Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. III

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859

70

No. 71 LETTER FROM J.P. HENDERSON TOT. I. FAUNTLEROY

Executive Department Austin July 31, 1846

Sir

In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 28th inst, I have the honor herewith to transmit to you a copy of the requisition made upon me by Colonel Harney for five companies of mounted rangers for the protection of the frontier. The position I have directed these companies to occupy is as follows-one, at or near Castroville, commanded by Captain John H Conner, one at or near San Antonio, commanded by John G Grumbles, one at or near Benjamin Bryants on Little River, commanded by Shapley P Ross, one at or near Torrey's trading house on the Brazos, commanded by Thos I Smith, and one at or near the trading house on the West Fork of the Trinity, com- manded by Andrew Stapp-- Since the points of location (agreed) directed to be taken by these compan'ies have been occupied, I h~•ve understood that the distance between the two commanded by Thos I Smith and Andrew Stapp, is much greater than I had supposed, being upwards of one hundred miles. It will be impossible therefore, for the communication to be kept up between them, as promptly and rapidly as is desirable, and I would suggest to you the im- portance of having an additional company stationed midway between the two, so as to make the line of posts complete. ·A company is already organized and ready to take the position mentioned under Cap't John N Bryan, of Dallas county, and I would re5pectfully request that you would authorize me to call them into service. Unless this is done a large number of our frontier citizens, residing between the points referred to, will be left in a de- fenceless condition. I have already directed the Captains of the different com- panies to communicate with each other, once every two weeks, and oftener if necessary-I do not think, owing to the distance between them, and other causes, that a more frequent commun'i-

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