Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. V

319 men who are unfit for, or unwilling to perform active duty, or whose animals are in such condition as to render them unfit for active service you are authorized and directed to discharge them without further orders, your Express men have remained here awaiting my orders. Should there be application made to the command from the Civil authorities, to assist in the arrest of Garland and his men for the alleged murder of the friendly Indians in Palo Pinto County in December, you will give your assistance promptly, as heretofore instructed, to the authorities for the execution of the warrants, and bring the parties before the proper tribunals for examination. You are aware of the prudence and caution neces- sary in the execution of so delicate a trust, and will resort to force only when it becomes absolutely necessary, to exercise it, to ensure the execution of the mandates of the law. You are au- thorized and will be expected to meet force with force, in the aforesaid contingency. H. R. RUNNELS No. 228 GEN. TWIGGS SPECIAL ORDERS, COPY TO Gov. RUNNELS Head Quarters, Department of Texas, San Antonio, March 3rd, 1859 Special Orders, No. 12. I. . . Information having been received at this Head Quarters to the effect that a lawless band of armed men is being organized in this vicinity for the purpose of proceeding to Mexico to capture runaway negroes and then to sell them, and divide the proceeds amongst the company, the commanding officer of Fort Duncan, Texas, will immediately take steps to prevent such a movement. To do so, he is authorized to use, in addition to the company of Infantry at his post, companies "L" and "F," 1st Ar- tillery, company "D," 1st Infantry, and company B, 1st Infantry, at Fort Clark. He will immediately despatch an intelligent officer to communicate with the nearest Mexican authorities, and inform them of this movement-urging them to give notice of the pres- ence of any lawless bands of Americans on Mexican soil; where they crossed the Rio Grande and their probable return route. The