But he was taken sick before Monterey, and died within a few days.

I have always believed that had his life been spared, he would have been President of the United States during the term filled by President Pierce.

Had Hamer filled that office his partiality for me was such, there is but little doubt I should have been appointed to one of the staff corps of the army--the Pay Department probably--and would therefore now be preparing to retire.

Neither of these speculations is unreasonable, and they are mentioned to show how little men control their own destiny.
Reinforcements having arrived, in the month of August the movement commenced from Matamoras to Camargo, the head of navigation on the Rio Grande.

The line of the Rio Grande was all that was necessary to hold, unless it was intended to invade Mexico from the North.