centrating men and supplies on the lower Nueces and were scheduled to aid in the proposed attack on Matamoros. However, when Canales marched to the Río Grande, the Pontchartrain remained at Matagorda and the Cornelia, mounting one of the twelve-pound cannons taken from her, lay at Corpus Christi undergoing repairs from an accident.[122]

Canales was again in Galveston on June 16, where he no doubt saw Lamar[123]  and received a communication from Lipscomb, the Texan Secretary of State, pertaining to two deserters from the Texan navy who had joined the Federalist forces. Canales denied any intention whatsoever of permitting those under his orders to conceal deserters from the Texan service, and declared that the company alluded to by Lipscomb as harboring the deserters was not enlisted in the Federal service. He said that he had been informed "that Cap[tain] Stone, who commands the citizens alluded to, will with pleasure accompany Lieut. Williamson or any other officer in examining all the men that accompany him, and should such deserters be recognized among them, far from admitting or concealing them he will do everything in his power to have them apprehended."[124]

After a brief stay at Galveston, Canales again returned to his troops on the Texas frontier, and by proclamation transferred his headquarters to San Patricio. He called for more volunteers, and it was rumored that General Albert Sidney Johnston, who had resigned as Secretary of War in February 1840, had been offered the command of the Federal army.[125]  In spite of Lamar's proclamation, a number of adventuresome young men rallied to the Federalist cause. "Many young men are leaving Houston and Galveston for the Federal army," reported the Brazos Courier. "They had better stay at home." It is "Humbug -- To call the Federalists patriots; and maintain that they are fighting in a