[Des Arc, Ark.] The Constitutional Union, November 16, 1860
Gen. Bickley, who signs himself “President American Legion,” writes as follows to The Galveston News of the causes of his delay to cross the Mexican Rubicon:
“The recent failure of Gen. Walker in his expedition to Honduras, and the silence of our Government in reference to the intervention of the British, has caused many to fear that our take would be more difficult than had been previously supposed. The difficulty of transporting large quantities of material and troops across the country, and the approaching Presidential contest, have all shown how necessary to success is the element of time. Arms that ought to have been at our rendezvous have not arrived, and agents have to be sent in search of them. Corn must be shipped from the Ohio river, and the force in this State simultaneously assembled. All this is the work of time. To throw ourselves in a body of 400 or 500 men only across the river would insure disaster. This will not do—if I cross it must be with every element of success in my hands, viz: men, arms, and materials. We shall cross at the earliest possible moment.”