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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
compelled to look to New Orleans in a great measure for his patronage and support. Indeed, he was entirely dependent upon this city for a new outfit. Without its friendly cooperation, it would be impos- sible for him to oroceed at all. Unfortunately the populacion of New- Orleans at that time, was cl1iefly French, who had but little sympathy "'ith enterprises of this character, and who could not comprehend the right of an American Citizen, upon his own responsibility, to re- kindle the flames of war in a, country whch appeared to be quetly resuminrr its ancient relations to the legitimate Monarch. Besides, there w~ a considerable Spanish population who was active and vio- lent and not without a due share of public influence. They were nearly all true to the Cause of Spain, and did whatever was in their power to embarrass and thwart our hero in his operntions. The Americans were the only friends which the General could boast in the city. To them alone. could he appeal with any hope of success. They,. however, were not only few in numbers compared with the balance of the popula-tion; but in common with all classes of business men at that period, their pecuniary di:ffkulties a-nd straig'titened cir- cumstances, would not allow them to extend to our hero that liberal and efficient assistance which the na-ture and magnitude of his under- taking demanded.-Under these circumstances-neglected by the F·rench; opposed by the Spaniards and sustained alone by a, small community of merchants who had but little to give beyond their good- wishes,-almost any other person than General Long would have broken np his post at Bolivar Point, and have abandoned the en- terprise in despair. Not so, however, with him. In spite of all the unpromising circumstances attending his cause, he continued the prosecution of his purpose until partial success was the result of his efforts. He finally succeeded in obtaining a respectable out-fit, with the promise of further assistance as his exigencies might requre. 'l'hese arrangements were effected chiefly through the influence of General Ripley, :Mr. Preston and the house of Brant and Foster; together with some few others whose names are now forgotten, but who were equally devoted to the General and sustained the cause for his sa-kc. While General Long was thus engaged in negociating for sup- plies, he was surrounded by a new sett of adventurers, whose names -or at least many of them will appear in the due course of our narrntivc. There was no difficulty in obtaining recruits.-These were to be had in any numbers; and with the means of subsist- ence an army might have been raised sufficient for the extermi- nation of the Royal authorities throughout all lVIexico. There were, however, among the new a-ccessions to the enterprise, two individuals to whom we would direct the special attention of the reader, not solely because of their own intrinsic merits, and their fidelity to their leader, but also on account of their subse- quent fame and identification with the history of Texas; one of them having commanded at the capture of Velasco in 1832, and the other at the taking of San Antonio in 1835. We allude to John Austin and Benjamin R. :Milam. Austin was one of the bravest o:f
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