, 1843-08-19
OrFrcraL REponr rroA CAPT. COOKE.

this city OF the capture ny Capt.
CookE. at the Crossings Of the Arkan-
sas, of a band OF armed Texans, num-
bering about 100 men, and found up
on American territory. The reports
came through channels not likely to
be notwithstanding from some
of the Texans ,hemselves--and we
are era,ifed in being able to present
TO our readers all the material facts OF
the affair made up from Capt. Cooks
Official report to Major Gen. Gaines.
Capt. Cooke, in command Of The Ora
gonns detailed 10 escort the American
and Mexican traders on their route
to Santa Fe. dates his despatch from
Camp Kearney. Crossings Of the Ar
kansas. IN The 4,h of July. Having
referred to previous information re-
ceivsd from Mr.. ST. Vrain-which
we have already published it is sta
ted, that on the 3oih June, about 8
O'Clock, three hnrsemen were dIscov
cred. about II miles below, or East
of.sihe Caches''-a well known point
about "a miles below the usual ''cr"ss-
ing" Believing them TO be Texan
Spies, pursuit by a small party was
ordered. the commander Of which
soon returned and reported. that the
men had escaped to a "lake' about
,wo miles 10 the Sou h-wIiere they
Joined u large force. Capt. Coke
then changed the direction OF lis
forces-fnllnwed the trial-and IN a
ouarter of an hour saw the Arkansas
@ri,er mite "f; and in n remarkably
large grove on irs southern hank, a
lorcr of men and horses. The Tex
ans then hung up a white fay. and a
>u'mliern was sent Ia their camp.
with Instructions to demand wh" they
were, and whatthey did there? Lieut..
Love returned soon after. having wi'h
him Mr.. Snively and another, WIN"
was introduced as his Aid. Capt.
Cooke remarked 10 HIM. that his pe'-
pie were in he U. States-asked who
they were. ami where his commission
was! Mr.. SniveIv replied that lie
had II Texan volunteer force Of l07
men-75 having lately returned To
Texas-lhai he believed he was on
the territory of that Repuhlic-ihrt
he had n commission. and exhibited IS
such. the i"lI"uing paper
DEPARTMENT Oh WAR Az" MARINE
WASHINGTON. l6 +, b.. lG43.
/, To Col. Jucob Snireiy.
SiE--Y"ur communication al 28,h
, ult.. SoiIcI,InG PERMISSION IT. ~ tie
=. G"vernn ent. 10 mglnizr and ut "ut
|, an cxp.diion for the purpose "f M
:: Iercep,u,g AMI Capturing The property
a, of the Mrxman I aders VIM may PASS
| through the terlIt"ry f the Republic
4, 10 and from Santa Fee. &c. has been
!. received and laid before his Excellen-
!. cy The President, and lie, after ii care
: iul confederation al the subject. d.
reefs that such authority be granted
/, ven. upon the terms aud CONDITIONS
therein expressed, that is 10 say
You are hereby authorized TO or
' ganize such Il iurce, not exceeding
r three bundled men as you Ia deem
] necessary TO the achievement "t the
, object proposed. The expedition
) will be strictly partIzan; the troops
t composing the corps TO mount. equip
and provision themselves ut their
own expense. and one halt of all the
: spoils taken in honorable warfare ia
belong to tie Republic, aud The Gov.
b ernment 10 te 1t TO expense what.
ever on account OF The expedition.
The force my operate IN my por,
! ton Of tue territory Of the Rrputllc,
s above the line oi settlements. and he.
h tween the Rio del N"rIe and the
y ~i"undary line I'll the United St"te>
" but will hr careful not To infringe up
- on iir. territory al that Government
2 AS the object OF the expedition l.
l.. Ia rrtaliare and make reclamation fol
injuries sustained by Texan cilrzens
the merchandise and all other proper
" Of Mexican citizens will lie Lawful
prize. and such as may be carluiet
i'll BE- brought int" Red River. "n'
I. halt of which will lie deposited in the
Custom House oi that District sub
,%'iect tn the order of the Government
" and the other half will be'ong L" TIT
raI tors, I" he equally divided httweer
! the officers and men; an agent will b,
appornted To assist in the division.
: The ie.ult Of the campaign will b
reported Ia the department, upon tn
disarmament Of the force, as also /,
> progress from time To time. II prac
ticable.
BY order al the President,