41
confided it to any one. The situation of the army was theii,
under every aspect the most lamentable and discouraging even
for the most intrepid and unthinking of men. I can assure your
-xc leay that even triumphing and without the misfortune of
bthe 2st the army would very little have bettered ,their sad
situation.
The enemy possess three steam boats and several small
schooners, with which, by taking their position on Galveston
and the island of Culebra, they could with impunity have made
incursions up the river against our right flank and rear-guard,
and also place in jeopardy our detatchments at Copano, Goliad
and Matagorda, because the wet weather, by leaving us isolated
between the Trinity and Brazos, and between this and the Colorado,
would have put it out of our power to give them speedy
assistance, and cut off our'communications for receiving provisions.
The conquest of Texas will always be an easy matter for
the Mexican republic; but the preservation of it in my opinion
req ires ry different measures from those adopted in this cam,
paign; it must be a work of judgment, prudence, constancy and
immense sacrifices by the public treasury; the contrary will produce
nothing but momentary advantages, enormous expenses,
and shameful consequences.
Aware, then, of the situation in which I was placed, and
wishing to hear the opinion of the general, my companions in
arms, I assembled the and th'ey unanimously agreed, that it
was necessary to re-pass the river Colorado, establish our communications
with the interior of the republic, and await ssistance
from the government and instructions, when they should
be advised of the misfortune that had happened and of the condition
of the army in every respect. In consequence, I disposed
aretrograde movement to the pass called Cayce's, in the direction
tf this village, ordering colonel Francisco Garay to march one
day' -ia the
fllowing day I continued the march to the seqond ,ridvt the
troops being upi their knees in water the whole distance; when
IJ
me up to it I fund that it was not fordable, as the rain had
swollen it so much, and the guides assured me that it would take
