Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-05-30


10 ans1er. lhefsIors. 10 the inquiry
made BY the Senate, 'sshelher any aud
what sums Of money have been drawn
from the Treasury 20 BE expended to7car-
~ into effect the orders OF theISyar De-
parimeni, made since. the II b day 81 A.
prIi last, Tor s;aiioning hoops OF incIess
ing the military foEee ppoh OF nesr the
frontiers Of Texas and The Colt 81 Mexi-
co, have The honor 10 feport 10 you
that
|. No other sums Of moueg vsl 5e ex.
pended 70 carry into rff-cllhe orders Of
the War Department. msjcsipcs the l2ih
day OF April last, for siaiioning troops or
increasing The military force upon or
near the frontiers OF Texas-or the Gulf oil
Mexico" than such as are necessary 10
deirsy The cost Of transportation. All
supplies or The troops TO which they are
entitled must BE- furnished 70 them where
soeser they may be siaiiqhed. 10, this
respect, therefore. there is no novel ex-
7enditure
The contracts for transporting the Sd
and 9TH regiments OF Infantry from Jes-
lerson Barracks. Missouri, u Nstchiioch-
es, Louisiana, have been RECEIVED BY the
Qusr,ermasier General, aud they stipu-
late for the psynent of eight ihousand
one hundred dollars for the transportation
Eof The two fegi hents between ihose points
The economy with which this service
has been performed will be, understood
10y a recurrence 10 the cost Of transperia.
ition Of the G regiment Of infantry between
ahe same points 10 1872. which amount.
eli 10 fourteen thousand dollars
The transportation from Nslchiloche'
Itd Fort Jesup will be done principally, i
Inpt altogether By the public teams.
! Several wagons and harness have beer
lphrcbased for the use. Of The troops or
Idle southwestern frontier. They would
have been ordered in any event as ne
Glossary 70 the service, but the meyeinen
oil tie troops 10 the frontier or Louisiana
fhas,ened The order perhaps three month
sooner than it would otherwise have beer
issued.
lit is very obvious. and, therefore, hard
W necessary for me 10 remark, although
falling within The range Of the inquiry a
10 the money expended for s,aiionin,
Troops or increasing the military force up
on or near the frontier Of Texas that th,
Cost OF transportation of.be force put 10
10 motion by my orders towards th,
: frontier, has been@ OF course, nothing nor,
than tie usual expenditure attendant up
on any change Of position Of our troops
and Tor lch ordinary military servic,
annual appropriations are made by Cor
gress. II may also be observed, that ihl
dish l,ement for the transportation Of ID,
Bar ,iment Of infantry from ibe vicinit,
of ST. Louis, was consequent upon III
propriety OF relieving the 2dTegimeht Q
dsagooas. whose services would not b
longer required in garrison al Fort Jesu
upon their being remonnted untax ilf
provisions Of The recent act Of Congress
ben they sh all be- 50 equipped, ihel
bper duties as mounted troops woul
suire that they should be. deiache
This comparatively interior position
bpy esmore remote and import
bsis along our extensive line OF Iron
81 bordering ppon,the Indiao country
for the purpose Of sfordirg protection I
The nhsbilants Of The sa.se:., H,I nd;;..,
and Sanlh s.asttaIfA- q r. as nossi
hls IN several savage tribes IRON com
~ - AIM, inc aygressions upon each other.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
- WM. WILKINS.
] Secretary IF va
- ce ne FIn;ifd States.