[4241] [RUSK to WHARTON]
Dimmitls 22d Sept 1836
Hon John A. Wharton
Dr SirI have received your letters no. 4. 5. 6. 7 together with your orders no. 5 & 6 with regard to the Acljt. Gent I can nol possibly spare him from Camp until my health is sufficiently recovered to go there at present I am five miles from Camp very weak and recovering slowly. The reports required from the Inspector Gent will be forward as soon as his health which is improving will enable him to make them out as soon as possible some arrangement shall be made relative to either the Adjut Genl or his asst repairing to the Seat of Government these matters will be attended lo cheerfully. It gives me great pleasure that these requisitions are made as it shows what has not heretofore been manifested some interest by the Government in relation to the Army- In one of your letters you speak in the event of not proceeding to Mattamoras of concentrating the Regular Troops on Galveston. It is my decided opinion that they ought neither to be concentrated in the Army as it would be almost impossible without them to keep up anything like discipline & subordination amongst the Volunteers. The Army will be from this time forth greatly in want of Blankets and winter clothing. We also need very much at least twenty waggons & teams for the transportation of baggage and seventy mules for the Artillery. I would also suggest the propriety of raising about one hundred and fifty regular Cavalry (the savages will not do) had I had a force of that kind I could have saved at least three hundred horses to the Army, and have driven back twenty or thirty thousand head of cattle more than I have been able to do with the kind of Troops I have had at my disposition. In your report to Congress I hope you will urge.the propriety of increasing the Regular force and accepting no volunteers for short periods. The Mattamoras expedition for the present has been abandoned as I have before informed you the Vessels sent round were not sufficient to have transported the men. The length of time which had been consumed in preparation had operated to reduce my Cavalry by discharges to a small number having no vessels of War to convoy the other vessels and men and a heavy
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