WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860
409
If such means fail, the law must be vindicated, and the offenders taught subordination by force. The first official information received by the Executive from the seat of these disorders was the communication of Capt. W. G. Tobin, herewith submitted, bearing date at Ramireno, near Brownsville, December 16, 1859, and received by hands of Capt. A. C. Hi11. 3 I was gratified to learn from that dispatch that the Federal Government had interposed to restore order in that region, and that Major Hientzleman," an officer of descretion and valor, had assumed the control of military operations. What- ever complaints may be made against the Federal Government on account of the removal of the troops from that portion of our border, its promptitude in affording relief at this time is deserving of consideration. Satisfied from the report of Capt. Tobin that a sufficient force was on the spot to quell the dis- turbance, and that the Federal arm would be still further ex- tended at the call of its officer commanding the troops there, I dispatched Capt. Hill with an escort of twenty men, with instruc- tions to Major John S. Ford, 5 acting as commander of the Texas forces, by virtue of an order from my predecessor. In that communciation I stated that, "as the management of military operations has been assigned by the Federal Government to its officers, if troops are desired from Texas, it is proper that a requisition should be made by an officer of the Federal Govern- ment in command of the United States forces at that station." Should ·such a requisition be made, I am satisfied that citizen soldiery of the country will respond with alacrity to the call. On the 10th of January the report of Major John S. Ford was received, dated at Ringgold barracks, December 29, 1859, giving an account of the engagement at Rio Grande City, in which the followers of Cortinas were completely routed and dispersed. The entire forces on this occasion were under the command of Major Hientzleman, to whom great credit is given for the disposition made of the troops. Our rangers behaved on this occasion, as on the former occasion, with that bravery which is a part of a Texan character, and the Federal troops likewise acted with great gallantry. So signal was the rout of the opposing forces that I think their uniting again is improbable. The report of Major Ford is herewith submitted. On the 11th inst. I received dispatches from Major Wm. G. Tobin, dated Ringgold barracks, January 3d, 1860, showing the organization of th_e Texas forces, and the result of the elections
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