The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-14
The Cunnnches.

ahs Canaan chrs.
We publish the following letter from an officer Of The
army for the benefit Of the War Department His re-
marks contain solution OF the failure of the admins
tration to protect frontier the side OF Mexico
which is more Ineligible than the argon Of the special
organ, charging that the fault is democratic one or
rather congressional one in voting the enormous
estimates OF the War Department When we were in
Texas, Tin lsi4) II was subject OF congratulaton with
all the old pioneers of that gallant State that they had
found little fellow, then called Jack Hays who could
with sixty punish all the Indian aggessions upon
the frontier, and whose prowess had inspired such terror
that the Indians glad TO make treaties of peace and
cease their depredations. There such men still in
Texas and in all the Southwest and we would sugg
TO the special organ whether it would not be well to
call again for their services rather than submit the Sc
rious complaints which not only our own inhabitants
making, bu, those OF Mexico, also, that our treaty
stipulalions not executed.
1t would be amusing 10 the expenses to which
Texas subject when she was an independent State
and had guard her frontier against the nroads upon
her settlements by the fifty thousand Indians that are
ives, OF our Arkansas Indian settlements, and the ex-
penses now incurred for the same object but without ac
complishing the object Where Jack Hays wanted only
hundreds the present administration seems to want thou
sands: !
For the Union.
Mr. EDITOR, We have been almost necessarily shocked
for the last three with accounts OF murders, abduc
tons and other outages perpetraed by The Indians in
Texas and New Mexico. Thus fur the measures taken
suppress these depredaons only have mbodened
their authors Regular troops have been sent there, voun
called and deal Of money spent, without
doing any good the contrary, the Indians be
more daring than'ever.
Why is this The Texans have openly charged that
government is Indifferent their welfare and safety and
has purposcly deserted them. This we cannot believe
but that commanding officers in Texas been guilty Of
ignorance and neglect Of their duty is certainly
In the first place, there not enough mounted troops
in Texas The two regiments Of infantry which there
projection against Indians than they were in
Kamtschaka. They can only be ployed defend and
police the different gasons for seeming pursuit. they
perfectly vaIueless. An attempt has been made to
part OF them, but 1t has proved total failure for
the following l. The enlisted withou,
any regard their fitness for dragon service and conse
quenty they knew nothing either about riding or attend
ing to horses. Neither the officers receive any
additional pay for the duty Tins imposed npon
In many OF the infantry egmen,s-parcu arly those
that have served with dsgoonsthere such aversion
for cavalry service that observer would suppose
horse, like the famous Trojsn quadruped, concealed
deadly enemy. The six companies oil I'll dragons have
been stationed intervals between the Rio urande and
Red river Several Of these companies have but Off
with them therefore many important duties
sarly ntrus,cd segcants Besides they have
pected much that has been i'm possible
do apything well single company required to
reconnoue territory, desert, of
three hundred and fifty miles In lepglhfron Fort Brown
to Eagle pass-and eighty miles wide-irom tho Rio
Grande TO the Nueces.
Office have been placed in command Of posts who have
no periencc information regards Indians
Indian warfare and they never win luire either until
they ompced do One OF these young
lieutenant IN pursuit Of party which had killed
Me1cAns and driven oil their horses with instructions
at dnignafsd porf commanding officer. who
has reputation in small circle, ordered
battery light artillery. encountered with considerable
train pursue and capture all parties Of Indians they
m ght find This In Wilderness without roads wafer.
and pat OF it covered with such donse growth of chap
parA and that nothing but ratcsnake In
dian could pcncta'e II.
The has neglected, and In fact refused to
furnish the pursuing parties with guides "ailers
Now neither scientific education personal bravery
can make officer woodsmau teach him the differ.
ence between Indian and a mustang trail. Such
knowledge the result of Lifetime application, and
only be acquired by who have spent their lives the
woods chasing mustangs and Guiding Indians Neverbe
less mani sent in pursuit OF party which had
killed several Mcx and carried off the wives Of two
Americans; and although they were ordered to follow the
Indians long there any prospect OF overnking
Them and did actually chase hem more than two hundred
mites they were refused trailer. The officer in command
Of the party compelled 10 hire abandon the
pursuit He took former course, and the
suspendsd at VashiNgfon.
But tho principal why the operations against tho
indians have been is that ihcre 10 neither
honor Distinction to be gained During the Mexican
officers who within the range OF the cnemys guns
were breveted Some OF these declined honors which
they had earned others who have retained
knowledge they did nothing worthy Of notice and IL -
hinsd that another portion had received their deserts
having increased rank conferred they would lose
tnst they already hold. Since ihcse Indian diicnes
commenced officer has been killed, three wounded,
md any have exhibited the daring bravery Their
have been mentioned although there Is
com parison the OF the Mexcans and the
r. ~ lstlA yVhi in nj
IN fact, The simple word 'Indian transports Mexican
with fear.
If the government Is really anxious TO erserminate
these savage. they make use OF mounted troops
sher regular cavalry or Texan rangers BOZ arc p"'