man and wishes lo do all he can & never to travel beyond lhe strict sphere of his duly. This al least is my opinion of him. Confer with him and lhe S'y of war-arrange all lhe details even the most minute, issue lhe necessary orders lo Lhe Quarter Master I believe he will promptly attend lo them. Keep Gen. Rusk informed of all that is done & whal he can calculate on & send him reports from the Quarter Master as to the quantity of provisions, amunitions, transports &c Lhal can be furnished & when lo a day-also a report from the S'y. of War of Lilf~ number of men, arms, &c that can be furnished- Without their reports the commanding Gen! can nol make any certain calculation & will really have jusl cause lo complain
Yours S. F. Austin
His Excy D. G. Burnet
[4006) [HOUSTON to BRYANT]
Nacogdoches T. 16th Aug 36
Dear Sir
Your letter was duly received and in reply I take pleasure in stating to you that yr recollection is very just as to what passed on the Brasos in relation to deserters. You asked about the fact of accepting one volunleer in place of another of the same company when both were bound each for himself. I told you that could not be done for it only cost a man instead of supplying the deficiency occasioned by ones leaving the service. You did not men lion Gaines' name to me that I recollect of: but I remember you asked me whal you were to do in relalion to the deserters from your company when I told you lo report them in a written list to the adjt Genl. of the army. While I was al Col Sublelt's James Gaines Esq wrote to me a long and wild letter, giving his political faith, and said his son was no deserter and forwarded the inclosed certificates lo me, which I send for your use, as you may please, purporting to be signed by you and Lieut Hale, acknowledging that you had taken a man by the name of David Roberts as a suhstilule for his son. I thought ii strange that receipls exisle<l, and I had never heard of them. He· wrote lo me that he had sent copies to the Cabinet and the army likewise. In answer I wrote him a kind letter hoping all was righl,
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