The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-06
vpponr THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WAsHiNGroN, November 29, 1901

of the operations of this Department during the
vesr which has just expired;
Tie subiect which has most engaged the atten-
tion of the Department has been the defence Of
Texas, New Mexico, and the Mexican territory
adjacent TO our own, against the incursions OF the
neighboring Indian tribes
the nature Of these incursions Unlike their race
in this part OF the continent these tribes are ac-
tuaed not much by hostility to the whites as by
motives of plumber. Accustomed from Tune lm-
memorial to carry predatory warfare against
the Spanish settlements in their vicinity, they
eubmit with reluctance to the Efforts Of new and
more powerful TO put stop to their incur
eions The character of the country, which af-
fords wonderful facilities TO escape, and presents
almost insurmountable obstacles TO pursuit. Is Won
derfully adapted to these maraudlng expeditions.
As infantry OF little use in service which con-
sSts principally In pursuing small parties who arc
always mounted, ! recommended IN my last re-
port the raising OF an additional mounted regi-
ment, equipped with special reference To tins SER
vice. Congress not having adopted this recon.
lntndatiun, all that remained for the Department
10 do wac make such disposition of the force at
Is disposal as would most eilcctualy protect our
own territory aud fulfil our treaty obligations TO
Mexico Accordingly prompt measures were taken
10 concentrate on the confines of Texas and New
Mexico as many OF the troops adapted to this SER
vice as could be spared from other quarter5
The Indians in California and Oregon having
always appeared Of an unwarlike character, and
disposed 10 cultivate the good Will Of the whites
il thought that the services ut the regiment oil
mounted rillcmen might be dispensed with on the
pacjfc ii Mas therefore ordered to Tcxas Bre-
vet Major General Smith, It's commander, was put
IN command Of the eighth military department.
and Brcvet. Bsigadier General Hitchcock was or
dcred 10 succeed him IN the command o! the PACING
division.
between tile death OF Brcvet Major General Brooke
and the arrival of Breyct Major General smith IN
Tcxas, tho comm nd Of that department deyoved
on Brcvet Bfigadier Genera! Harvey during which
time this officer displayed bis accustomed activity
in arr AZ indiana,
good ,fccts of the measures adopted by him are
already ciseernible in the comparative tranquility
which that section u the country has Tor some
time past enjoyed.
Some Of the iercest and most nsolen ofthe tribes
IN all that region occupy the northern portion Of
Texas. where The streams that How into the MIS-
sissipp, rs we'll az those that empty themselves d.
rectly into tue Gulf, find their sources. From this
region these tribes make frequent forays, not only
inio Texas and New Mexico, but across the Rio
tirande into The Mexican territory With the dou-
bic obicctof oyerawing these tribes and of afford
Iug protection to such emgrants may take that
route to Texas, New Mexico, California,
deemed it advisable to establish chain of military
posts on that frontier. For this purpose, the fifth
regiment of infantry (Which was already stationed
high up the Red river and the Arkansas) was or
dered advance further into the. interior, and tC
establish chain of posts extending IN western
direclion, and following, nearly as practicable
the route called Qrom the name OF the officer WHIT
traced it) ''Marcy's route"
The seventh regiment of infantry was ordered
from Jefferson barracks to occupy the station
abandoned BY the fifth.
In New Mexico the Indians had become 30 bolc
"a TO commit their depredatona within few mile
of the military posts, and regret TO say that In n
instance was their audacity chastised. To rem
ody if possible this state of things, Brevet Colone
Sumner ordered to the command of that dc
partment.
He arrived at Santa Fe in the month of Jul,
last and his first step 10 make a new, and,
ID believed, more judicious arrangement Of tn
military posts. His next was to set out with por
q bl6 command
country of the Navajos-a powerful tribe which
has long spread terror, not only in Texas and New
Mexico, but even in the State of Sonora The re
suit or this expedition is not yet known; but il h.
should accomplish no more than to establish mil
lary post among them, and retalate upon then
by capturing their herds and destroying the
fields, the expedition will not have been frutles5.
Experience has shown that the most effectua
way to protect our settlements Is 10 overawe tn
Indians by constant display of military force il
their immediate neighborhood For this reason
well account of the demoralizing intu
cnce of the towns and villages on the troops, thu
commanding officers both In Texas and New
Mexico, were directed to remove the stations a
near the frontiers as circumstances would permit
Both these officers have, with their accustomed
p-omputude, taken steps to carry this measur
into effect, and made entirely arrange
mCnt OF posts, looking, far practicable, aliS
20 the defence OF our own territory and that
Mexico. Strong hopes entertained that whe
their plans shall have been fully developed, tn
Indians will be disposed TO make treaties and
observe them.
The United States have thus endeavored to fuf
to their fullest extent, the obligations imposed upo
them by their late treaty with Mexico. 1t sufel
was never contemplated that the entire expens
and responsibility ofdefending her territory
these incursions should devolve upon US. The Ian
guage of the treaty admits OF no such construction
and IF II did, II would require of what il woui
he obviously impossible for US to perform. As tn
United States have right to station their troop
within the limits of Mexico, how is it possible ic
them entirely to protect her against tribes most ,
" 2 betv 4
two countries All that we can do is 10 make com
cause with her; to ma Ike her wrongs our owl
to chastise, If possible, the tribes by whom they
committed; 10 compel them, whenever it is poss
bic TO do SO, 10 make restitution of Mexican prison
crs and property; aud, finally, in treaties wit
them, 20 guard the interests OF Mexican cit zens o
carefully as those Of our own, and 10 punish an
violation OF the one as severely we do that of tn
other. il is manifest, too, that whatever efforts "
may make for the protection of Mexico will nc
only be fcuitiess, but absolutely prcjudicial unles
they aided by corresponding Efforts on her par
The number Of our military posts the vigilance
activity, and courage Of our troops, all tend {
drive these marauders from our border toward
That oil Mexico, where they can carry on their de
predation5 with almost certain impunity.
The difference in the character Of the inhabi
tauts o. the two countries also tends TO the cam
rc7ult. Our people all familiar with the use q
arms, and readily form themselves into Iniliti
companies for their own dcfe-cc 1t was this cir
CuulstanCc, Joined with native hardihood of cha
racter, that enabled the pioneers OF all our State
Der bands that infect the frontiers VI Mexico III
inhabitants OF Mexico, the contrary, have litul
SKIN IN firearms, nothing inat deserves the nam
Of militia, ana little u that daring intrepidit
which distinguished the early gettiers Of our owi
country. Ii is not surprising, therefore, that III
Indians stand less in awe VI the Mcxicans tha
tuey DO Of our people, and that, where both coun
trles present equal temptations TO plumber, the
should direct their incuraon5 towards the forms
rather than the latter.
ltis not improbable, also that the feebleness {
be- rrt he "a
state u that republic, and the civil contests tina
have 40 loag divided her people, may impair he
Influence among savagcs who know no right bu
power and no motive but the fear Of it's exercise
The portion OF Mexico which is said to have sui
icrCdmOst from these depredations is the State of So
nora. B,tween that State and the inhabited nor
tons Of Texas and New Mexico there ia an exten
svc range OF mountain and desert, for the moe
part uDinhRbitable, and at certain seasons OF IN
year almost impossible. To send, therefore I
that frontier sufficient force TO afford it any e6cc
tupl protection, and to mai ntan ii there, would b
attended with difficulties almost nsuperable.
post, however, has been established at the unctio
1t.