WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
536
Horses and other property taken from the Indians are to be returned to their owners without charge. Any member of a detachment charging or receiving anything in lieu of property so returned, will be dismissed from service without an honorable discharge. The Lieutenant will be well satisfied that the person claiming the horses is the real owner ; and if not may require testimony. He will report the disposition made of such property in his monthly return. Commanding officers of all Texans in the military service, will see that daily patrols pass and repass from post to post when- ever any command is divided at different points along the line of operations. In the police and arrangements for encampments, or stations, the health and comfort of the troops will be secured if possible. Guards will be regularly detailed and mounted ; and besides con- stant vigilance and care, the moral tone of the companies will be a subject particularly confided to the authority of the command- ing officers. No horse racing or gambling is to be permitted or practised. Nor are any intoxicating spirits or liquors of any kind to be brought within camp or camps, or used ; nor will any person, or persons be permitted to bring nearer than five miles any spirits of any kind, or to sell the same to any command, or to members composing it. 1 Evening Picayune, March 22, 1860. The exact date of this order to ranger captains was not given by the source; we have arbitrarily adopted the date on which it was printed. Houston refers to the same, or similar, orders in his letter to John H. Conner, March 10, 1860. To s. G. DAVIDSON 1 Executive Department, Austin, March 22nd, 1860. Mr. S. G. Davidson, Belton, Texas Dear Sir : Your letter of the 20th is now to hand. Replying I would say that my orders of the 9th inst. states that "the Chief Justice of each County in danger from the Indians will organize a minute detachment in his County." I am not apprised that Bell County is in any danger from the Indians and if it were your request comes to the Department without the authen- tication of the Chief Justice of the County as is required in
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