Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/87

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REFUSAL TO RECEIVE MR. SLIDELL
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command of Colonel Twiggs,[1] left the encampment. The two brigades of infantry followed in succession, the last leaving Corpus Christi 0n the 11th. General Taylor and staff accompanied the rear brigade. The steamers and transports, containing the provisions and supplies for a dépót to be established at Point Isabel,[2] the siege train and field battery, together with a company of artillery and the engineer and ordnance officers, commanded by Major Munroe, left Corpus Christi at the same time, under convoy of the brigs of war Porpoise and Lawrence, and the revenue cutter Woodbury.

Meanwhile, the anticipated revolution had taken place. Mr. Slidell waited two days after the publication of the dictamen of the council of government, in the expectation of receiving a reply to a note he had addressed to Peña y Peña, on the 16th of December, desiring to be informed what were the difficulties in the way of his reception. Having received no communication from the Mexican Minister, he wrote a second note on the 20th instant, to which a reply was returned on the same day, communicating the positive determination of the Mexican government not to receive him. This decision was made too late to save the administration. Its want of firmness and decision was so manifest, that the military in the capital pronounced in favor of the revolutionists on the 29th of December, and on

  1. General David E. Twiggs entered the army in 1812, as a captain in the 8th Infantry, and served during the war. He also acted under the orders of Generals Gaines and Jackson during the Seminole war, and rendered efficient services in the difficulties with the Sacs and Foxes, and the Florida Indians. He was appointed Colonel of the 2nd Dragoons on the 8th of July, 1836, and promoted to the rank of brigadier general on the 30th of June, 1816.
  2. Point Isabel lies north — east of the island of Brazos, on the opposite side of the Laguna Madre. The village at the Point was called by the Mexicans, Frontone.