Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-23

II
urande Should you judge the forces under your
inadequate, you will fail TO draw sufficient auxiliary
from Texas and if there be need from the States pursuan
your previous Instructions II is be doubted that
your notification, volunteer troops, to the number you
require, will rally with aacrity your standard You have
been advised that the assembling large Mexican army t
borders OF Texas, and crossing the Rio Gande with
siderable force will be regarded by the Executive
invasion OF the United Sates and the Of hos
ties An attempt that river with such force viii
also be considered In the light There may other
the part of Mexico which would put end the relations
OF between that Republic and the United States Should
depredations be committed by her public
armed vessels pvateers acting under her authority this
will constitute state of 4st.
Orders have been issued TO the vessels of the United States
IN the Gull to furnish you with information of any hostile
proceedings Of Mexico and the Of things in that Repu
c You will embrace every occasion that may present
forward 10 the commanders OF these vessels
you may possess concerning the Of the military
forces and the state Of things Mexico and Texas
gest to them such assistance and may
to receive.
In of war; either declared or made manifest by hostile
acts, your main object will be the protection of Texas but
the pursuit OF this object will necessarily conne your ac
ton within the territory of Texas Mexico having thus COM
nenced hostites you may, in your discretion should you
have sufficient force and be condition to GO So cross the
Rio Grande, dispense capture the forces assembling
wade Texas defeat the junction of troops uniting that
pose drive them from their positions on either side Of that
river and deemed practicable and expcdent take and hold
possession Of Matamoras and other places in the country
scarcely need to say that enterprises of this kind only
be ventuod under circumstances presenting fair prospect
Of success.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
VIM. i. MARCY, Secretary of War
Brgadier General u. TAYLOR,
Commanding The u s. Army in Texas.
P. s. Herewith you will find copy of the order Of the
Navy Department to Commodore Conner.
WAR DEPARTMENTS,
WASHINGTON, OcTonER l6, 1915.
whi hava hevar Il,
babe that serious attempts will present be made by Mex
leo to invade Texas although she continues threaten in
cursons Previous instructions will put possession
OF the views OF the Government of the United States not
only as to the extent of its territorial claims but Of its
mnaon to assert Them In carrying these instructions
you will be left much to your Judgment by
Of your superior knowledge Of localities and the earlier notice
you may receive OF the probable views of Mexico and the
movements of her troops.
Onthe supposon that no active operations on your part
will be required during the approaching winter important
question to be decided is the position positions be
pied by your forces This must be determined mainly with
reference the objects for which the army under your com
mand sent into Texas You will approach as near the
western boundary Of Texas 1.-THE Rio Grande) as circum
stances will permit having reference reasonable security
to accommodations for putting your troops into winter hus
deemed necessary the facility and certainty of procuring
receiving supplies and checking any attempted incur
son by the Mexican forces the Indian tribes Ought your
position to be changed the forces which are soon
will be- assembled under your command be kept together OF
divided and if divided what positions are to be taken and
how they to be divided These questions which must
be in measure left to your Judgment or, least the dec
sion upon them here if there be tme will be influenced in no
nconsderabe degree by the information and which you
may furnish the Department You need not therefore, wait
for directions from Washington carry out what you may
deem proper to be DONE Upon all the points above
ated and Others not suggested your reports in full
desired only with reference the continuance of the
present aspect of affairs between the United States and Mex
but in the contingency of your selecting being directed
to take position the banks of the Rio Grae near its
mouth places above in the of open HOSTILE
tes 1t expected that the officers of the Engineer and To
biographical Corps who have been into Texas will ex
amne far practicable under your direction the coun-
try with view to selecting eligible positions for permanent
temporary occupation for depots of supplies arms and
munitions of tbs extremely desirable that the seacoas
or at least that part Of which will be likely to be visited by
our vessels in aid of any contemplated military operations
should be better known here than il is ms well as the
character OF the several which may present obstacles
the movements Of forces furnish facilities for transport
ing supplies You requested avail yourself Of all pro-
per OCCASIONS and employ the you possess collect
information in regard to all these matters and forward il TO
this Department
Very respectfully, your obcdient servant,
VIM. l.. MARCY, Sccretaryof War.
Bngadier General u. TAYLOR,
Commencing army Of occupation ia Teas.