WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
77
the Texians were capable of retaliating upon them, they would be careful not to invade her territory again. The accomplishment of this result was all that the President of the Republic contem- plated by that expedition. It was all that the resources of the nation at that time would justify; and accordingly he ordered a general who had been elected by the people, and within the limit of whose brigade the campaign was organized, to cross the Rio Grande, seize several cities and towns there, and march imme- diately back to some eligible point and disband his forces. The general proceeded to execute the orders. He marched to Loredo, many miles on the east side of the Rio Grande 2 within the bound- ary declared by Texas in 1836, for which boundary act this individual voted. Loredo was inhabited by Mexicans, but they were Texian citizens, and as such, entitled to its protection. They were citizens of Texas, and none but an enemy to Texas could raise his hand against them or molest one of them. The army was stationed convenient to that place. The author of this book had attached himself to that army. Was it as a general? No, sir; for General Somerville was the officer recognized by the order of the President, according to the laws o~ the Republic. This General Green took his sword and went with the army. He had no command. He was not even a soldier in the ranks. He was a loafer, sir. He pursued the army, not to cooperate in any efficient se1·vice; not to render obedience to the authorities constituted by the order of the Government; not to encounter danger, but-for what? He went for spoils. He went as a wolf pursues the hunter, or the emigrant, for the purpose of picking up offal. The author of this book placed himself in that distinguished and chivalrous position! He went to Loredo with the army. The general encamped near that spot with his troops. He made a requisition on the inhabitants for certain supplies for the use of the army, intending to recompense them when Texas was able. The citizens furnished as much as they could to the army. They had some seven hundred men to supply,-no small undertaking for a small place. So soon as this vms done, they supposed they would receive protection from the general, and from all connected with the army. How was the fact? Did they receive that protection? No, sir. This General Thomas Jefferson Green, this general loafer and follower of the army, went into the town where the inhabitants were defenseless and confiding, and was the first individual to encourage the insubordinate and irregular followers of the army to break down the doors and violate the sanctity of habitations·· ,
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