We were not discouraged, however, and opened our fire upon the city.  During the first week, not a day passed without smart skirmishes.  General Cos’s dragoons were swarming about us like so many Bedouins.  But although well-mounted, and capital horsemen, they were no match for our backwoodsmen.  Those from the western states especially, accustomed to Indian warfare and cunning, laid traps and ambuscades for the Mexicans, and were constantly destroying their detachments.  As for the besieged, if one of them showed his head for ten seconds above the city wall, he was sure of getting a rifle bullet through it.  I cannot say that our besieging army was a perfect model of military discipline; but any deficiencies in that respect were made good by the intelligence of the men, and the zeal and unanimity with which they pursued the accomplishment of one great object—­the capture of the city—­the liberty and independence of Texas.

The badness of the gunpowder used by the Mexicans, was again of great service to us.  Many of their cannon balls that fell far short of us, were collected and returned to them with powerful effect.  We kept a sharp look-out for convoys, and captured no less than three—­one of horses, another of provisions, and twenty thousand dollars in money.

After an eight weeks’ siege, a breach having been made, the city surrendered, and a month later the fort followed the example.  With a powerful park of artillery, we then advanced upon Goliad, the strongest fortress in Texas, which likewise capitulated in about four weeks’ time.  We were now masters of the whole country, and the war was apparently at an end.

But the Mexicans were not the people to give up their best province so easily.  They have too much of the old Spanish character about them—­that determined obstinacy which sustained the Spaniards during their protracted struggle against the Moors.  The honour of their republic was compromised, and that must be redeemed.  Thundering proclamations were issued, denouncing the Texians as rebels, who should be swept off the face of the earth, and threatening the United States for having aided us with money and volunteers.  Ten thousand of the best troops in Mexico entered Texas and were shortly to be followed by ten thousand more.  The President, General Santa Anna, himself came to take the command, attended by a numerous and brilliant staff.

The Texians laughed at the fanfarronades of the dons, and did not attach sufficient importance to these formidable preparations.  Their good opinion of themselves, and contempt of their foes, had been increased to an unreasonable degree by their recent and rapid successes.  They forgot that the troops to which they had hitherto been opposed were for the most part militia, and that those now advancing against them were of a far better description, and had probably better powder.  The call to arms made by our president, Burnet, was disregarded by many, and we could only