WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
542
disposition of them as, after a conference with you, may be deemed necessary. Commending him to your kind office. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Reco1·d Book, No. 278, p. 109, Texas State Library. For a good brief biographical sketch of General Lee, see the Dictionary of Ame1·i- ca1t Biogmphy, XI, 120-129.
To GEORGE McKNIGHT 1 Executive Department, Austin, March 24, 1860.
Hon. George McKnight Sir: You will proceed with all due dispatch to Brownsville on the Rio Grande, and immediately upon your arrival confer with Colonel R. E. Lee, or commanding officer of the Rio Grande U.S. Army on the following points: First. As to whether in the opinion of Colonel Lee the T~xas volunteers now on the Rio Grande are necessary to aid the U.S. troops in defending that border. Second. Whether the said volunteers are regarded by Colonel Lee as in the service of the United States, should their continuance in service be necessary. If the services of the said volunteers are considered necessary, and they are recognized, you will muster out of servic_e the com- panies now in the field, unless they should number each 83, rank and file, and muster into service such number of companies con- taning that number each, as Colonel Lee may demand. If the services of the said volunteers are not deemed necessary, or if they are not recognized as in the·service of the United States, you will order the Captains commanding them to march with all the men under their respective commands to Goliad, there to await further orders. You will attend to the proper disposition of all property belong- ing to the State connected with said commands, all horses mules and wagons will be put upon the line of march for Goliad, and such stores as may be valuable to the State, but no rations or supplies for the men, beyond what are necessary to sustain them on the march, will be hauled. You are authorized to dispose of such supplies as may be on hand that cannot be hauled without overloading the wagons, and you will instruct the Captains commanding not to permit requisition of
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