Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-10-18

few days previously to notify me were
about to assemble al Jackson prepar-
aiory to their march to this frontier.
| deeply regret the 'rouble and disar-
pointment to the brave and patriotic voIun-
teers, and more especially the cmbarrass-
ment to yourself individually, which my re.
QUESTION has occasioned.
However much NAV have erred in the
hope and opinion which | entertained and
expressed in nv letters of the 2Sth of
April and 10;h of May last, that this from
tier was no longer in danger Of being
attacked or again menaced by a for
midabc savage foe, have the satisfaction
to find that no great evil or injury to the
service has as Yet trcsulted from the error
an error into which the wisest and best of
our statesmen appear to have failen-and
from the same causes which had operated
upon my mind and mised me, namely, the
apparent prospects ofa speedy termination
Of the rar bctreen the Mcricans and 1er'-
ans. cannot however, admit that have
erred in requesting Of your Excellencv
the Regiment of Mounted Gunmen IN qacs-
tor.
have, during the last and present month
been strong y impressed with the bebel that
the whole OF this frontier would be involved
IN an Indian war as soon as the threatened
hostillties between our blood thirsty neigh
bors Of the West should be renewed.
When learned from the Secretary OF
War that the President of the United
States approved my views, reported to HIM
In March and April last, to assemble upon
this frontier an objective force of mounted
men. equal to that Of the bligerenis-a
force that would enable me 10 speak to
both in language they could not fail to
hear and 10 heed; and when at the same
time found myself expressly instructed by
n letter from the Department ofWar, dated
May lS36-(of which a copy is annexed,
No. D-that the President riH sanction
the employment Of rhaterer force may be ne.
eessdry to protect the Western frontier OF
the United States from hostile incursions; !;
and that the Department of War had ad.
dressed the Governors O; the States OF
Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Hen
tucky and Alabama, requesting them to call
into the ssrrice such militia force asl may
find accessory in carrying into effect the in
structioas heretofore giren to me, adding.
"lhe theatre Corporations is so distant from
the seat OF Government that much must be
trusted to YOUR discrction!" "The two
great objects you have to attain arc, first,
the protection of the frontiers, and, second
~. as strict performance of the neutral
duties of the United Safes as the great OBJ
ject of self-defeucc will permit" and when
10 this is added the Secretary's letter to you
oft the same date, Of which the following is
an extract: Il am instructed by the Presl-
dent to request your Excelency to call into
the service of the United States the number
ofmiliia mhich hare been or maybe requir
ed By Gen. Gaines," there can BE- no
ground to doubt that was fully authorized
torequest of you the regiment in ques-
ton.
That from 1000 to 10000 Indian war
riors will be employed against the inhabi-
tants of the disputed territory, as soon as
the theatre ofthe war between Mexico and
Texas is extended to the left bank of the
Brassos, | have no doubt; unless, indeed
The prospect Of our having on this frontier
sufficient mounted force to repel the inva-
sion of the disputed terri ory, and afford TO
the defenceless inhabitants that protec- |
ton which We have promised 10 afford
them.
am more than willing TO risk myself :
with 900 men for the protection Of a thin |
" settled frontier of 400 miles in extent !
but with full authority from the Department !
OF War 10 call for whatever force | may
deem necessary and proper for the pur-
pose, | am not willing to have less force
than have called: for, without force of
1000 men held ready for action upon this
frontier, the Indians can in one month ue-
stroy nine tenths of the inhabitants within
the disputed territory, with great part Of
the adIacen; settlements, including those
upon the Red river from Alexandria to Fort
Towson, embracing large portion of the
original inhabitants when ceded to the Uni
ted States, with the finest cotton growing
section of the United States, whose annual
crop has already amounted to millions Of
dollars.
If it be true that the Indians have deter
mined to commence hostilities as soon as
the Mexicans approach the settlements east
Of the Brassos, (and that this is their SET
tied plan have 10: doubt,) then it must
be evident that we cannot obtain from Ten
nessee. or from any of the central or Wes-
tern States, sufficient force TO prevent the
depreda;ions, as they may be
10 great extent perpetra,ed whilst the re-