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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
the Fort and of general disturbance to the Garrison. It was neces- sary to ~bate the nuisance. But l\Iary was not without her friends; so that when the Commander admonished her of the necessity of deporting herself with more moderation and. propriety, she found a ready vindicator in the aforesaid Colonel Santiago, who had for some time maintained very amicable social relations with the obstreperous fair one, and who had, in fact, been always too much disposed to ·patronize her in her evil disposition to,vards other~; and the ad_mi~is- tration of this gentle rebuke to Mary was, we believe, the begmmng of 1\fodella's hostility to Genl. Long and the real foundation of that hatred which hurried him so blindly to his ruin. 1\Iodella appears to have been a weak, vain and impulsive man, with some ambition, strong resentments and without a particle of principle or prudence. Having conceived a violent antipathy to General Long from the cause above supposed, or some other to us unknown, he was silly enough to manifest his dislike and vent his spite in acts of disobedience, insubordination and personal incivilities - a conduct which could not fail to recoil upon himself and involve him in trouble. - As a matter of course he was placed in arrest; and among the specifications against him we find the following - to wit - falsely accusing the Commander of dishonest acts - writing to him various insulting letters - threatening to have him removed on the return of T'respalacios - refusing to do duty when ordered - withholding- the rations of the Regiment - denouncing the enter- prise - declaring- his wish that the Garri~on might be put to the sword - and of libelling the officers generally of the command. This we give as a specimen merely of his rabid disposition, and of the general tenor of his deportment. After his arrest he became more furious; indeed, he acted like a madman, insulting the Commander, disputing his authority and threatening his life; all of which the General endured with unwonted patience, on account of his respect for Trespalacios, who was known to cherish towards Madella an almost filial affection. Foreseeing the probable consequences of such insub- ordination and insanity, Antonio Coelho, a worthy :Mexican and member of the Supreme Council adopted every possible means of pacification, and addressed a letter to General Long requesting him to suspend all action against 1\fodella, until the return of their common chief from New Orleans, stating at the same time that he would be responsible for Madella's future good behavior. The Gen- eral replied in spanish to the effect, that he acceded to the request of Coelho under the supposition that his friend the Colonel would remain tranquil in his arrest and obey the orders of his Chief without giving further scandal to the Garrison. This correspondence being made known to ::\fodella, he readily promised to deport himself with more moderation for the future - and broke his pledge almost as soon as made. - Mary Crow in the mean time, had not been profited by the friendly admonition of the Commander; but on the contrary, she appeared to have been emboldened by them. 'This was also the case with her friend l\fodella. Both grew worse under the General's forbearance• and l\lary's conduct became finally so outrageous as to render he;
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