TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
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pay in accordance with law and disregard anything else, because you have instructed me accordingly. While on this subject. I would remark that I have been really performing the duty of a Major with the rank and pay of a Captain. You know my re- sponsibilities have been very great almost fearful. A failure on my part would have given your administration a severe, if not fatal, blow. It would have lost me everything, injured the credit of my officers and men as fighting men, and it would have been an argument against the use of Rangers for all time to come. Under all these circumstances I ask you to do what I con- ceive is a simple act of justice-make Camp Runnels a double- ration post from the time the force was called into service or from the 10th of March. It would be a favor to me, which I should appreciate gratefully. The effect of the order would be to increase my pay nearly one third. In regard to the estimates of the Comptroller they are all wrong, and not in accordance with existing laws. Capt. Givens was here yesterday and he makes my pay $163 dollars for a month of 30 days, what just the U. S. Regulations of the Pay Department, make it, and the Compt. puts it down to $133. I have not time to write to Scott. I am much obl'iged to him for it. The P.S. is a piece of impudence. "Marry" indeed, why I always could have married if could have found the right woman. I was only hunting after her. 1 am preparing to make a scout on the Upper Colorado and to scour the San Saba country, and am distributing my force to cover the exposed points in this vicinity. I don't think an- other expedition could be successfully made against the Co- manche now. Fall is the best time. We don't know where they are. They ran off. We must send our spies to find them. It is useless to move without doing that first. To tell the truth our horses could not go now-they are not yet recruited-Respects to Marshall Steiner, Flournoy, Bird and all. Your friend JOHN s. FORD
No. 185 LETTER FROM J. WILLIAMS TO H. R. RUNNELS San Saba Texas June 24th, 1858
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