New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-08-09
omcial Report from Capt. Cooke.

OF the Arkansas, of Z band of armed Texans
numbering about 100 men, and found upon tme-
rcan Territory. The reports came through chan
nes not likely to be unpregsdiced-being rom
some OF the Texans thenselyes-ald we are gratl-
fed IN beng able 10 present 10 readers all the
material facts OF the affair made up from Capt
Cookies Official report TO Major Gen. Games
Capt Cooke. IN command OF the Dragons de-
tailed TO escort the American and Mexican ira
de-s on the route to Santa lie. dates his despatch
from Camp kearneT. Crossings OF the Arkansas
on the tth Of Iulv-Haying referred to previous
information received from NJ. 81. Vrain-wnch
we have already puolished-ltis stated, that on
the Goth June. about O'Clock, three horsemen
were discovered about Il miles below. or East OF
the Caches'-a well known point about - miles
below the usual crossing Believing them 10
be Texan SPECS, pursuit by small party was or
dcred-the commander OF Irhich soon returned
and reported that the men had escaped TO lake
about two miles to the Soulh, where they i0Ined
larre force. Capt. Cooke gIlen changed the di-
rectjon of his forces-toIIoweJi the ;ral-and in
quarter of an hour saw the Arkansas river a mile
off and IN a remarkably large grove on It's South
ern bank force OF men and horses. The Tex
ans then hung up a white flag, and a su5alten
was sent 10 their camp, with instructions TO de-
mand who they were, and what they did there
Lieut. Love returned soon after, having with HIM
Mr.. Snivev and another, who was introduced as
his aid. Capt. Cooke remarked to him. that his
pcoole were IN the United StateS-asEed who they
were. and where his commission was Mr.. Snlv
civ replied that he had Texan volunteer force
OF l07 rlen--15 having lately returned to Texas
that he believed he was on the territory OF that
Rcpubc-that he had a commission. and exhlb
tied as such, the following paper:
DEPARTMENT Of wan AND MARINE,
Wt.HISGToS, 10Th Feb, lst3
sIR Your Communication Of the 2sth uIt. soliciting
permission from the Government to organic add NJ out an
expedition Ter the purpose of lntercepung and capturing the
property, the Mexican traders who may pass through the
territory Republic aud from Santa Fr &C. has
been received aud laid before His ycellency the President
aud he alter careful consideration the subject, directs
that such authority be granted you upon the terms aud con-
dit!ons therein expressed, that Is say
You axe hereby authorized organize such force not
exceeding three hundred men, you deem necessary 10
he achievement Of the office, proposed. The expedition
viii be strictly partisan the troops composing he corps 10
mount equip and provision themselves their
,euse aud -halio all the pos taken honorable
fare b.ong the Republic and The Government 10 BE- at
no expense Whatever account of The expedition
The force may operate any portion of the territory OF
The Renublic above thu line Of settlements and between the
Rio DEL Nort sud the boundary line OF ths United States
VIII be careful no; 10 infringe upon the tsntoryol that
Government
As the object OF the expedition TO getaate ana MAKE
reclamation for inJurc; sustained b: Texan citizens the
merchandise and ell other property OF Mexican CITIZENS VIII
be lawful prize and such may be captured will bebrongh
into Red River half Of which will be deposited IN the
Custom House that District subject The order Of The
Government and the other half viii ben 10 the capors
to be equally divided between the officers and men; agent
VIII he appointed 10 assist IN the division
The of thu campaign will b. reported 70 the Depart
en upon the disbsnduent of the force, also progress
from tine TO line, II practicable
By order Of the President, VI. {. II iNlLTON-
Acting Secretary Of War and Marine.
Cant. Cooke proceeds 10 detail the reasons
which operated upon him. in determining to dis
arm this band of Texans. found encrcachng on
American soil, and commissioned to murder and
despoil our citizens and those of friendly power
Of t5eir hard-carncd property. Having come to
this determination, ne informed Mr. Sn:vely of
his views-that they were in the United States
that although il had not been surveyed and mark
ed, it was generally agreed that the line struck
the river above the Caches while some be-
Gcved The line to be as high as Choucau's Isl
and. so or 20 miles above g the Caches;' and
that no power IL It's warfare against another had
a right TO enter neutral's territory, there to lie
in wait for bis enemy, there to refresh himself
afterwards to sally forth to attack his force, his
citizens or his property Pointing his attention
TO band Of men who We're then crossing the
river to The south side and referring to the spies
who had been found on American territory, he
SAID to NIr Snively. i demand OF you, that your
men march across this river and lay down their
arms before me: then, as you say YOU are out OF
provisions, | will return enough TO YOUTH Subslst
yourselves wherever you may go, and Won have
free permission TO enter the settlements OF The
United States The arms, he said, would be
held subject to the order of his superlOrs lie
told hlm to 90 over 10 his men, and gave HIM an
hour 10 commence crossing. Col. Snlvey and
his Aid deprecated th!s courSe-said that by ma
tional law they had right to pursue an enemy
twenty miles INTO a neutral territory that
thew would be in danger from COCO or 1000 IN
dams. whom they had lately seen-tbat they
were in a starving cond!ton-that party OF -,
having become discounted had left three days be-
fore for TeXas-that he had given them an order
to save them from being treated bandtt,
loy Capt Boone and that since the - had Sc
coded. his men had become diSorganizcd.'
Having made all his arrangements for an at
tack. Capt Cooke advancedto the crossing place.
The Aid had been sent forward BIZ Col Sniyely,
to signify his wishes and address the men, but
near half an hour had elapsed, when Captain
Cooke told Col. Snyeiy TO 90 and BRING his men
out immediate, a-loot and dcposite their arms
fifty wards IN front Of him. This order was corn
Piled with The Texans had become somewhat
excited b. the address the AID, when they were
stopped, the arms taken, they were discharged,
and put mo the wagon.
The Texans now claimed to have surrendered
as prisoners, and some demanded an escort to the
United States: they were informed that such was
not the case but that they should have IN escort,
II properly applied for.
The next morning they were told that an es-
cort had been provided for them to the United
States, bat many pleaded hard to return 10 Texas,
and offered to divide the ten gpns-which was
acquiesced IN. 4 division was made; but the
greater part joined the escort for Aissouri-meny
OF them CRYING out, mo more of Texas, III 60