TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
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muster and pay, which furnishes me a reason to believe that he refers to the regiment of Col. Hays, raised in 1847, and which was ordered to Mexico with the exception of one or two com- panies left under the command of Lieut. Col. Bell on this fron- tier, and not to such companies as have been raised for frontier defence under a discretionary authority given to the Executive of Texas by the War Department, dated July 16, 1847, on file in this office. I am further induced to believe such to have been the intention of Genl. Brooke, as he by the terms of the order many of these troops would have to march a distance of from 200 to 400 miles to reach San Antonio for the purpose of being mustered out which could be as well done at their respective stations, and with far less inconvenience. And whatever may have been the intention of Genl. Brooke, or as expressed by his order, I can see nothing in the General order from the War Department to justify the implication that these troops raised and in service for a special purpose altogether distinct from the war with Mexico were to be discharged. These General orders grew out of a change of our relations with Mexico, but there being no change in our Indian relations their application to these troops seems entirely gratuitous, more especially when this application involves the probability of such serious disas-- ters, for in the interval between the disbandment of the troops now upon our frontier and the supply of their places by others our whole frontier might be desolated. Your early attention is invoked to this matter. I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's Most Obt. Servant. - GEORGE T. WOOD [Endorsed] Letter to President Polk, in relation to Indian affairs, frontier defence, etc. lGeorge T. Wood, Executive Record Book, Number 31, Pages 114-116.l
No. 86 PETITION FROM THE CITIZENS OF LIMESTONE COUNTY TO P. H. BELL Springfield Texas Dec 25th 1849
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