The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-20
THE ARMY In TEXAS.

The "National inteligencer" publishes to-day
what purporio to be letter written by an officer
serving in the army in Texas in which the admin
tration Of our military Alters in that country Is
severely arraisaed. We have been at The pains to
inquire into the facts stated in this publication, and
find that they are misrepresented--as indeed, any
intelligent person might know. 1t is not necessary
for us to contradict every complaint which every
discontinued officer, tired Of his duty, may utter
through the public press, from any portion Of the
army; but as these statements are published under
eye, in journal Of such credit and circulation
the Intellgcncer, we are at the trouble to notice
the subject.
The first assertion of this letter is that, Of the
army in Texas, not one-ihird could take the field.
Is not such statement too absurd to be uttered to
the least intelligent reader Of the National lntelli-
gencer' Our small army, we assure the lntelli-
gepcer, is in an excellent state Of discipline, and
equipment, and thorough efficiency. The official
reports and eturns from every commander, regi-
ment, troop, and company, state their effective
force and equipment, and the government credits
these returns, and is not aware of any deficiencies.
The army in Texas is abundanlly supplied in
arms, ammunition, provisions, and means of trans
poriaton. The Intelligencer must credit the official
statements, unless it prefers to take the Mexican
view Of the character Of our army, as well as of the
policy and conduct of our government.
In regard to the complaint that troops are not
paid, and suffering on that account it is as i'll
founded as the rest. We publish, in reply to this
charge, the letter of General Towson TO the editors
of the "lntelligencer," of which a copy has been
sent to us. The editors may see what foundation
there exists for the statements Of its letter writer
and how slight an inconvenience may suffice to
bring complaints from far-weather soldiers. Ser
vice in the field, we know, cannot be quite so COM
Portable duty in the garrisons; but believe our
officers have no reasonable complaints to make and
we are graufed TO think that none have been made,
except those Of this wrter-a solitary exception,
which the "Intelligencer" was sure to discover.
The officers Of the army cheerful and jealous in
their duty; and the troops disciplined efficient,
and thoroughly equipped:
To The Editors of the National InielIigencer.
GENTLEMEN: Your editorial article of this morn
ing has quotation from letter, said to be written
by an officer Of the army, and dated at Corpus
Christi on the 3lst Of October, l645, of which the
following is an extract;
sour country, too, not only expected us to move,
to fight, and TO conquer without means; but il ex-
pected all this of us, without money and without
price, Part Of the troops here have not received
one cent of pay for six months; nor is there the
slightest indication Of an intention to pay them for the
tttiTe."
This remark is true, only so far as it re-
lates to company E, 81 artillery, commanded
by Lieutenant Bragg company out of sew
enty-six, or 40 individuals out Of 3,769. The
company payments are due on the last day of eve
ry alternate month, commencing with February; of
course, two months must always be due before
payment can be made. Company E embarked at
Charleston on the 26th Of June, four days before
muster, and unavodably missed the June payment
at the time it should have been made The six
months pay was not due to This company until the
3lst Of October, the very day on which this officer
writes; and the day following, paymasters were at
Corpus Christi with ample funds to pay the whole
army; and have every reason to believe that there
is not now one cent due to the troops serving in
Texas, unless it be to few officers who prefer to
let their pay remain undrawn until they wish to use
it, Thus il will be seen, but one company out of
seventy-sx had six months pay due; some Of the
officers of that paid to later daes and all might
bave BEEN had they wished it. In fact, until the
day this officer wrote, twenty.eight of the compa-
MES had not one cent OF pay due and the day fol-
lowing (the LIST November) paymas,ers were on the
spot ready to pay them as the rolls could be
prepared