Major Jacob Brown, of the 7th infantry, the commanding officer, had been killed, and in his honor the fort was named.

Since then a town of considerable importance has sprung up on the ground occupied by the fort and troops, which has also taken his name.
The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma seemed to us engaged, as pretty important affairs; but we had only a faint conception of their magnitude until they were fought over in the North by the Press and the reports came back to us.

At the same time, or about the same time, we learned that war existed between the United States and Mexico, by the acts of the latter country.

On learning this fact General Taylor transferred our camps to the south or west bank of the river, and Matamoras was occupied.

We then became the "Army of Invasion." Up to this time Taylor had none but regular troops in his command; but now that invasion had already taken place, volunteers for one year commenced arriving.