Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06
DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPANYING THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
WAR DEPARTMENT,

sm beg leave submit the following report of the
operations of this Department during year which has
just expired.
The subject which has most engaged the attention Of
the Department has been the defence of Texas New Mex
co. and the Mexican Territory adjacent to our own,
against the ncursions Of the neghborng Indian tribes
In my last annual report briefly adverted to the
ture Of these ncursions Unlike their in this part Of
the continent these tribes actuated not much by
hostility to the whites by motives Of plumber. Accus
toned from time mmemoria to carry predatory
fare against the Spanish settlements their vicinity they
submit with reluctance to the efforts Of and
powerful put stop to their ncursions The char
acter Of the country which affords wonderful facilities 10
escape and presents almost nsurounabe obstacles to
pursuit is wonderfully adapted to these marauding
peditions. AS infantry is of little in service which
consists principally in pursuing small parties who al
ways mounted, recommended, in my last report the
raising of an additional mounted regiment equipped with
special reference to this service Congress having
adopted this recommendation all that remained for the
Department to do was to make such disposition Of the
force at its disposal would most eectuay protect
territory and fulfil treaty obligations Mexico
Accordingly prompt taken concentrate
the confines of Texas and New Mexico as many of the
troops adapted to this service could be spared from
other quarters
The Indians in California and Oregon having always
vae the good will of ths~hites was thought that the
services of the regiment of mounted rihemen might be
dispensed with the Pacific 1t therefore ordered
to Texas Brevet Major General Smith, its commander
put in command of the eighth military department.
and Brevet Brig Gen. Hitchcock was ordered to succeed
him in the command of the Pacific division.
In the interval of several months which elapsed between
the death of Breve Maj Gen. Brooke and the arrival of
Brevet Maj Gen. Smith in Texas the Of that
Ja,>o o1xol Dra,a+ p-r
ney, during which time this officer displayed his ac-
customed activity in arresng the incursons of the
dams and the good effect of the adopted him.
already descernibe in the comparative tranquility
which that section OF the country has for time
enjoyed
Some of the erces and nsolent Of the tribes in
all that region occupy the northern portion of Texas
where the streams that flow into the Mississippi well
those that empty themselves directly into the Gulf find
their From this region these tribes make fire.
quent forays, only into Texas and New Mexico but
the Rio Grande into the Mexican territory With
the double object Of overawng these tribes and of afford
ing protection to such eigrants may take that
to Texas, New Mexico or California deemed advisable
to establish chain of military posts that frontier For
this purpose, the fifth regiment of infantry (which al
ready stationed high up the Red River and the Arkansa
ordered to advance further into the Interior and
establish chain of posts extending in western direc
ton, and following nearly practicable the
osnsa from the of the officer who .~aesa
||| |[I I| 49, 49, o {}Aantry ND tS6 49, ysea
nth - - FTssss-S = ~
In New Mexico the Indians had become SO bold as to
commit their depredatons within few miles of the mill
tary posts, and regret say that in instance was
their audacy chassed To remedy, possible this
Of things, Breye Colonel Summer was ordered to the
| command of that department.
He arrived at Santa Fe in the month of July last and
his first step to make new, and, it is believed,
more judcous arrangement of the military posts His
next to set out with portion of his command
expedition into the country of the Navajos powerful
tribe which has long spread terror not only in Texas and
New Mexico but in the State of Sonora The result
OF this expedition is not yet known but he should
complis than establish military post among
them and retaate upon the by capturing their herds
and destroying their fields the expedition will have
been fruitless.
Experience has shown that the most eectual way to
protect our settlements is to the Indians by
constant display Of military force in their immediate
neighborhood for this reason well as on account Of
the demoralzing influence of the and villages on
the troops, the commanding officers both in Texas and
New Mexico directed remove the stations as near
the frontiers as circumstances would permit Both these
officers have, with their accustomed prompude taken
steps to carry this measure into effect and made
tirey new arrangement Of posts looking as far as prac
tcabe alike to the defence Of territory and that
OF Mexico Strong hopes entertained that when their
plans shall have been fully developed the Indians win be
disposed 70 make treaties and to observe them
The United States have thus endeavored to fulfill to
their fullest extent the obligations imposed upon them by
their late treaty with Mexico. 1t surely
tempated that the entire expense and responsibility of
defending her territory against these ncursions should
no such construction and if it did, it would require of
what it would be obviously impossible for perform
As the United States have right to station their troops
within the limits Of Mexico how is it possible for them
entirely protect her against tribes most of whom
py the vast desert lying between the two countries All
that do is to make common with her; to
make her wrongs to chastise, if possible, the
tribes by whom they committed; to compel them,
whenever it is possible to do So to make restitution of
Mexican prisoners and property and finally in trea
es with hem to guard the interests of Mexican citizens
carefully those of own, and to punish any viola
ton Of the severely do that of the other 1t
is manifest, too that whatever efforts may make for
the protection of Mexico will not only be frutess but
absolutely prejudical, unless they aided by
spending efforts her part The number of military
all tend to drive these marauders from border towards
that Of Mexico, whore they carry their depreda
tions with almost certain impunity.
The difference in the character of the inhabitants
of the two countries also tends to the result Our
people all familiar with the of arms, and readily
form themselves into militia companies for their de-
fence. 1t this circumstance, joined with native
hardod Of character that enabled the pioneers of all
States to subdue tribes far formidable than the
robber binds that infes the frontiers of Mexico The in
habants Of Mexico, the contrary, have little skill in
firearms nothing that deserves the of militia and
little of that daring inrepidty which distinguished the
early settlers of country 1t is not surprising,
therefore. that the Indians stand less in Of the Mex
than they do of people, and that where both
countries present equal temptations to punder they
should direct their incursons towards the former rather
than the latter
1t is improbable ALSO that the eebleness of the
Federal authority in Mexico the distracted state of that
Republic 1op,r l;x;l.d