Mexico, as shown on the maps of today. Being sovereign, the State of Tamaulipas controlled its own vacant lands, and in pursuance of laws enacted for the purpose between 1828 and 1836, allotted to prominent Mexican citizens and soldiers who had served in the battles of the country, all vacant lands then found as such between the Rio Grande and the Nueces.

Texas and Coahuila was the name of the territory north of the Nueces river, now known as Texas. From the time of Mexico's independence from Spain it was a part of Mexico. About the year 1821, Moses Austin, an American, was granted a large tract of land in Texas under the condition that he should colonize it with not less than five hundred families. This he attempted to do, but the policy of Mexico towards the colonists was one of oppression to which the Americans would not submit. During the year 1832 they revolted against Mexico, and in June of that year disarmed some two hundred Mexican soldiers at Velasco near the mouth of the Brazos river. In the first battle at Gonzales, the Mexicans were defeated. On March 6, 1836, the Alamo, a fort then maintained as such (now in the heart of San Antonio, Texas), was surrounded and captured by an overwhelming army of Mexicans, the few American or Texan survivors who were taken prisoners being massacred under circumstances of atrocity. Among these were David Crockett, Travis, James Bowie, and others who had distinguished themselves. Fannin and a force of nearly 300 had surrendered after an engagement near what is now called Goliad. They were later marched out and executed by the Mexicans. Finally, on April 21, 1836, the Texans, commanded by General Sam Houston, annihilated the Mexicans in a battle at San Jacinto, not far from Houston, Texas, and at one blow achieved the freedom of Texas. The Mexicans however, continued to hold the territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande, claiming that it had never been a part of Coahuila and Texas, and

that it had always remained under the name of Nuevo Santander.

On April 3, 1835, the American sloop-of-war, Invin1835 cible, arrived at the port of Brazos de Santiago (22 miles east of Brownsville on the Gulf of Mexico). There she found the Mexican sloop-of-war, General Bravo which was acting as a convoy for the Mexican transport schooner, Correo de Mexico, which was loaded with food supplies intended for the Mexican troops near Copano (near Goliad, Texas), on the Texas coast. The Invincible lowered a boat and sent an American officer, W. H. Livine, to the Bravo. Livine was received by the first lieutenant of the Bravo, a Mexican by the name of Fernando R. Davis. Livine explained the object of his visit to be to demand an explanation relative to certain insults to the American Consul at Matamoros. Davis held him as a hostage and immediately started a Mexican second lieutenant in the boat to the Invincible to invite the commander thereof to go ashore and communicate with the Consul at Matamoros. However, when the commander of the Invincible observed that the approaching yawl from the Bravo did not hold Livine he opened fire with artillery and rifles on the Bravo. The fire was returned but the Bravo was unable to pursue owing to the fact, as the Mexican commander claimed, that he had lost his rudder two days before.

The Mexicans also opened fire from shore with artillery and the Correo got under sail to pursue the Invincible which in the meantime had hoisted all sail and retreated towards the pass or bar.

As soon as the Invincible disappeared, Livine was tried before a court-martial and executed as a pirate on April 6. On April 9, 1837, the American man-of-war Natchez 1837 appeared off the port of Brazos de Santiago, 22 miles east of Brownsville, to investigate the detention of the

American schooners, Champion and Luisiana, which were being held by the Mexican Bark Urrea and the Mexican squadron which patroled the Texas coast, the two schooners having been sent by the Mexicans to Brazos with their papers to be tried. The Champion was anchored inside of the、 harbor, but the Luisiana was anchored outside near the Urrea. The Natchez drew up within pistol shot distance from the Urrea and after consulting with the Captain of the Luisiana, ignoring the protests of the Mexican commanders and the request that she should come to anchor, ordered the Mexican soldiers and sailors who were in temporary charge of the Luisiana to disembark, and thereupon towed the Luisiana away. The Natchez returned on the 12th, and after soliciting permission to communicate with the Captain of the Champion, which request was refused by the Mexicans, cleared her decks and threatening the Urrea should she move while the yawls were in transit to and from shore where they went with a communication to the Captain of the Port, and finally demanded and made the Urrea lower her flag and hoist the stars and stripes. A small sized battle was staged by the Bravo which soon ended when the Natchez opened with her big guns and retired with the Champion in tow. Mexico immediately ordered that all vessels flying the American flag should be detained when found in Mexican waters, but finally agreed that those which had arrived and were engaged in peaceful commercial pursuits should be permitted to go their way. The Texan schooner Independence, however, having aboard the Commissioner who was to seek a recognition of the Texas independence, was detained.

On June 24, 1837, Commodore A. J. Dallas, on the Frigate Constellation, accompanied by four boats of his squadron, appeared at Vera Cruz. Dallas disembarked and in an interview with the Port Captain, showed a letter from Gen. Filisola, commander at Matamoros, disavowing the acts of

the Urrea relative to the Champion and Luisiana, attributing the act to ignorance. Dallas exacted a like communication from the Port Captain who had likewise disavowed the act. The Port Captain alleged that neither he nor Filisola had authority to admit such matters in writing, and referred him to the general government. Then Dallas addressed the Port Captain as follows:

"Having carefully studied your communication, I find that the only point to which it might be necessary to answer is that relative to your lack of power to guarantee that the humbling and outrageous infraction of the existing treaty between the United States and the Republic of Mexico, committed by the naval forces of the latter in the capture of various American merchantmen shall not be repeated. By virtue thereof, it is my duty, and you may rest assured, Sir General, that with profound regret I take this step, to leave sufficient forces on the Mexican coast to protect the commercial interests of the United States against future aggressions."

Some lengthy correspondence took place between the two governments which soon brought about a better state of feeling, however, and the matters complained of were soon passed over.

Texas

Not satisfied with the act of Santa Anna in surrendering his forces at San Jacinto, and believing it to have been an act of treachery, leaders of the Mexican army sought to reopen the affair and with that end in view assailed San Antonio, Texas, on the fifteenth day of September, 1842, carrying away with them as they retreated 60 prisoners.

The Texans, hastily but poorly organized, immediately followed the Mexicans to Laredo, about 220 miles northwest from Brownsville, and from there marched down the river to a point opposite Mier, Mexico.

On December 25-26, 1842, the Texans, some 261 in number, attacked the Mier, Mexico, garrison, and had practically won the battle, according to the statements of Gen. Thos. Green, of the Texan forces, when, after a parley under a flag of truce they, 242 men, surrendered to the Mexicans. This surrender was impelled by a shortage of provisions and ammunition. In the battle of Mier, the Texans lost 16 killed and 8 wounded. The Mexican loss is unknown, but Gen. Green estimated it to be 250 killed and wounded.

It was while these 242 prisoners were on the way to Mexico City overland that the Texans overpowered their captors and effected their escape. Of those who escaped 176 were recaptured. By order of Santa Anna they were made to draw beans, there being one black to every ten white. The person who should draw a black bean was to be shot. Seventeen were executed. Capt. Ewin Cameron, a sturdy Scott who headed the expedition and after whom Cameron County, Texas, was named, drew a white bean and was entitled to his liberty, but by orders of Santa Anna he was executed near the City of Mexico. Some years later, after many had scaled the steep walls of their prison, the Castle