ing the termination of the war" to commence trading with the Texans.[12]  On a recent visit to the west, General Morehouse found no reason for suspecting a Mexican invasion soon,[13]  and on November 4 all of the Texans who had been imprisoned at Matamoros arrived at Galveston on a vessel chartered by the Mexican government for the purpose of returning them to Texas.[14]  Apparently Mexico had no intention of launching another campaign against Texas any time soon.

Yet, late in 1837, it was again rumored at Houston that a Mexican force 1,500 strong had invaded Texas and had on December 20 attacked the Alamo, which was defended by two small units under Colonels Karnes and Wells.[15]  Captain Rodríquez's first-hand report on the 24th at San Felipe of the assault on San Antonio stirred great excitement. And at Houston, in a public meeting on the 26th at 12 o'clock noon, with Colonel A. S. Thurston in the chair and Francis R. Lubbock as secretary, a committee was appointed upon the motion of Dr. Ashbel Smith to draft an appropriate set of resolutions. The meeting then adjourned to 3 p.m. to await a report from its committee, consisting of General Albert Sidney Johnston, Francis Moore, Jr., B. C. Franklin, and Colonel Thurston. When the meeting reconvened, the committee introduced resolutions in favor of the appointment of a committee of vigilance "to aid and assist all who may wish to hasten immediately to the field of action, and to solicit the necessary means for procuring supplies of provisions, arms, horses," and other necessary items. In short order $2,000 was raised. The committee also recommended the creation of a committee of correspondence to keep in touch with the other towns of the Republic. Finally, since Mexico had disregarded the example of moderation and forbearance set by the Texan government in disbanding its army, the committee recommended the prosecution of "an offensive war against Mexico until the last vestige of tyranny shall have been swept from her limits."[16]  Upon the motion of Colonel Andrew Neill, a resolution was added to the above recommendations urging all persons wishing to march to the aid of Karnes and Wells at Béxar to assemble in front of the capitol the next morning at 9 o'clock.