time I found myself expressly instructed by a letter from the Department of War dated May 4. 1834 -(of which a copy is annexed No. 1.) - that the President with sanction the employment of whatever force may be necessary to protect the western frontier of the United States from hostile incursion: and that the Department of War had addressed the Governors of the Stales of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama requesting them to call into service such militia force as I may find necessary in carrying into effect the instructions heretofore given lo men adding "the theater of operations is so distant from the seal of Government that much must be trusted lo your direction." "The two great objects you have to allain, are first the protection of the "frontiers, and Secondly as strict a performance of the neutral duties "of the United States, as the great object of self defence will permit" and when to this is added the Secretary's letter to you of the same date of which the following is an Extract- "I am instructed by the "Presidenl lo request your Excellency to call into the service of the United States, the number of militia which have been or may be required by "General Gaines," there can be no ground to doubt that I was fully authorised lo request of you the Regiment in question. Thal from 4000to10,000lndian Warriors will be employed against the inhabitants of the disputed Territory as soon as the Theatre of the war between Mexico and Texas is estended Lo the left bank of the Brazos I have not a doubt: unless indeed the prospect of our houring on this frontier sufficient mounted force lo repel the invasion of the disputed Territory and afford lo the defenciless inhabitants that protection which we have promised lo afford them. I am more than willing to risk myself with 1,600 men for the protection of a thirty Settled frontier of 400 miles extant; but with full authority from the Department of War to call for whatever force I may deem necessary and proper for the purpose. I am not willinu lo have less force than I have called for without a 0 force of 1,000 men held ready for action upon this frontier, the Indians can in one month destroy nine tenths of the inhabitants within the disputed Territory, with a great part of the adjacent Settlements, including those upon the Red river from Alexandria lo Fort Towson, embracing a large portion of the original
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