after finally meeting with general magruder shortly after leaving brownsville, fremantle continued his journey across the texan desert, dutifully recording in his diary his observations about the taste of polecat, the snuff habits of texan women, and allusions to the coarse language of his drivers and travelling companions. he finally arrived in san antonio, texas, on 24 april, where he sold most of his luggage, and from there travelled to houston, texas, where he arrived on 30 april. here, he dined with general william read scurry, and observed that those confederate officers he encountered were extremely complimentary about great britain and the queen, even proposing toasts to her health and to the empire. fremantle now proceeded with haste across the remaining texan countryside, as rumours concerning the fate of alexandria, louisiana began to reach him. furthermore, the continuing siege of vicksburg, mississippi, was another source of anxiety, as the capture of the city would make passage across the mississippi river practically impossible.