WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
440
To TEXAN CITIZENs 1
Nacogdoches, Texas, 11th August, 1836. ORDERS
The practice of indiscriminate impressment of property, by all persons whether present or not has produced many evils and acts of great injustice and oppression. Therefore the Commander- in-Chief of the Army of Texas, orders that no property shall be hereafter impressed or molested only under the following exceptions. When provision is applied for and particularly beef,_ and the person or persons refusing to furnish it on the faith of the Government, the person applying being in command of troops, shall be authorized to press so much as may be needful for the emergency, and this shall be authorized, in all cases giving receipts, using care and making no unnecessary waste. No horses shall be pressed, unless it is for the purpose of carrying expresses, and an order shall be shown by the person from some superior officer, who is known to be in authority. It must be authorized by the General in command of the Army and signed by him, or by some officer known to be in command of a separate post. All persons going westward with horses or mules, are commanded to be arrested at the several ferrys, who have not passports specifying their names and the number and description of the animals in company with them. All persons who are re- turning from the Army without furloughs or passports from the General commanding the army, specifying the horses or mules in their possession, shall be subject to arrest and their horses or mules taken from them. The impressment of property unless in accordance with this order, shall be deemed a felony, and all per- sons who may violate it, shall be subject to immediate punish- ment. Cavalcades of horses and mules having been brought from the west without orders, it is fit that some safeguard should be established to property. No deserters from the army of the United States, will be knowingly countenanced in the army here- after, and will be immediately delivered upon application by the General commanding on the frontier of the United States. Samuel Houston, Commander-in-Chief.
1 Teleg1·aph and Texas Register, August 30, 1836.
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