The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-23

and eighth,) two companies OF artillery, six con-
panies OF the second Dragons, and four comPan
les OF mounted volunteers This force amounted ~
the aggregate, at the period when the Adusant Genera
made his last annual report TO about lo men, exclusive
OF one company Of mounted volunteers since called nte
Ii will be perceived that large portion OF TINS
force rs composed Of foot uoops-an arm OF service al
most totally unavailable against mounted Indians
more especially in the prevention oil depreda'ions
| is true that some OF the infantry companies are
mounted, aud that company OF artillery IS llgh
company and Is employed in scouting. The mounted
companies, however If memory Is not al iauit con-
sutue but small proportion OF the total infantry force
in the department Infantry soldiers, when mounted are
not so effective wedrled and INSTRUCTED soldiers
whose place OF duty properly the saddle The system
ter, which impairs his usefulness either cavalry OF
infantry soldier, and, in humble Judgment defeats
the very object OF military establishment Our army
mere skeleton at BEST intended to constitute body
Of well instructed and well disciplined men--a nucleus
around which the militia force may be rallied Tor ofen-
sve OF defensive purposes certainly requires no gfea
military sagacty perceive that ii the system praciised
in this department be long continued, il will utterly de-
feat this very object and if true with respect to IN
fantry, i is more orcibly true when applied TO the com
pany OF light artillery How Is possible that the ON
OF that company give 10 their men the necessary
instruction, when they are compelled to make monthly
perhaps weekly, scouts into the Indian country The
light artillery OF service which, with proper
care may be made exceedingly elective against an or
ganzed foe-one which has shed much lustre on ouI
arms and should be cherished by government unc
tonay the least connected with military establish
ment We desire it to be distinctly understood that We
do not Intend censure the slightest degree the con-
duct OF the gallant veteran now in command OF the 81,
military department, for mounting the infantry or d.
recng the company OF light artillery to be employed as
partisan troops This forced on him by the
exgencies OF the frontier and the best alternative TO
which he could resort in his position. The reproach
fall those whose duty is and who have failed
to furnish the means which would have saved him the
necessity OF adopting this SYSTEM. We think we may
safely assert that not 500 effective mounted men
derived by combining together the entire mounted regu-
lar forcedragoons. mounted infantry and light artillery
with the mounted volunteers-can be made available
at time against the Indians. Yet this force Is ex.
pectei 10 afford protection to line OF 1880 miles OF
frontier This line may be pierced at any or nearly all
its points at the same time by hostile bands OF savages
and the topography OF the country adjacent to affords
many facilities for conducting their predatory lncursons
with Much of the country south Of the frontier
ne chain OF advanced posts consists OF nterspersed
prairie and woodland the prairie greatly predomnatng
The country soccuped by the advanced settlers The lace
the country north OF the line of demarcaon between the
homes Of the pioneers and the territory occupied by the
Indians ntersected by ranges OF bold highlands rising
almost into mountains and SCARED by deep and rugged
ravines the craggy and precpous sides Of both clothed
often with jugly growth OF CEDAR and yne and 6ram
bIe known in local parlance "cedar break, being
almost mpenetrabe to any but the wild beasts OF the
forest and their almost equally untamed enemies, the
savage Indians Descending from their Businesses in
mounted bands, the Indians penetrate between the
advanced posts sweep the broad praries with great
rapidly, marking their track with terror, murder, and
apne, and then retire. choosing their way 80 as to rem.
der pursuit extremely difficult, il not entirely impossible
We appeal to you educated s0ldierone who has
frontier seviceto decide whether considering the
extent Of the frontier. the nature OF the country IN
which the troops have to act and the number and char
of the Indians, the force which has been provided
the executive department is sufficient for the defence
OF the pioneer Inhabitants OF this State It is impossible
that the officers of that branch OF government can be
ignorant OF the aggressons which have been committed
by the Indians. the inability Of the military TO prevent
them. SILL, no adequate provision has been made, or,
lar aware, recommended by the proper
authority to be made, to enable the military orce to &C
compsh the task required OF it, II will not avail the
tn the Ss ns w
suited from any such cause every officer IN this depart
should be cashered and the President ought forth
duct Of all from General Bfoole to the lowest subal-
term But the truth is that complaint OF the kind can
be urged against the officers in this department They
have done their duty faithfully with the force at their
disposal They have BEEN not for day or week, in
the saddle in pursuit Of Indians but for month at
me subjected all the hardships and prvatons OF an
Indian campaign. They claim credit for this exer-
on it was their duty, and they performed il without
murmurng Bu they do claim not to be required to per-
form impossible they do claim not to be subjected
the pain OF behoiding the melancholy spectacle pre-
scented BY murdered penury stricken families who had
looked them for projections they do clam not to have
inflicted on them the modification OF seeing the nobles
banner which freedom has ever possessed, uamped on
and insulted by barbarous foe.
What is the conclusion ask, to be drawn from the
preceding remarks We have demonstrated the existence
of peculiar obligation the part OF the general gov
eminent afford protection to the inhabitants OF Texas
We have shown the numerous murders and robseIie'
which have been committed by the Indians within
the last year, have proved the inadequacy OF thu
military force in this department to furnish protection
the people, and that the failure has not resulted IRON any
fault the part Of the military. The inevitable concu
sion IT, that the department OF government whose duty
to look the defence OF people, has In this cast
sadly and cuIpably neglected it's duty
Let contradiction we cannot compare SUBJECTS OF
things that very much unlIkethe conduct OF the ex
ecutive department in the late troubles in Florida with
the Indians, with the which has been pursued IN
regard 10 Indian trou bles this State One or two muir
ders, and perhaps petty thes, were committed nea
the close OF the last in FLORIDA, when the execu
tive suddenly poured into the State two regiments OF reg
uar troops besides placing subsequently large amount
OF money at the disposal oflhe commanding officer Gen
Twggs, for the purpose OF inducing the Indians TO em
crate 10 the western country The Indians have beer
harassng the settlers this frontier for the last twelve
months, OF which the executive ofcers cannot have
been Ignorant yet action has been taken by them
Union dear 10 the executive department than an
oheri We leave the answer OF this question to ihos'
better acquainted with political wire working than
| su baltern of the army supposed to be.
Considering the great length to which we have already
protr acted this article, and the clear IN which
we believe we have established the proposition we Lane
down in the outset we might here with proprlety Close
our remarks.
But there are other points connected with the defence
OF this frontier and also the organization OF ou
mounted force with view to operate against the Indians
10 which we desire to call your attention.
In the years lsl7-'4s, while the regular force wal
employed IN Mexico, mounted volunteer regiment OF
thousand men was employed on the line from Red rive
to the Rio Grande-ony portion OF the line which II
now to be guarded by smaller force. Thus force wa
scarcely adequate to protect the settlers from the en-
croachments OF the Indians. No longer ago than tn
summer of 1915, the city of Austin, the capital OF TIL
State, aroused from its security by visit from tn
| fu anchp he first am n