p A.PERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
167
the purpose of putting down the excesses of the robbing party, as they daim to act under the sanction of the Mexican Governmt. The civil authorities are overawed- the country is in a state of Anarchy- life and property are only held by the mere sufferance of a blood-thirsty and marauding band. A large number of families have been lately stopped in attempting to make their way out of the country,- their. goods confiscated and they thrown into prison. That the Priest of San Fernando, who having given his pa-rol of honor, when a prisoner to Gen. Wool to refrain from inciting his people to acts of outrage,- since which time he hired some of the robbers to murder two American Couriers, and transmitted the dispatches thus obtained to Santa Ana. That Commissioners have been sent out by the Mexican Government to make a treaty with the Lipans and other Indian tribes, for the pur- pose of inducing them to harrass the unprotected frontier of Texas. Those Commissioners were to meet some four hundred Indians near Santa Rosa, this week. These facts resting upon respectable Mexican authority, are hereby respectfully submitted to your consideration. With much respect I remain yours &c Lt H. P. Bee Saml. F. Boyd Cornndy Laredo Garrison Lance Sergt. Cornmdg. ad int. P. S. I learned, while I was in San Fernando, that a a [sic] cargo of Powder had lately arrived at that place of 150 lbs, brought there by the Cherokee Indians from some part of Texas. They spoke of other cargoes having arrived there this last winter
Saml. F Boyd
L Sergt. &c
[Endorsed] Samuel F Boyed. to HP Bee
[Addressed]
Lt. H. P. Bee Comndg. Laredo Garrison Present
No. 2326
1847, Apr. 4, A CANALES TO ------ 71 Frontier Cavalry Brigade. - Under the present date I make known . .to the Assistant Inspector of the National Guard the following which I copy. - "With the greatest indignation I have learned that the Americans have committed horrible ·murders on the Guadalupe Ranch, hanging twenty-five peaceful men in their own homes and by the side of their families, and shooting them almoRt immediately. Reprisal is the only recourse left to us to repel thi'l warfare, which is not war, but atrocity in its greatest fury. In virtue of this fact, and in order that this reso- lution, which is born of the present fatal circumstances, may be made known, you will immediately proclaim martial law. with the stipula- tion that eight da:vs after the publication of said law all individuals who are capable of bearing- arms and do not do so will be considered traitors and will be shot immE'diatelv. In ·accordance, then, with what ha·~ been ::tated, you are authorized
"Original in Spanish.
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