In the fortress, the plaza, the houses, the churches, the streets, their fiery words kept society in a ferment.
But through all this turmoil the small duties of life went on.

Soldiers were parading the streets, and keeping watch on the flat roofs of the houses; men were solemly{sic} swearing allegiance to Santa Anna, or flying by night to the camp of the Americans; life and death were held at a pin's fee; but eating and dressing, dancing and flirting were pursued with an eagerness typical of pleasure caught in the passing.
And every hour these elements gathered intensity.

The always restless populace of San Antonio was at a feverish point of impatience.

They wanted the war at their own doors.

They wanted the quarrel fought out on their own streets.