About this time there were frequent rumors of an invasion of the country, but being generally of an unauthorized character, but little notice was paid to them. It was generally believed that the terms upon which Cos had been permitted to return to Mexico would be complied with by him and that his defeat would serve as a warning to Santa Anna and induce him to postpone operations until summer.By Colonel Neillís absence, Colonel James Bowie was left in command but he was shortly afterwards taken sick and confined to his bed. In a few days, however, Colonel Travis reached Bexar and, by the request of the former, accepted the command. Travis had been commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel and ordered to raise a regiment of men for the regular service, but owing to the distracted state of the public mind and the embarrassing condition of affairs generally, he had been unable to do so. In the meantime, rumors of a suspicious character reached him. It was said that the country would be invaded much sooner than had been expected. Regarding the maintenance of the position of Bexar as of vital importance to the country, and knowing the inadequacy of the forces there, he set out forthwith to join them. On his route he enlisted about twenty men, with which number he reached Bexar a few days after Colonel Neillís departure.Colonel David Crockett arrived a few days later with twelve others, direct from Tennessee. Crockett was immediately offered a command by Travis, and called upon by the crowd for a speech. The former honor he would not accept, but mounted a goods-box on the Civil Plaza, amongst prolonged cheers of the people. The applause, however, was followed by profound silence, when the full-toned voice of the distinguished speaker rose gradually above the audience and fell with smooth and lively accent upon the ears of all. Its sound was familiar to many who had heard it in days past, while the hearts of all beat a lively response to the patriotic sentiments which fell from his lips. Frequently applause greeted him, as he related in his own peculiar style some of those jolly anecdotes with which he often regaled his friends and which he, only, could tell with appropriate grace. He alluded frequently to his past career and during the course of his remarks stated that not long since he had been a candidate for Congress in his native State and that during the canvass he told his constituents that "if they did not elect him, they might all go to----- and he would go to Texas." After which he concluded in substance as follows: "And fellow citizens, I am among you. I have come to your country, though not, I hope, through any selfish motive whatever. I have come to aid you all that I can in your noble cause. I shall identify myself with your interests, and all the honor that I desire is that of defending as a high private, in common with my fellow-citizens, the liberties of our common country."This made many a man who had not known him before Colonel Crockett's friend.