me growing out of the murder of a Mexican at Victory [Victoria] in Texas.[82]  Molano's report six months later of the evacuation of Victoria makes it appear that it was "necessary for him to lance the Texans by force from the city and to kill one of them in order to dissuade the others by this example from the unheard-of excesses that they were commiting."[83]

The Federalists remained at Aguayo several days without the enemy putting in his appearance. At this point, about 3 o'clock on the morning of the 8th, Molano sent Jordan word that it would be necessary to go farther on to unite with Captains García and Montenegros who were encamped beyond in the pass and there await the enemy. Accordingly, Jordan resumed the march and about daylight joined García. Here he was informed that the beeves he had ordered for the subsistence of the troops had not been procured, and that their only recourse for provisions was to cross the mountains. Therefore, on the 10th the Federalists renewed their march southwestward towards Jaumave, situated on a buttress of the Sierra de Tamaulipas, and General Arista coming by way of Santa Eduvige on the 10th, occupied Victoria on the 11th.[84]

On the 8th the Federalist governor, José Nuñez de Caceres, "knowing with full certainty that they [the Federalists] have crossed the mountains," addressed a letter[85]  to the former prefect, Luiz Pérez, resigning his position and turning the powers of government over to the Centralists. On the 10th Arista suggested that Pérez convene the junta which had voted adherence to the Federalist cause and have