Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-10-14
Esas W GIS'9'EsI.
MILITARY COKRESPONDEN!
: ENI NUUUNI NT,
Sccyetcrgot Tic Treasury

MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE
The Governor Of the State Of Tennessee has cascd
to be published in the Nashville papers the following
letter from Gen. GAINES:
Ucad QnartrrS, HcStcrn Department.
Camp Saline, August % Ioi6. !
SIR: l.had the honor to receive by the last mail Your
Exccllencys letter Of the 9Th ri this month"; advising
mo- Of the s,spe,sion bv the President Of tho e. States,
Of the movement of the Regiment Of Mounted Gunrru,
which you did the favor few iays previously 10 no..
tfv ne were abou. assemble 1t Jackson, .prrpaatpry
t. the;r march In tins frontier.
deppv rerrcl the ;r0nh. and disappointment 10 the
brave aud patriotic volunteers, and more especially the
embarasSi yourself individually, which my rcIui-
!. sit!OI ,Ls oCCasl0ncd.
i!,~2vcr much may have erred in the kopt and opi
riy watch entertained and r%pusst in my letters Of
TIC 2- a! April and U!h u May last that hs frontier
va. 10 iagcr IL danger Of being attacked again
nauc ~ formidable savagr ur have The satisfaction
To- !ii that great evil injury 10 the service has
We. resulted from the errOr-an error INTO wi;ich tie
wisast end best Of statesmen appear 10 have fallen
and o.a The causes which had operated upon my
iiR3 ana al!scd me- namely. the apparent prospect 81 Il
syacg Of The bcttcGn the ucricanS md
lclia.Ss. cannot however, admit that have erred in
requesting o your Exccl!cncy the regiment OF Mounted
GuH:nci IL question.
ha?c, during the last and present month, been
strongly impressed with the belief that the whole of this
frontier woad he involved in Indian war as soon
The threatened hosites between blood thirsty
|! negaborS Of NE West should be renewed.
When learned from the Secretary OF War that the
President o.. thc United Staes approved my views,
,orcd hin ia March and April last to assemble upon
this rontic. effective urcc Of mounted men, cGua
that of either Of the begcrentsu force that would
enable earak TO both III language they could not
fail 20 iear and TO heed; ard when at the ,itne
found myself expressly Instructed by letter lrom the
Department o. War, dated May 4, lG3G-(of which Il
copy is annexed, No. l-that the President rM sanction
tic employment q arhatcUcr force may be necessary
project the Western frontier Of The United States from
hostile incursoHS; a.d that the Department Of War had
! adj nssp6 he of tbp of
assissnni. Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. re-
qucsinr item TO call into The suricc such militia Ivrec
as mag frs! necessary iH carrying into effect tic III
struciioag hsyeotnrc rircm to ire, adding, " the thea
Ere oc operHiic:s is so distant from the scat Of Co.
vcrnnent that nruc, ipust be trusted TO your discre
ton "Ghe two great objects you have to attain
are FIRST the prntecsiun of the frontiers and secondly
as strict performance Of the neutral duties OF the L.
States as the srcas object Of scfdefcncc will permit
and ibis i: added The Sccrcarys letter 10 you Of the
same date, o. w'ct the following is al extract: Il am
instructed hY:c President 10 request your EHceeucy to
call iu,n the service CT the U. States TIC number q ni
tin ,ocA hurc tccn .@y be required by Cen @i"cs
there Gun bc 40 ground 10 doubt That was fully auho
riscd to request Of you the regiment i'll question.
That from GGp to 900 Indian warriors will be en-.
ployed against the inhabitants OF the disputed territory,
as soon us the theatre of the between Mexico and
Texas IS extended TO tie left tauk Of the Brassos, |
havc 10 dcubt unless, indeed, the prospect Of our lav
this frontier sufficient mounted force to rrprl the
tnvas of the disputed territory and afford to the de-
ieneeiess inhabitants that protection which lave pro-
missed to aGord them.
am more than willing risk myself with 600 men
Tor 'e protection of lhny settled frontier Of 400 miles
IN extent; Out with full authority from the Department
OF war 10 can Tor whatever force may deem necessary
ana proper ip7 tc pup1sr am not willing have less
force than have Called for, without force of 600
held scedy for action upon this frontier, the Indians
can in month destroy nie-,en,Hs of the nhabi,ans
within the disputed territory with great purl Of the
adjacent settlements including those upon the Rcd va
from Alexandria to Fort Towson, embracing uae nor.
ton of the original inhabitants when coded 10 the Unit
ed States with the finest cottongrowng section of the
United States, whose annual crop has already amounted
to millions of dollars
lift be true that the Indians have determined COM
mcnce hosties as soon the Mexcans approach the
settlements of the Brassos (and that this is their
settled plan have not doubt) then it must be evident
that We caunot obtain from Tennessee or from any