223 respectfully beg leave to refer your Excellency confidently to Ex: Governors Henderson, Wood and Bell as to my former Mili- tary services on the frontier of Texas, and military experience and capability generaly.
I am Sir Very Respectfully
Your friend & obt. Servant. J. M. SMITH Capt Waco Rifle Rangers.
[Endorsed:]
J M. Smith Waco
No. 163 LETTER FROM JOHN S. FORD TO H. R. RUNNELS
Head Quarters, Texas Rangers, Camp Adams, Brown County, February 27th 1858
Governor
Up to this time I have met no Indians They are, however, in the surrounding country, but in small parties and on foot. It is impossible to trail them. I have at this point nearly one hun- dred men. I have determined to scour the whole region between the lower Pecan Bayou and the Colorado. For that purpose four detachments will move in parallel lines from here to the mouth of Pecan Bayou ; and return by way of the east bank of the stream. In this manner we shall make a thorough reconnoisance of the district now infested by the savages; and I hope we shall find and chastise them. The accounts which have been published of the Indian depredations in this region have not been exagger- ated. They really fall short of the fact. The settlements in this quarter and below are almost deserted-the loss of property has been great, and the sense of insecurity has paralyzed business almost entirely. I may add that, the same is to some extent true of other points. These considerations, and the great length of the line I am required to protect have induced me to respectfully suggest the propriety of augmenting my force by the addition of twenty five men to operate between Pecan Bayou and the Colo- rado River for the purpose of covering the settlements on these and intermediate streams.
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