under a big oak tree and planned the Texas attack for the following day. He also gave orders that he was not to be disturbed; he had slept an average of three hours a night for the past two weeks(Hoyt 154).The Mexicans withdrew to the position in front of Peggy Lake and began to protect it as best they could. The Mexican soldiers labored on their five-foot-high fortifications all afternoon and late into the night. And at dawn on the morning of April 21 the Mexicans expected an attack. None came. At 9:00, General Cs arrived at the Mexican camp with 540 men and a pack of mules; they had marched all night and crossed Vince's Bridge at Lynches Ferry. The new arrivals were exhausted from their long march but they had to make camp; so the newcomers stacked arms, put up their tents, and lay down to rest. Santa Anna and his men were exhausted from their long night of efforts so they did the same(Hoyt 152). General Houston told Deaf Smith to go make a count to see how many men Santa Anna had. So Smith picked up Walter Lane and they mounted their horses, rode around the Mexican camp, and stopped about 300 yards behind it. He was spotted from the camp, and soon bullets were flying by. Smith paid no attention, but went on with his count until a troop of Mexican cavalry came after them. He climbed on his horse again and they rode back to the Texas camp. Deaf Smith reported his findings; General Houston told him to go ahead and destroy Vince's Bridge. Smith rounded up half a dozen riders and they set out on the five-mile ride to the bridge.Around noon, the officers and soldiers began to grow visibly upset about not attacking yet. The officers demanded a council and General Houston accepted, although that was not what he wanted to do. The officers gathered and everyone had their turn to speak. They argued back and forth: Should they attack or should they wait in their superb defense position for the Mexicans to attack? General Houston took no po...
