47Gaines explains his advance, under instructions, in the following let-
ter of July 18, 1836: "We expect to hear of some hard fighting in Texas
soon--I am still convinced that nothing but force, and that of a number
and description rendering it disposable and imposing, will preserve this
frontier and the disputed territory from assault." Quoted from the
Charleston Courier
in El
Correo
Atlantico,
August 15, 1836. Cf. Gaines
"to the officer commanding the U. S. troops at or near Nacogdoches," July
10, 1836, explaining the advance as based on Jackson's instructions, in
National
Intelligencer,
August 10, 1836. The Texans were in fear of a
renewal of the war by Mexico, which fact caused Gaines to cross the
Sabine.
