my quotations from American authorities,
and have observed the same course in regard to the Mexican reports,
proclamations and manifestos. See especially, (for this volume,) Senate
doc. No. 337, 29th cong. 1st sess.--H. of R. doc. No. 197, id.--Senate
doc. No. 378, id.--Senate doc. No 388, id.--H. of R. doc. No. 4, 29th
cong. 2d sess.--H. of R. doc. No. 19, id.--H. of R. doc. No. 42,
id.--Senate doc. No. 107, id.--H. of R. doc. No. 119, id.

[102] Our army on the Rio Grande, chap. v.

[103] Army on the Rio Grande, chap. ii.

[104] See Senate doc. 337, 29th cong. 1st sess. for a memorandum of
General Worth's spirited interview with La Vega and Cesares.

CHAPTER V.

Military and civil proclamations against the United States at Matamoros
in April, 1846--General Taylor's pacific policy--Desertion from our
army promoted by Ampudia and Arista--Shooting of deserters, seen
swimming the river, ordered--Construction of the fort opposite
Matamoros--Guerillas on the left bank--Ampudia and Arista arrive--
Death of Colonel Cross--Expedition of Lieutenants Dobbins and Porter
--Death of Porter--Surprise and surrender of Captain Thornton's
party of dragoons--Ampudia and General Taylor on the blockade of the
mouth of the river--Fort capable of defence; left under the command
of Major Brown--Walker's men surprised on the prairie--Taylor goes to
Point Isabel--Cannonade heard from Matamoros--May with his dragoons
and Walker sent to the fort for tidings--Their adventures--Return to
Point Isabel--Taylor calls on Texas and Louisiana for reinforcements
--character and quality of the Texan Ranger.

The months of March and April, 1846, were fruitful in civil and military
proclamations at Matamoros, manifesting a hostile spirit against our
country, but General Taylor persisted in his pacific conduct and
directed all under his command to observe a scrupulous regard to the
municipal rights and religious usages of the quiet Mexicans whom they
found in the neighborhood of the Rio Grande. In order that no pretext of
ignorance might be pleaded by our adversaries, in this respect, his
orders were published in Spanish as well as English, and freely
distributed among the people. It is to be regretted that a similar
forbearance was not exhibited by our opponents. As soon as our forces
appeared in the vicinity of Matamoros they began to intrigue with our
subalterns. It was known t