The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-02


the times and places Of holding the courts as to them
shall seem proper and convenient III, ,hs consultation
and laws the United hereby extended over and
declared be In force In said Territory OF Utah. SO far as
the sane any provision thereof, may be applicable
Z
Indian Deprsdasaoms In Texas.
Within the last twelve months we have often called
the attention oil the federal to the deporabe
condition OF the western frontier OF Texas During the
administration OF General Taylor urged in the
strongest language could command. the absolute ne
cessty Of making speedy aud ehecual arrangements 10
protect that State from the horrors which have been in.
hicted upon her. Al the same time have endeavored
show the utter ineffciency OF the force which has
been detailed 10 protect Western Texas from the mex
pressbe horrors OF the Cnmanchc invasion Thus far our
words have been unheeded and now appeal 10 Con-
yress to make provision by which suitable troops in
sufficient numbers may be placed upon the frontier OF
rexas SO that treaty supulaions with Mexico may
be Observed and that the safety Of American citizens
may be secured.
In this matter we are not actuated BY any disposition
to cavi find fault with the operations OF the felera
government On tue contrary are stimulated by the
eloquent appeal OF renewed ourages which brought
TO as by every mai from Texas few weeks since we
published leer-a foIcible and graphic elter-more
orcble and graphic than anything we could wre-from
Captain Lewis who has been to asbington for the
purpose OF obtaining for Western Texas adequate proec
ton from the ourages which have been COMMITTED by the
| Indians We can add nothing 10 the eloquent appeal
which Captain Lewis makes to the government; and we
therefore repeat only what have heretofore said re-
gardng the troops which been sent into Texas for
the purpose OF protecting the Rio Grande frontier We
have heretofore contendei that infantry mounted in
fantry utterly unavailable for the purpose OF ar
resting of furnishing the Cumanche incnrsons. The
Cumanche is the best horseman in the world; and he
commit his depredations and place himself ia safety
before the infantry the mounted infantry knows where
to find him. In fact mounted infantry is inefficient for
any purpose, when light troops like the Cumanches are
employed against them. But ideas on This subject
though they be the ideas OF a civilian, not
without support among the abest and the best soldiers OF
the army In proof OF this submit the following let
Ter from General John E. Wool to the Hon. voney
E. Howard, Of the House OF Representatives;
WAsHIsaros, July g. 1850
DEAR SIR; have jus, received your communication of
have no hesitation iosay in answer to VOW INQUIRIES
OF Texas against the Indians infantry. light cavalry
and mountain artileTyhe inf.ntry Tor garrison posts
and cavalry and the mountain artillery against the naraud
Mounted infantry should never be employed. when it
be avoided, a substitute for cavalry They
acquainted with that OF service, and consequently
twice expensive. have known mounted in
ahtry Of any service against mounted horse certainly
against Indians Regular cavalry are Infinitely BETTER
and far less expensive.
have the honor be, very respectfully, your obedient
JOHN E. WOOL, United States Army.
To Col " L. HowARD, member Of House Of Representa-
lives.
From th1 letter Of General Wool il is clear that the
government has made adequate arrangements for the
protection OF the Texan frontier The mounting of the
infantry on the Rio Grande a farce, and il
wastefu and extravagant Infantry be made
a. serviceabe cavalry. Infantry ls almost entirely
helpless on horseback; and amount Of drilling can
make infantry efficient when acting cavalry-more
peciay when they have to deal with the best riders in
the world. A hundred Cumanches the plains OF the
Rio Grande would play with the best mounted infantry
regiment that marched under the stars and stripes
We trust therefore, that Congress will take the necessa
nv means TO protect the western frontiers of Texas by
horizng the enlistment of troops for that especial
vice If that be DONE the right sort OF men can be OBJ
tanned In the southwest there thousands Of young
men who would enlist with alacrity for the purpose Of
protecting the frontiers, but who would enlist in the
regular army and become subject garrison life with
the infantry or artillery The reputation OF the Union is
now at stake When Texas independent, she pro-
ec,ed herself from the savages and it would be crying
shame il the United States does not protect her well
Thus far we are mortified say that the federal govern
ment has forfeited its pighied faith for the Cumanches
have been permitted, for the last twelve eighteen
months ravage the valley Of the Rio Grande at pleas
ure They have destroyed ranchos and vages-killing
the male and carrying the female inhabitants into capvi
ty-a captivity than death. Almost every mail
brings the particulars Of some new outrage But a
lew days ago learned that the Indians roaming
the battlefield Of Palo Alto II that the
whole valley Of the Lower Rio Grande is in their posses
sion. or threatened with outrage The following. from
the "Ro Ctande Sentinel" OF the 10Th July, will give par
tally account Of the miserable condition to which
the government has permitted band OF Iawless savages
to reduce the borders OF a sovereign STATE:
The magnificent valley Of the Rio Grande afforded
pleasing with 10 furnishing hrds and iuxarian
veg. stlon, until arrived the ignLcrbood the
plantations OF j. YuDg. where found thst the VIM
dlcuvc and unrelenti.x Cumsnche, who
valley securely Is sforeune he amid
uountnn fsstns had scattered the
peaceful ini,btans and caused them TO abandon,
haste preci their smiling fields and comfortable
and security the rpngwawnouA ~nfsor
on the opposite side All above this place
and confusion. New ST. Lons WAS dsserted-Edn-
Dnrgh entirely abandoned by its int abitants-the
merchant leaving goods become, perchsnce, the
punder savage whom he felt himself unable resist
than risk HE life with tho prorcso~ 20 bountfny
npon this frontier by wise and economical
government. The higher advance the greater the
the - wages had killed four men, about sixty head OF
nd of all and mnlca-