44 ant, four Sergeants, four Corporals, two Musicians one farrier & blacksmith and sixty four privates, and to be placed under my orders. The proper departments will be instructed regarding the payment and supplies of this command, from the day they are mustered into the service of the United States. Each man will be required to furnish his own horse, saddle and bridle, halter and "lariat," when he will be furnished by the U. S. with a percus- sion rifle and pistol, holsters and ammunition. United States offi- cers will be designated to muster them into service, and will be instructed to inspect closely each man and horse, and to reject both, or either, unless they appear to be sufficiently strong, and capable of bearing the arduous duties and fatigues of an Indian campaign. These mustering _Officers will attend at such points as your Excellency may deem most convenient. I need not say to your Exy. how necessary it is, that the Officers should be selected with the greatest care, having in view their efficiency, sound habits and knowledge of border war, as, without the proper qualifications, they can render but little serv- ice. From a long experience in the Army, I am convinced that everything depends on the Officers of a Company. For instance, show me a good Captain, and I will venture to say, his company is a good one, and, vice versa, show me a good company, and I will answer for the Officers. I beg leave to recommend respectfully, to your notice-from the general voice in their favor-of the residents of this city, B. F. Hill as Captain, P. R. Brady, 1st, and James Dunn, 2nd, Lieutenants, of one of the companies. Mr. Hill assures me that he can raise the requisite number of men, in twenty days. I also beg to recommend as the Captain of another of the companies, Mr. B. F. Neal, the bearer of this letter. Despatches were received this morning by me, from Corpus Christi, that several persons have been wounded, and some killed, and a large quantity of property stolen, in the immediate neigh- borhood of that point. I have at the same time received positive information that a scout of the rangers, under Lieut Walker, fell in with a party of Comanche Indians having in their possession, a German boy as prisoner, and a large caballardo of horses. They were immediately attacked, killing four of the Indians, and re- covering the boy and nearly all the horses-one man on our part only, wounded.
Powered by FlippingBook