by the firing of cannon and crackers, &c.; then marched twenty-five miles, and again lodged in a cowpen. In passing a cornfield, a negro fellow, who had run off from Texas, looked over the fence, and, after giving his head a mournful shake, he said, in a still more [122] melancholy voice, "Aha! white man, dey cotch you now; dey gib you hell!" This comfort was quite as good as their cowpen lodgings, up to their ankles in wet manure.

January 7th. Marched eighteen miles, and quartered in a cowpen. It was of much importance to get a cowpen to put our men in, as they were more easily guarded; hence the difference in the marches, which were suited to the locality of said pens. These pens were built by placing pickets close together in the ground, in an upright position, and fastening their tops with rawhide to a horizontal timber. Around these pens their guards would be placed.

January 8th. Marched fifteen miles over a rich, flat country, well adapted to the cultivation of sugar, and camped again in a cowpen at the village of Warloupe. While at this place, many citizens of consequence came out from Matamoras to congratulate General Ampudia upon his victory. Among these were two of our acquaintances, Tom and Esau. These gentlemen, now of so much consequence as to ride three leagues4 in a coach to congratulate General Ampudia upon his splendid victory, were General Sam Houston's two barbers, so well known to the public of Texas. Tom treated us with marked respect and attention, spoke of his prospects in that country, his intended nuptials, invited us to the wedding, and said that General Ampudia was to stand godfather on the occasion. He remarked to [123] General Ampudia, upon meeting him, in our presence, "Well, general, I told you, before leaving Matamoras, that when you met these gentlemen you would catch it." He spoke much of Texas, said that he appreciated many gentlemen there highly, but that he could not consent longer to be the slave of such an unprincipled monster as Sam Houston, and regretted the necessity of leaving the country. Esau was more sulky, spoke in disreputable terms of his old master, and insultingly to some of our men.5

January 9th. Marched nine miles to Matamoras; but, before entering the city, we were halted for the general to receive the congratulations of a large number of friends who came out in coaches to meet him. Many women and girls came out with joyous countenances to meet their husbands and sweethearts, but, alas for them, they had experienced the effect of the Texian rifle at Mier, and they returned with heavy hearts and bitter lamentations. A triumphal arch was thrown across the principal street through which we passed at every hundred yards; and, to make the grand pageant as imposing as possible, soldiers were stationed upon each side of the street about thirty feet apart, and what they lacked in soldiers they made up for the occasion by placing soldier-clothes upon citizens. We first accompanied the general to the church, which he entered to receive the blessings of the fathers; at the same time we were placed