Green, J. of the Texian Expedition Against Mier (tjg

Friends and Countrymen,

Since our separation I have heard of your difficulties and trials, at which my heart has sorely bled; at the same time, we have not been without ours. If we have suffered much, it will be a consolation beyond all price that it was for our country, and in the cause of liberty and equal rights; and while we mourn the loss of one fifth of our brave companions, let us believe that our country and posterity will do them and us justice. We are taught to believe that justice, eternal [303] and all-pervading, is the peculiar province of God; and under this bright hope the time must come, when, in recounting our wrongs, we may point with pride to the debit side of the account.

We are informed from various unofficial sources, besides through the letters of the United States minister in Mexico, that we are to be liberated on the 13th instant. To see you all safely landed at home once more is my weightiest care; and, knowing that but few of you have the means, I have taken some steps to procure a vessel at Vera Cruz, by the time of your arrival, for your transmission. Should we be liberated on that day, I have advised our companions here to stop at Xalapa, about thirty miles distant, until I can go to Vera Cruz and perfect an arrangement for their sailing, as it would be very dangerous for them to remain in that place, where the yellow fever is already bad. I also advise you to come to that place, where you will join your comrades, and where I hope to meet you with the arrangements for sailing.

I beg, my dear friends, that all and each of you will accept my warmest feelings for your happiness and welfare.

Thomas J. Green

The 13th of June drew near, and every officer we met told us that "in a little time we would leave that place and return to our country and friends." The soldiers, by way of congratulating us, in their mixture of Spanish and English, would make a flourish [304] peculiar to the Mexican people, dash their right hand through their left in the direction of Texas, and say, "Poco-tiempo Texas" (Texas in a little while). Even this from the most stupid soldier flattered our desire; but still, the 13th came and went, and no liberation. The next day it was promised, but the next failed of liberation. The next, and still the next, came and passed under a like promise from our officers, bringing with each successive day the chagrin of disappointment to take the place of joyous hopes.

In a few days, however, letters from the capital explained the secret of our detention. President Santa Anna had changed his determination of liberating us as soon as he was informed that President Houston had sent out a party under Colonel Snively to rob the Santa Fé traders. In Houston's order to Snively it was stipulated that "the spoils should be equally divided between the government