was a [78] far more decent man than the majority of Mexican officials, we gently placed one of his legs between ours, and though there was no community of language between us, yet we seemed to understand each other's motions, for when one turned over the other turned, we always maintaining his leg in the same affectionate position. The night blew a heartless norther, which