The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-09

instructions were duly Forwarded 20 the command
ing general Of the western division. -
On the 4th Of August, instructions were sent from
the aAdjntant generals Office % Bngadlsr Genera
Worth TO delacb, without delay, from the garr'
sons Of ST Augustine and Fort Brooke, i've com
parties OF the Slh infantry TO relieve the garrlsohi
Of the 7lh at Forts Piekens, Pike, and Wood, and
Baton Rouge, which were ordered 10 Texas "A
copy Of these instructions was duly Forwarded to
the Commanding general of the western division;
% the 5th Of August were issued general or,
den" No. 81, Of which copy was duly furnished
TO the commanding general OF the western division
directing the three companies of the % dragons al
Fort Washiia to proceed to Austin, in Texas, and
report to General Taylor and also the 7th infantry
relieved by the i've companies of the Sth to proceed
70 Arkansas bay. r-- r. .... .,.,.....,
On the 10Th Of August were Issued general or,
dersn No. 80, a copy Of which was duly furnished
10 the commanding general Of the western division,
directing LIST: One company Of the LIST artillery 10
proceed 10 Fort Piekens and relieve the company
Of the 7th there, when the latter would join It's regi.
ment in Texas; "a. One company Of the Sd arle
ny TO occupy Fort Marion, Forids and 81. Directing
he 9Th military department 10 be abolished on the
departure Of the 9Th infantry from Florida, and pni-
ring that part of Florida west Of line drawn from
Fond du Lac TO Cape Sable to the LIST department,
which is within the geographical limits OF the west
ern division.
On the 18th Of August, two companies Of the 9Th
infantry arrived at Forts Pike and Wood. from
Tampa bay, under instructions to General Worth
Of the 4th Of August which leave II to be inferred
that subsequently TO the date Of these instructions,
aad in accordance with the tenor Of general orders
No. sc, of the 9Th Of August, the whole Of the
9th infantry have been directed TO proceed TO
Texas, yet no Official information has been received
at division headquarters of such movement or such
instructions; and yet this Is still more probable from
general orders" No. al, a copy OF which was duly
furnished the commanding general OF the western
division, directing four companies OF the LIST artle-
~ 10 proceed 10 Pensacola harbor and one company
Of the same regiment 10 proceed TO Fort Brooke,
Tampa bay.
On the 18Th Of August, in consequence Of infor
nation derived from Major Donelson, the charge to
Texas, who was Just from the camp Of General
Taylor, Of large Mexican force being collected In
the vicinity Of the Rio Grande with hostile intent,
and oftbe war spirit which prevailed in Mexico to a
considerable extent, derived from various sources,
and considering the well known limited means al
Gensra Tsylor's disposal about nine hundred infan
Try and pieces of artillery 10 repel vigorous at
tack Of any considerable body OF Me1icans, the
commanding general Of the western division felt il
to be his duty to call upon the governor OF Louis-
ana, at hand, for two companies Of volunteer
artillery, with their field pieces, and two regiments
Of Infantry TO be taken into the service OF the Uni
ted States, and to be embarked, as soon trans
porls could be procured, for Texas, to reinforce
General Taylor. This requisition was finally so
modified to require the immediate service OF the
two companies Of volunteer artillery and to increase
the two regiments TO four regiments, to be held in
readiness but not to be mustered until their services
should be required OF which due notice was 10 be
given. Under this requsltion the two companies Of
artillery, with their equipment Of field pieces, were
duly mustered into service, and were embarked at
this place for Corpus Christi on the 2lst Of August
where they arrived a. time when, II is understood
General Taylor had entrenched his command near
the Nueces and had streng hsned his position TO the
extent Of his means, by the planting Of some ship
guns Of small calibre, borrowed for the occasion,
and had increased his force by the addition Of some
Texas volunteers.
On the 25th Of August, letter was addressed by
the Secretary of War to the commanding general
Of the western division, inclnsng copy OF instrue-
lions to Geneul Taylor, dated the 23d Of August,
authorizing that officer, under certain contingencies
to accept volunteers from the States OF Louisiana,
Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky,
not doubling that "at least two regiments from New
Orleans, and one from Mobile, could be obtained
and expCdltously brought into the field" The let
ter TO the commanding general Of the western diyi.
son states that the government has assigned to
General Taylor the command of the army of occu-
patton in Texas This is the frsi ntmation Of the
kEd officially received at division headquarters.
Furnished agreeably TO the instructions of Major
General Gaines.
s. COOPER,
........... Assistant Adjutant General.
Assistant Adjutsnt Generals Office,
New Orleans, La, Sept, 9, ls45.
Copy Qfts endorsement Of General Scott upon the fore
going letter:
OF the correspondence between the Secretary Of
War and General Gaines, touching the Louisiana
militia, sent by the latter to Texas have had moth
ng to do up to this moment. All the letters Of the
secretary were written without my knowledge, and
believe, in my absence from Washington This
however, having been sent by the
secretary to be placed the files Of the Adiutant
Generals Office, it has been brought under my no.
ice, and have Just read the within letter from Gen.
,ral Gaines and the secretarys replies Of September
30th, and Of the 10Th instant. (NoTE,-Ater an abb
Of month, got back to this city the night Of
he l0th.) shall con6ne myself to those three let
ers--having neither the time nor the inclination to
ook farther into the correspondence.
The secretary, we'll knowing that | had had no
agency in suggesting less in debating any part
Of his letter letters to General Gaines this sub.
down Correctly in his letter Of September
30) the rule of official correspondence, and that of
rcdress--by charges and specifications,
and adds: "Complaints and charges presented in
his manner, will receive proper attention" ...
This (though not 30 iniended) imitation will prob
,oly give the SECRETARY charges and specifications
enough against me-like those contained within.
With this letter in his hand, will the secretary
nave the goodness to turn to 5th and S3d articles Of
war, and say what ought to be done with General
Gaines' Knight refer to scores Of other letters from
he same source, and dozen other articles of war,
which General Games has habtually, and for years,
violated with impunity. T..
Why do | not prefer charges and specifications
against that officer will repeat the reply which
nave heretofore twenty times made in writing.