Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. V

255

No. 181 LETTER FROM D. E. TWIGGS TO L. THOMAS

Head Quarters Department of Texas San Antonio, July 27th, 1858.

Sir.

By Department Order No. 18 you fill find I have made a disposition of the 2nd Cavalry Companies on this frontier. I re- spectfully ask permission of the General in Chief to detach three or four Companies in the fall, to leave on the 15th of September, to go into the Indian Country, and follow up the Comanches to the residence of their families : this Command to remain some three or our months, or until spring. It is necessary to have the orders of the General-in-chief, as the Command might find it necessary to follow the Indians into another Department. I intend if the permission is given to put the Command under Major Van Dorn as I have every confidence in his capacity and energy to conduct such an expedition. The 2nd Cavalr.y, being concentrated at Fort Belknap, has, in my opinion, restrained the Indians from retaliating on the settlements for the attack on them by the Texans lately. I again would respectfully represent that in my opinion, one or two topographical officers might be very usefully employed in the Department.

I am sir very respectfully Your Obt. Servt D. E. TWIGGS

Bvt. Maj. Genl. U. S. A. Comdg. Dept.

Lieut Cr. L. Thomas.

Asst. Adjt. General Head qrs. of the Army West Point, N. Y.

P. S.

The above movement on the plains will involve no additional expense, as the public Mules and wagons can be used for trans- portation

(sigd) D. E. TWIGGS

Bvt. Maj. Genl. U. S. A.