TEx.As INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
72
commanding officer of this frontier, under date of July 29th, informing me that they would not be required. I immediately addressed to him ::i letter, dated Augst. lst/46 (a copy of which you will find enclosed) expressing my surprize and regret at this information, and urging him, for the reasons therein stated, that he would withdraw the order, and permit the '\'"olunteers to be mustered in. That letter was sent by ex- pre...--s, and in reply to it, I have only received a verbal., communi- cation-Major Fauntleroy being so ill, that he could not write. The purport of the verbal communication is, that he is of opin- ion that be cannot, consistently with the orders lately receh·ed by him from Genl. Taylor, muster these companies into the serrice; which he very much regrets, but suggests the propriety of my writing to you upon the subject, and in the meantime of keeping them in active service; expressing at the same time, his belief that when the Department was apprized of all the circumstances attending the requisition made by Col Harney for these troops, that permission would yet be given to muster them into the service. My own opinion, based upon that sense of liberality and justice, which has uniformly characterized all the acts of the administration, wherever the rights of this State have been concerned, leads me to the same conclusion. I will not speak to you of the injustice which, under the peculiar circumstances of this case, will be done to the volun- teers themselves, should they not be received into the service-- the e.\.-pense which they have occurred in buying good horses, furnishing themselves with arms, blankets, and every thing necessary for a full equipment. I place the necessity for these troops upon higher grounds-the protection and security of the frontier; and I deem it not improper to express to you my opin- ion, as given to Maj. Fauntleroy, that if these volunteers are disbanded, the Indians will, at once, commence their depreda- tions upon the frontier, and collisions will ensue between them and the citizens, which will lead to the most disastrous results. The Comanche, and other tribes, bordering upon this State, when they see that there is no armed force upon the frontier, to restrain their lawless propensities, will not be able to with- stand the temptation thus afforded, of gratifying them. The citizens of the frontier will protect themselves, and retaliate whenever an occasion offers, and in a very short time, a state of things will thus be brought about, which will greatly retard,
l
Powered by FlippingBook