History of the War Between Mexico and The United States by Brantz Mayer

Army marches from Corpus Christi -- Taylor prepares the Mexicans for his advance -- Description of the march -- Beautiful prairie and desolate sand wilderness -- Rattlesnakes -- Chapparal -- The Arroyo Colorado -- First hostile demonstrations of the Mexicans -- Expected fight -- Cross the Colorado -- Worth and Taylor separate -- True nature of discipline -- Characters of Mexican and American soldiers contrasted.

On the 8th of March, 1846, the joyous news ran through the American camp, at Corpus Christi, that the tents were at last to be struck. The worn out soldiery had nothing to regret in quitting a spot where their eyes were only relieved by looking from the dreary sea in front to the desolate prairie in the rear. General Taylor had already taken means to prepare the Mexicans for his advance, although he scarcely expected resistance. Respectable citizens from Matamoros had frequently visited his camp; and to all of those who were represented as possessing influence at home he proclaimed the unhostile feelings of our government towards their country, and that when our army marched southward it would not pass the Rio Grande unless Mexico provoked war. He invariably apprized these strangers of his resolution to protect the peaceful inhabitants in all their rights and usages, as well as to pay for every thing needed by his forces instead of plundering the country for support.