[77] Niles' Reg. vol. 68, p. 305. [78] S. Q. Rev. _ut antea_. Senate doc. No. 337, 29th cong. 1st sess. p. 93. [79] S. Q. Rev. _ut antea_. [80] Southern Quarterly Review, _ut antea_. These statements are made by an able and distinguished officer of our army, who was on the field, and is perfectly versed in all the matters he discusses. CHAPTER II. Our position at Corpus Christi--Instructions to Taylor as to the boundary of the Rio Grande--Taylor's views--Review and history of the boundary question--Letter from Mr. Adams--Santa Anna's agreements with Texas, &c.--March to the Rio Grande ordered--Justification in a military point of view of the occupation of the disputed territory--Anecdote of Frederick the Great--War in Silesia and Austria--Madison's conduct to Spain in 1810--Right of declaration of war--Justifiable causes of war--Opinion of Sir J. Mackintosh--War and diplomacy contrasted. One of the most inclement winters in the Gulf of Mexico had passed in the comfortless manner described in the last chapter. Our attempts to negotiate with Mexico were repulsed, and although our minister had not yet returned to the United States--having delayed at Jalapa with the hope of finding Paredes more accessible than Herrera--every thing indicated an ultimate defeat of diplomacy. Meanwhile our forces at Corpus Christi were gradually augmenting, under the command of Generals Taylor and Worth. In October, 1845, the troops amounted to near four thousand, and General Taylor made every preparation, by reconnoissances between the Nueces and the Rio Grande for the ultimate defence of soil which had been claimed by our government as part of Texas.[81] As a military man it was not his duty to affix the boundaries that were to be the subject of negotiation or war; but simply to ascertain precisely the extent of defence required along a disputed territory, and to dispose his troops accordingly.[82]