Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-07-29


movement, should circumstances require
ill.,"
And on the l4.h Sept, 1916, he again
writes to the Department and says
"An examination is now making by mn
officer OF the engineers, Of the country in
our front, chiefly to select suitable sites for
encampments, should il become necessary
in that case, to change our position. Re-
connoissances will soon be made of the
Nueces river and the Laguna Madre, to
ascertan their nayigabiIlty, and the IA
cility Of establishing depots in the event
ora forward movement 10 the Rio Grande."
And under date of l4th Oct, he gives
his views much more fully on the subject;
"For these reasons, our position thus
far has, think, been the best possible;
but now that the entire force will soon be
concentrated, it may well be question
whether the views Of government viii
he best carried out by our remaining at
this point. It is with great Difference that
I make any suggestions on topics which
may become matter of delicate negotln-
ton; but il our government, in settling
the question of boundary, makes the line
of the Rio Grande an ultimaium, | can
not doubt The settlement will be greatly
facilitated and FASTENED by our taking pos
session at once Of one or two suitable
points on, or quite near that river. Our
strength and state Of preparation should
be displayed in manner not to be mlsta-
ken. However salulary NAV be the ell.
feet produced upon the border people by
our presence here, we nre too far from the
frontier TO impress the government OF
Mexico with our readiness TO vndlcate
by force Of arms, il necessary, our title to
the country as far as the Rio Grande. -
The army of occupation will in a few
days, be concentrated a; this point, in con-
dtion for vigorous and efficient SERVICE
Mexico having as yet made no positive
declaration of war, or committed an overt
! act of hostilities, ! do not feel at liberty,
: under my instructions particularly those
T. of July s, to make forward movement
10 the Rio Grande without authority from
o the War Department.
"ln case forward movement should be
=. ordered or authorized, | would recommend
the occupation OF Point Isabel and LAREDO
as best adapted to the purposes Of obsery
p, ing the course Of the river and covering
q the frontier settlements Of Texas"
D If propose TO establish q depot on the
Y Nussces river, probably at The crossing .
a Sru Aus11io and Lsreto road, from which
81 .s scs,a,s 1a1r1s t-s Rio Or ,ndc. -
be- al1 afFs 10 f1i7cl{ be iaga9 Ernprscti-abl'
i, 10 nfatil ai sis 1ads ssgag g1 the NIes
,, ,,a, the 60 re Gscgs after strengthening
\ ,,gl Ginm5,p. urEis BE 'afawu iof@ard t
luu iHie.- where g1ut be readily sup
!, Iiuh. trur hsi gI rabta2tas isr any for
iha, snrtuH
" 80 iuvr i,,is,,u,rs d. sur 3u1y 10 make To,
~ arppe aurruHti.,uF- 1.sasa3 ibsy be Ia
81 ,urpllr considered. and instructions ba
n sat ggaa faen, vii thank you 10 sen
d. t5e latter IN duplicate 10 Lieut. COL Hunt
F. --01e eopy 10 be despatched direct, with
"a NV, DELAY; the other TO be sent via. Gal
weston, should steamer be running TO tina
from New Orleans"
~. And after receiving the instructions sug
gesied in February, he writes as follows
-. "HEADau's ARMY OF OccUPArIoN,)
" Corpus Christi, Texas,
~ February A, 1916.
10 SR--I respectfully acknowledge tn
ei communication of the Secretary of Wa
c. dated Jan. 18th, and containing the in
IN struclions of the President TO move fol
ward with my force to the Rio Grande.
IL shall lose no time in making the necessar
=" preparations for carrying out these instrut
= tons.
10 "The occupation of Point Isabel, {
ny Brazos Santiago, as a depot will be ind
IS. pensahle That point, and a position .
re or near the river opposite Matamoro
"a. will, think, answer all present purposes
AT any rate, shall not separate my tore
further until the position of affairs will rel
der it entirely safe to do So"
Now does not Gen. Taylor both sugge
and sanction this occupation Of the X
NJ Grandel And the President nominate
Mt. Gen. T, for Major and gave hi
ar. command of the army invading Mexic
De. and the people approve it, But we insi
Ia that the move was right aud proper of
eel self, and should be approved or condemnt
ia upon its merit or demert,
lHe .-------~--~~~-----~-~--
m ARMY APPOINTMENTS. BY acts Of Co
w. gress, of the present session, it was mat
i've tho duty Of the President to nominate
nd the Senate, for its confirmation, addition
leo officers for the regular army and for II
,aI command of the volunteers, In discho
gipg this duty the President has broug