The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume IV, part 1

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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAP.ARTE LAMAR

ments, and have accepted them into the service of the United States for the term of twelve months from this seventh day of October 1846. W. W. 8. Bliss, Asst. Adj. Genl. & Mustering Officer. [In the original there is an additional column for "Remarks" with the following instructions : "1. .. . Every man whose name is on this roll must be accounted for on the next muster roll. The exchange of men, by substitution, and exchanging, swapping, or loaning of horses, after muster into service, are strictly forbidden." This column is not included here because of lack of space and because there were no "Remarks."] No. 2229 1846 Oct. 15, W.' W. S. BLISS, HEAR.QUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION, CAMP NEAR MONTERREY, [MEXICO] TO M. B. LAMAR, [CAMP NEAR MONTERREY, MEXICO]5 4 Hd. Qrs. Army of occupations. Sir; Camp near Monterey, Octo. 15, 1846. The company destined for Laredo being now organized and ready for service under your command, the Commanding General directs that you march with it and occupy that point with as little delay as prac- ticable. The object of placing a company at Laredo, is to extend pro- tection to the .settlements now in that quarter, or that may hereafter be made there; to check particularly the incursions of the Indians, ana :finally to enable the government of Texas with more facility and effect to extend its jurisdiction to the banks of the Rio Grande, while the country on this side of the river remains in our possession, it is con- sidered by the General as entitled to our protection equally with Texas, and he wishes you to be governed accordingly. I am instructed by the General to say that while.it is our policy generally to conciliate the Mexicans inhabitants, it becomes particu- larly so with regards to those in Laredo and its neighborhood on the Texas side of this river. He desires you therefore to take all proper means to allay their prejudices and cause them to understand our real character, and that of our institutions. One of these means will be the observance of good order- and discipline in your command, and the General is anxious that particular attention should be paid to this point. As you will be quite remote from Hd. Qrs., the General gives you authority to discharge summarily all bad subjects whose presence with the Company may be injurious to the ends for which it is called into service, or who may manifest a turbulent, insubordinate spirit, and to replace them by such men of good character as may offer them- selves. You are authorized in this manner to keep up the strength of your company to seventy privates. Officers whose conduct may re- quire, will be placed in arrest and reported to Hd. Qrs. In case of resignation or death among the officers the vacancy will be filled under directions of the Governor of Texas.

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