The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1847-07-15
From the Richmond Tines
The March from Corpus Christi 10 the
=. Rio Grande. p.

q
The March from Corpus Christi 10 the
Rio Grande. 20
The Democratic Journals have frequent
IN asserted thai the march Oi our Array
from Corpus Christi was executed under
lhe advice from Gen. Taylor 10 the Sec
relary Of Var. AL that was necessary
10 refule this assertion was 10 produce
Gen. Taylor's despatch. IN which the
advice was said 10 be given, and from
this, Il is enllrely manifest that he adyls-
cd the m0vement only upon condition that
the government had fnIly determined TO
claim the Rio Grsnde as the boundary Of
Texas. ss..~ss v..as -
The National Inielligencer, in an able
review of The Generals correspondence
with the War Department, demonstrates
that down 10 the 18th OF January, 1916,
the date &c the order for The advance from
Corpus Christi, and indeed until some time
in March. there was no military move.
men, on The part Of the Mexieans, which
made the advance necessary rs a measure
Of protection. But, all this while. he re-
ceKed repeated instruction that the Rio
Grande was considered the boundary 10
which our claim was 10 be asserted. With
this understanding Of his duty, be wrote
the following letter, which contains the
advice 50 frequently referred 10: q : q"
ssa a Headquaress. Army Os Occupation, .
| 4so,ant Corpus Christi, Texas, Oct 4, is45.
Sal beg leave to suggest some con.
siderations IN relation to the present 20.
sition of our force, and the dispositions
which may become necessary. for the more
effecnsl prosecution of, the objects for
which il has been concentrated. IL will
be recolIecied that the instructions of June
49, issued by Mr.. Bancroft, then Secre.
tary OF War. directed me TO "select and
occupy, on or near the Rio Grantle, such
a site as will consist with the health Of
the troops, and will be best adapted to re.
pei invasion. DC. BRACES Santiago is
the nearest entrance to the mouth of the
Rio Grande; and Point Isabel within that
entrance, and III miles from, Matamoras,
would have fulfilled more completely than
any other position, the conditions imposed
! by the Sacretary. But we had no artil-
lery, no engineer forces or appliances, aud
/ but moderate amount of infantry; and
the occupation Of Point Isabel, under these
circumstances, and with at least the pos.
sibility Of resistance from the Mexicans
might have compromised the safety OF the
command. - | therefore determined to take
up the next accessible position in the rear,
which is the mouth Of the Nueces river,
All the information which | could obtain
before leaving New Orleans, seemed ia
/ point TO Corpus Christi as the most suiia
bic point for concentration; aud although
before the Presidents instructions OF July
80 reached me, would have preferred .
position on the left bank OF the river, We
a careful examination of the country had
already convinced me, that none could bt
found combining so many advantages a,
this. Every days experience has con
! firmed these impressions. Corpus Chris
ii lie healthy. easily supplied. and well 81
!. tuated TO hold in observation the course o
the Rio Grande from Matamoras 10 Lore
do--beimg about $50 miles from severa
points on the river, have reasoneto be
.: lieve, moreover, that salutary moral eli
feet has been exercised upon the Mexi
cans. 30 Their traders are continually car
rying home the news of our position an
increasing numbers, and are coufessedl,
struck by the spectacle Of large camp O
well appointed and disciplined troops, &C
companied by perfect security to their pei
sons and property, instead Of the impress
ment and pillage to which they are sub
ject in their own country. , ~~1@
For there reasons, our position, thus fal
has, | think, been the best possible: bu
u now that the entire force will soon b
concentrated, it may well be questio
: whether the views. of the Governmer
n will be best carried out by our remain
E ing at this point. II is with great heieI
: ence that make any suggestions on to
: pics which may become matter OF del
. cate negotiation; but, II our Goueraincn
in settling the question of boundary, make
: The line Of the Rio Graide an uiiimaiun
| cannot doubt that the settlement will b
greatly facilitated and hasiened by our IA
king possession at once of one or tw
suitable points on or near thatriyer. Ou
strength and state Of preparation shout
!; be displayed in manner not 10 be nlists
9 ken. However salutary, may be the et
'WAR DEPARrNESr, June IS, ls45. - -
The point of your ultimate destination is tn
western frontier Of Texas, where you will selec
and occupy. on or near the Rio Grande del Mort,
such site as will consist with the health Of III
troops, and will be best adapted % repel invasion
/, and % protect what, in the event Of annexation
r will lie our western border. You will limit you
self 10 tue defence Of the territory Of Texas, ur
less Mexico shJuld declare war against the I'm
i ted States. GEO. BANCROFT.