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bered the regulars, elected Bowie their commander. This action was deeply resented by Travis, who disgustedly wrote Governor Smith on February 13 concerning the unsoldierly conduct of Bowie ever since his election, and his unwarranted assumption of power. Travis was sick at heart and wished to leave. He protested that he did not want the command, but would accept it, if Colonel Neill resigned. He pointed out at the same time that Bowie, who was older and had the rank of colonel, outranked him. Travis advised Governor Smith that no mat- ter who commanded the garrison, the post should be reinforced to protect the colonies. In the meantime the garrison itself was not worried. The men did not stay in barracks; they refused to submit to regular drill; there was little or no discipline. In short, they had become convinced that the Mexicans would not dare attack them. Not so Colonel Juan N. Seguin. As the son of the Alcalde of San Antonio, Seguin was in a better position to know the true situation, and he was really worried. He dispatched Blas Herrera to Laredo to gather information about the enemy. It was not long before Herrera hurriedly returned. Santa Anna, he said, was already crossing the Rio Grande with a large invading army, which he estimated at more than six thousand men. This informa- tion was passed on to Travis immediately. Attributing the report to fear and Mexican apprehension, Travis refused to believe it. But all the Mexicans who could flee, began a hasty exodus from that area. The report of Scout Blas Herrera was not exaggerated. Santa Anna had arrived in Saltillo early in January with the bulk of the army, which numbered 6,016 men-according to General Vicente Filisola. second in command. 40 General Sesma had been sent forward a couple of weeks before, and had arrived in Laredo by December 27, 1835. He was to command the left wing, while General Urrea was to lead the right wing along the coast from Matamoros as a base. Santa Anna was to command the center in person. How well coordinated the move- ments of the Mexican army were may be judged from the fact that Sesma, with his advance guard of some 1,500 men began crossing the Rio Grand~ at Laredo on February 12, while Urrea, with a similar group of troops, crossed at Matamoros on February 17. Ten days later, Urrea had advanced as far as San Patricio, where he surprised Johnson. At a council of war held by Santa Anna in Saltillo early in January, General Filisola had suggested advancing directly by way of Mier to '°Vicente Filisola, Guerra de Tefas, II, 337. Kennedy, in his Histor,y of Texas ,cives the number at 8,000. Santa Anna, himself, in a report stated it was 8,000.
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