TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859 Executive Office
266
Austin, Texas, 3rd. Nov. 1857.
Hon: Guy M. Bryan & John H. Reagan Gent.
Some correspondence has taken place be- tween this Office and Bvt. Maj. Gen. Twiggs commanding this Department, in regard to the inadequacy of the force he now has, to give protection to our extended frontier, against the depredations of the numerous bands of Indians who are scat- tered along our Northern and Western borders. I enclose herewith copies of the letters received from Genl. Twiggs, together with a copy of the draft of a bill for raising a Regiment of Mounted Volunteers from this State. You will perceive that Gen. Twiggs has asked for an increase of troops, and in case none can be sent here from other depart- ments, he is desirous of having, this Volunteer Regiment of our citizens for one or two years. The only alterations I would suggest in the bill, are, that there should be two Majors, as that number is allowed to each Regiment in the regular Army.-That the term of service should be changed from one to two years, and that all after the word "Month" in the third line of the last section be stricken out. Within the last few months, the mail train from San An- tonio to El Paso was attacked and robbed of many of its ani- mals, and I have now before me a communication just received from a large number of citizens residing on the waters of the San Saba and upper Colorado Rivers, stating that the Indians have recently made several incursions into those settlements and stolen and carried off near three hundred horses : These aggressions show conclusively that the force now assigned to our frontier is inadequate to its protection and that there is a pressing necessity for this Regiment. You must be aware that our citizens have long been desirous of having such a Regiment for our defence, and the present seems to be a favorable opportunity for securing it, since I am assured that Genl Twiggs will co-operate with you, in urging the measure upon the attention of Congress. Very respectfully Your obt. Servt. EM PEASE [E. M. Pease, Executive Record Book, Number 35, Pages 696-697.l
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