than two hundred Texans. Spies were sent regularly to Camargo, Reinosa, Guerrero, and other points on the Río Grande to report on conditions there.[17]

San Antonio proved a haven of succor and comfort to the Federalists. The frontier traders, Samuel A. Maverick, mayor of the city, John W. Smith, Leandro Arriola, the Menchacas, Navarros, Seguins, and others were quite active in the support of the Federal cause. O'Driscoll's Tavern, at Refugio, was also the scene of considerable activity, serving both as headquarters and refueling station for some of the Texan units. Vidaurri obtained a loan of upwards of $3,000 from Samuel G. Powell, long time resident of Texas, of which Andrew Neill was fully cognizant.[18]

Supplies were assembled at various Texas and United States ports, particularly at New Orleans, and sent by the schooners Louisiana and Olynthus, the latter under the command of Captain Philip Black. Both vessels were owned by the mercantile establishment of Black & Schoolfield of Austin.[19]  Colonel James Power, mayor of the city of Aransas and justice of the peace of Refugio County,[20]  and Colonel Henry L. Kinney, "who were at the time associated together in the mercantile business and the promotion of a townsite at Live Oak Point," saw in the Federalist movement an opportunity for profitable commercial enterprise. In September 1839, Kinney transferred his business to Corpus Christi to be nearer the scene of operations, and thereafter for a number of years from his ranch became the purveyor of supplies and information to armed bands and ranger troops, spy companies, and "armies," both Mexican and Texan, operating in that area. At one time enthusiastic about the cause of Mexican federalism, Kinney's interests now deviated to the making of a quick dollar in a lucrative contraband trade. Even Memucan Hunt, the Texan representative on the joint United States-Texas Boundary Commission, "determined to commence a trade with the northern States of Mexico" at some point