466
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
To EDWARD BURLESON 1 Executive Department, Austin, Feby. 7, 1860. Captain Ed. Burleson, Commanding Company of Rangers Sir; Your letter of the 4th is just before me. You may take post in either Brown or Coleman County, as you may think proper, and distribute your men so as to render to the inhabitants the most efficient protection. It is possible that if you can proceed at once with dispatch, you will find most of the stolen horses on the head waters of the Witchitas. When you have taken your position, you will apprise Mr. Swen- son, in order that he may know where to send forward your supplies. Send also, the number of rations you may want, taking care always to keep your rations one month ahead of the time the intelligence of your wants arrives at this Department. I hope that this will reach you at San Antonio, should it not, however, I shall contrive to send it by Express. Catch the Indians if you can. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 31, Texas State Library. For some data on Burleson, see Houston to Burleson, January 4, 1860, p. 398 of this volume. To ROBERT M. McKEE 1 Executive Department, February 7, 1860. Lieutenant R. McKee, Commanding a Detachment of Texas Rangers Sir, The requisitions, this morning presented to the Depart- ment by Mr. Swenson, for Hospital stores and ambulance and mules are clearly unauthorized by law, the same being regarded as camp equipage, which the men are to furnish for themselves. Mr. Swenson will forward the medicines as soon as he is apprised where he can make a juncture with your wagons. As to the ambulance and mules, as no provision has been made by law to furnish such articles, and in as much as I presume that there are no sick to be conveyed to Captain Dalrymple's camp, I shall decline approving the requisitions and herewith enclose the same. It was never intended that sick men should be mustered into service, and I trust that all are well and able to enter upon duty at once.
Powered by FlippingBook