on the 13th of
September. He never received a copy of the authority given
to Taylor to go to Texas until after the date of his
requisition for Louisiana volunteers, on the 15th of August,
1845; consequently he _then_ considered himself responsible
for the strength and support of one of his own brigades, and
bound to succor it speedily when he believed it to be in
imminent danger.--See Senate doc. No. 378, for his
correspondence, and especially p. 48.

FOOTNOTES:

[70] Almonte's report. Kennedy's Texas, chap. 1.

[71] Senate doc. 341, 28th cong. 1st sess. p. 56.

[72] Kennedy's Texas, chap. 1.

[73] Senate doc. No. 341, 28th cong. 1st sess. p. 76.

[74] An account of the army of observation and occupation, written by
one of its officers, in the Southern Quarterly Review for April, 1846.

[75] S. Q. Review, _ut antea_, p. 442. (April, 1846.)

[76] Kennedy's Texas, chap. 2d.

[77] Niles' Reg. vol. 68, p. 305.

[78] S. Q. Rev. _ut antea_. Senate doc. No. 337, 29th cong. 1st sess. p.
93.

[79] S. Q. Rev. _ut antea_.

[80] Southern Quarterly Review, _ut antea_. These statements are made by
an able and distinguished officer of our army, who was on the field, and
is perfectly versed in all the matters he discusses.

CHAPTER II.

Our position at Corpus Christi--Instructions to Taylor as to the boundary
of the Rio Grande--Taylor's views--Review and history of the boundary
question--Letter from Mr. Adams--Santa Anna's agreements with Texas,
&c.--March to the Rio Grande ordered--Justification in a military
point of view of the occupation of the disputed territory--Anecdote
of Frederick the Great--War in Silesia and Austria--Madison's conduct
to Spain in 1810--Right of declaration of war--Justifiable causes of
war--Opinion of Sir J. Mackintosh--War and diplomacy contrasted.

One of the most inclement winters in the Gulf of Mexico had passed in
the comfortless manner described in the last chapter. Our attempts to
negotiate with Mexico were repulsed, and although our minister had not
yet returned to the United States--having delayed at Jalapa with the
hope of finding Paredes more accessible than Herrera--every thing
indicated an ultimate defeat of diplomacy.

Meanwhile our forces at Corpus Christi were gradually augmenting, under
the command of Generals Taylor and Worth. In October, 1845, the troops
amounted to near four thous