WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
478
Who achieved the glories of the war with Mexico? Were they regular soldiers? They fought well and could be shot down; but who were the efficient men? Who were the men most gallant and daring on that occasion? Is not the Palmetto regiment of the South immortalized? Is not the Mississippi regiment also immor- talized? Yet they tell me that volunteers are not to be relied upon. Sir, if you have no reliance upon them the country is not free, for freemen constitute your volunteers. These are the men that are always ready to go. They are men who are capable of taking care of themselves and their animals; acquainted with frontier life; men who are not more expensive than regular troops of the same description-mounted men. The Government buys animals for the regulars and· keeps a supply on hand for men who let them die through their carelessness or want of knowledge of the means to preserve them. The frontier-man's next and best friend in a campaign is his gallant steed. He will take care of him, and is responsible for him, while no responsibility rests on the regu- lar dragoon. If the horse is gone it is no loss to him; if the volunteer's or ranger's horse goes, the loss is his and he feels it. Rely on them in every time of emergency, and you place your reliance, not on a broken reed, but on a strong, firm staff, that will not deceive you or wound the hand that presses on it. Thus, sir, I am decidedly in favor, in emergencies like the present of calling for men who will go into active service. If you were now to undertake to recruit a regular army, how long would it take to do it? How long would it take the regular Army to be filled, even from the material I have described? It would take a twelvemonth. Would not the expense be greater than the expense of volunteers? You may say not, because the vounteers present a round sum of per diem; but if the volunteer does not keep himself supplied with a horse, you reduce him to the grade of footman. He always keeps himself supplied, and he is an efficient horseman. If the regular soldier loses his horse, he is not bound to supply another. He is to all intents and purposes on the sick list so far as efficiency goes, and the Government sup- plies the deficiency. As I have said, troubles with the Indians will cease if they are treated as I have proposed, by establishing trading houses and forts not defended by more than one hundred men at any position, or merely by way of keeping guard there, and employ- ing such men as are necessary for spies, or skulks, or for mes- sengers, or for expresses. Let them be employed from the dif- ferent Indian tribes; let them be placed in your confidence; they
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