83
TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1844-1845
This paper is given in testimony
of the Friendship existing between the two Countries. [Seal]
Done at the City of Washington this twenty fifth day of July one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
JAMES K. POLK President of the United States of America
Geo. L. Mency Secretary of War.
No. 52 LETTER FROM THOMAS G. WESTERN TO BENJAMIN SLOAT Ft. Milam 27 July 1844 Dr Sir By Mr Barnard who will hand you this, you will receive three men who have' 'volunteered their services in the defense of your place against any attack that may be made upon it, with those who probably arrived with you today from Suttons your force will amount to 15 men or more and as Agent at the Post the Command of them will probably devolve upon you whether this should be the case or not, you will always bear in mind that a Treaty of peace and amity exists between us and the Waco and Tawakoni you will therefore be careful 1Wt to violate it or become the aggressors or assailants under any cir- cumstances: if those indfans are so disposed they will not fail to commit some overt act, this will afford you the opportunity to repel force by force, and when driven to this extremity you will not fail to punish the aggressors most exemplarily and teach them a lesson they will not readily forget, if the reports be true, those bad indians will soon show their hands, and then you will have ample scope to give them the chastisement they merit--but--be careful. Let them first commit themselves do not commit y[ou]rself by s~riking first-I repeat, the Treaty must be respected by us. I shall leave here tomorrow for the Navasota to apprise the cit~zens there of the state of affairs and to get some of them to act as rangers or spies between there and your Post, and also to get some of the Delaware to join you, meanwhile keep out
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