The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-25


point the gulf Of Mckee, or its navigable waters,
your Judgment may be most convenient for embarka.
.on ar ne proper time, for se ~ssi" rO",,'r Of T.ra'"
"The poin, of your ultimate destination is the western
near the Rio Grande del Norte such site viii con,
with the health of the troops and will be best adapted re-
cM be our reeste, border You ,oa lima yourself 10 fhs de-
fence Of The territory Of asIas unless MTieo should declare
"WAR DEPARTMENT, July g. 1876
"SR. This department. informed that Mexico has some
military embellishments the east side OF the Rio Gande
which are and for some been the actual oe
heretofore received, yon u be careful to apo.d any Of
aggression unless an actual sdais q ar should sr The
have been pW NOT % disturbed as long as me relations of
betwee the Ued States and MvIss '9"ti%ae
"Brig. Gen. 2. TAYLOR"
.WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, July 80, 1875
"SIR, Your letter. from New Orleans. of the 10Th nst
addressed the Adutan General has been received and
laid before the President and he desires me TO express
you his approval OF your movements.
He has the requisite Information Ia regard to the
country, enabehm to give any positive directions
the position you ought take or the movements which
circumstances hile apoiding you haze been Instructed
to do all aggressive opards MsT'eo as toag the
relations peace ers befce" that republic md s Unud
States yo expected to occupy, protect aud defend he
ritory Of Tsras the ertent thar has been occupied by the
people Of 1sras The Rio Grande Is claimed 10 be the bound
arr between countries, and TO this boundary you
are 10 ertend your projections only excepting any posts
the side thereof which in the actual occupancy
of Mexican forces Mexican settlements which the
republic Texas did exercise jurisdiction at the period
of annexation shortly before that event Is expected
that in selecting the establishment for troops
approach the boundary line.the Rio Grande-a,
prudence will dictate With this view, the President de-
sires your position for part OF your forces at least
should be west of the river Nueces.
Yon are directed to ascertain and communicate this
department the number OF Mexican troops now at Aaamo
ras and other Mexican posts along the border their po
sition the condition of them, and particularly the
taken contemplated increase or strengthen them
you should have any reason TO believe that the government
Mexico is concentrating forces on the boundaries OF the
TWO countries YOU will only with reference such
of things but give the earliest information to this de-
parunent.
aWM L. MARCY. Secretary of war.
ssBrg Gen T. TAYLOR,
Commanding the army of occupation in Texas"
"WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, Aug. 3D. 1915,
SIR: The information hitherto received as to the nten
tons of Mexico and the she may adopt does
enable the administration here to give you more explicit
instructions in regard your than those which
S Ssspe os that Meaeo !. making Efforts to assemble large
on the frontier Of asss I .a pagyo'e Il entering u.
@en,s You are doubtless advised and have taken
or early win AXE and ef bd I Maeo s s
large body of troops on the Rio Gande. and with
considerable force, such movement must be regarded
OF hostlities You will, of course all the authority
which has been may be given YOU 70 meet such state
and Tor that purpose you win Of employ the
al the % You aRy oI OF War
Brig Cen Cen D. TAYLOR, &c.
swan DEPARTMENT. Washington Aug. 30, 1915.
sThe instructions heretofore issued enjon upon You
defend Isras from invasion and Indian hoslities; and
should Mexico invade il, you will employ all your forces H
rp.se the inpaders and dtre all Mtriea beyond the
Rio Gronde should you Judge the forces under your
auxiliary aid from Texas and If there be need from the
States pursuant to your previous instructions not
be doubled that your notification volunteer troops nI
the number you may require, viii rally win alacriY o|
your standard You have been advised that the assembling
ing the Rio Grande with considerable force, will be re-
gaded by the Executive here as an invasion OF the United
ard tec % An
thar river with such force VIII also be considered
in the same light There may Dc ether acts on the part Of
between that republic and the United States Should dePI
relations be committed ON our commerce by her pubcI
Sin case Of war; either declared made manifest by
tile acts your object will be the protection OF Texas
but the pursuit of this object viii not necessarily connef
your action within the territory of Texas Mexico having
thus commenced hosities, may, IN your disceuon
should you have sufficient force. and be in condition
90 The KS ns. or s oop,
ting for that purpose drive them from their positions on
either side OF that river and deemed practicable ana ea
places 10 the country. scarcely need to say that enef
pses Of this KIND are only % be veetuIsd on under
very respectfully your obsd.sn servant If Wa,
"Bngadier General z. TsyIos,
Commanding the T. s army in Texas
This last ORDER under date of August 3Oh, was the
last communication received from the War Department
by Gen. Taylor PRIOR to his writing his letter Of Ocobe
4th, in which the advance OF the army to the Rio
Grande is recommended The first two of the above
ders found Gen. Taylor at Fort Jesup Louisiana The
remainder reached him either at Corpus Christi or on
his way there. They all speak uniform language
They all enoin upon him the eectua defence, against
Mexican invasion, of Texas up the Rio Grande and the
prompt repulse of all Mexican hostties the eastern
bank OF that river. Beyond this point the orders do no
proceed They leave the choice of positions very much
to his discretion, taking always enon upon
him strictly the avoidance OF every movement calculated
provoke, any way justify hostile movement on hc
part of Mexico.
Under these circumstances-and mindful of his whole
structions-Gen Taylor, the 4th of October wrote
the War Department the following letter, advising,
view of all the facts OF the case the advance Of the
to the Rio Grande:
'HKApoUARrERs ARMY of OCCUPATION,
Corpus Christi Texas, October T. ls'o
SIR beg leave TO suggest considerations IN re
ton to the present position OF force and the d,spa
tions uhch may become necessary for the cfecfudf prov
ecttoH of the objects for ich has been concentrated
will be recolected that the instructions OF June l5 issu
by Mr. Bancroft, then acting Secretary OF War; Directs
me Select and occupy, the Rio Grande, su
site will consist with the health Of the troops and WI
be best adapted repel INVASION &c Brazos Santiago
Point Isabel within that entrance, and twenyone ml
from Matamoras, would have fulfilled completN
than any other position the conditions imposed by the sec
rotary But had artillery, engineer force an
pliances and but moderate amount of Infantry and i
occupation of Point Isabel under these a
with at least the possibility OF resistance from the Mexcan
therefore determined to take up the next accessible pos
ton in the rear, which is the mouth of the Nueces river