WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
87
Slave George from further custody and confinement, and hold this as authority therefor. Sam Houston.
1 Exec:utive Records, 1859-1861, p. 74, Texas State Library.
To EDWARD BURLESON 1 Executive Department, Austin, June 26, 1860.
Captain Edward Burleson, Commanding Texas Rangers. Sir: Your letter of the 23rd by Express has this moment reached me. You complain of not having been notified of the election of field officers at Belknap. Your letter of May 9th acknowledged your having received my orders to march to Belknap, prior to that date. After that you remained at Beaver Camp until after the 2nd of June, in consequence of which, you were disappointed in not being at the election. Had you carried out my orders to "push forward immediately, upon their receipt," and report to Captain Dalrymple, you would have been present at the election. But such was not the case, and for this the Executive is not to blame. I cannot express how great is my regret that you should have projected such a scheme as to penetrate the Indian Country in conjunction with Captain Dalrymple, upon an independent expe- dition, as such a ·course, unauthorized by the Commander of the Expedition would place at hazard the whole campaign. Every man will be needed with the main body of the expedition and any division of action must be attended with disastrous con- sequences, and every misfortune that would attend such an unauthorized expedition would be chargeable to your non-com- pliance with my orders. Captain Dalrymple is now acting under orders of Colonel Johnson, and subject to his command, and as I expect my orders of a former date to be executed, you will, immediately upon receipt of these orders, report to him for duty. All the misfortunes and disasters in times past in Texas, arose from a disregard of authority and disobedience to orders. I had earnestly hoped that experience regulated by a desire to render efficient service to the Country, would actuate all who might hereafter be called into the service. For this reason, I was particularly anxious not only that you should have an opportunity to distinguish yourself, but that you would be successful in so
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