for the peace, tranquility, settlement, and development of the lower country.[30] 

Following a visit to the western frontier in the summer of 1839, John Browne, second lieutenant and assistant quartermaster in the regular army of Texas, reported that he found Victoria "filled with a set of men who have given themselves the title of a band of Brothers," and that he soon learned

. . . that what they said was law. They are in the cow stealing business and are scattered all over this frontier. They pretend to say that they only steal from the enemy but I am convinced, to the contrary that they steal from the Texians as well as Mexicans. I think it well to mention the names of some of the promonent persons engaged in order that the Government may be better acquainted with the character of some of its officers; Mr. [Samuel] Hughes[31]  the Customs House officer for Copono headed a party not long since and drove in four hundred head of cattle. A Mr. [John T.] Price formerly a Lieut in the Army also heads a party. Mr. [Cornelius] Van Ness[32]  says he thinks Judge [James C.] Allen[33]  at Carlos Rancho is silently connected with them. I have been told that they drove off from Carlos Rancho a caballarda belonging to Alderetta [José Miguel Aldrete] and [Juan N.] Seguin that the owners know well where their property is but dare not proceed to recover it; also that the cow stealers when on the New Aces [Nueces] the other day (some of them badly mounted) took from a party of Mexican traders all their property and killed eight of them.

While I was at Goliad one of the Gang asked me in a commanding way if I belonged to [Reuben] Ross's company [sent to maintain order on the