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No. 162 LETTER FROM J.M. SMITH TOH. R. RUNNELS
Waco Feby 25th 1858.-
To
His Excellency Hardin, R. Runnels Governor of Texas, Sir
In View of the fact that the cry comes from every quarter of the uper Frontier for Succour and protection, and we hear continually of the murders and deppredations com- mited every few weeks upo nour exposed Fellow Citizens So that no one of our brave frontiersmen can retire at night without ex- pecting each moment the War Whoop of the bloodthirsty savage to burst upon his ear, And believing that the anticipated with- drawel of most of the Regular troops from our Frontier in conce- quence of the threatend difficulties in Utah and Kanzas may leave their property, and their wives and children exposed to the deppredations and cruelties of the ruthless savage, and also in consequence of information received of the absconding of some 600 Comanches from the uper agency above Fort Belknap, after having received their Winter supplies, and especially in View of the fact that we have learned that the Legislature had passed a Joint Resolution instructing our members in the U. S. Congress to urge upon that body the necessity of calling into service a Regiment Texas Mounted Volunteer Rangers for the better pro- tection of our Frontier-I am authorized should the imergency arise, and do hereby tender to your Excellency the services of the Waco Rifle Rangers whom I have the honour to command. They are well mounted, efficiently armed, appropriately equipped, and thoroughly organized, and are mostly Runnels men, The few that were not, with your permission expect to be here- after. At all events they hold themselves in readiness to respond promply to any call of your Excellency upon their chivalry and patriotism. I would engage to bring into the field at ten days notice with my company at least 25 old experienced Texas Rangers with a friendly Dellaware Indian as trailer, spy and interpreter. Having taken my first lessons in Military Service in Florida under the brave and lamented Generals Armstrong and Taylor, and having us I hope rendered this my adopted State some little service in times past, to the best of my humble abilities, I would
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