The soldiers generally were in sympathy with those who demanded their discharge, having faithfully served out the term of their enlistment.

Others felt that their own turn might come when they too might be thus enslaved.
There was a bridge which it was necessary for the soldiers to cross on the homeward route.

The inflexible General, supposing that the regulars would be obedient to military discipline, and that it would be for their interest to retain in the camp those whose departure would endanger all their lives placed them upon the bridge, with cannon loaded to the muzzle with grape-shot.

They were ordered mercilessly to shoot down any who should attempt to cross without his permission.

In Crockett's ludicrous account of this adventure, he writes: "The General refused to let us go.