The most favorable posthumous history the stay-at-home traitor can hope for is--oblivion.
Mexico showing no willingness to come to the Nueces to drive the invaders from her soil, it became necessary for the "invaders" to approach to within a convenient distance to be struck.

Accordingly, preparations were begun for moving the army to the Rio Grande, to a point near Matamoras.

It was desirable to occupy a position near the largest centre of population possible to reach, without absolutely invading territory to which we set up no claim whatever.
The distance from Corpus Christi to Matamoras is about one hundred and fifty miles.

The country does not abound in fresh water, and the length of the marches had to be regulated by the distance between water supplies.

Besides the streams, there were occasional pools, filled during the rainy season, some probably made by the traders, who travelled constantly between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande, and some by the buffalo.