The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-03
MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLES.

if>Gntfuily out OF plumb.
MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLES.
C0MAUNlCATl0N FROM THE SECRErABY q
WAR.
WASHINGTON, Feb. The Hecretary 1
War transmitted to the House of Represent,
tives for the information Of the special cou
Inittee on Mexican border troubles in :.
Spouse to letter from that committee ia
copies OF reports aud correspondence In 1871
rs and '76, relative to the troubles ON th
Rio Grande frontier.
IN reply to the inquiry of the oommitte
whether the Department can dispose Of
sufficient force to give complete protection d
the Rio Grande border from the mouth of tn
nver to Laredo, and at such points between
Laredo and Fort Denison o. may need pro
lection, without detriment TO the general ser
vice, the force necessary in the opinion O
the commissioner being two fall regiments O
the best class mounted troops with infantry
to garrison the main stations. The Genera
OF the army reports al follows:
doubt the possibility Of preventing all
raids across the Mexican border. from Bro wns.
vile to Eagle Pass, 1872 miles, but they may
he in great measure prevented by increasing
the strength Of the companies on the from tier.
Congress, by simply authorizing the Presi.
dent at his discretion to increase each of the
companies serving there to 100 enlisted men,
would meet the emergency more economi-
caiiy than by any other course possible.
One snch regiment Of infantry, say the
1lth or 2O.h, with one regiment of cavalry,
the 9Th aud part of the 10th, thus increased.
would suffice. l am convinced that single
company of 100 men is moro efficient than
two OF the present small companies.
The only cavalry regiment that could be
sent to the Rio Grande this winter would be
the Third, nov on the Union Pacific Railroad.
and that wonld leave this road exposed to
raids from the Sioux, who are always mis-
trusted.
The documents are voluminous, having
much information concerning depredations,
from army officers and others The following
are extracts: Major A P. Morrow. in report
dated l6 December. 1875, says he had reliable
information that $50 Apaches and Kickspoos
ware then encamped on the spot who're Gen.
Mackenzie struck them in May. 1879. fa'
They were nearly destitute. having recently
beon driven from the plains by Ool Shaffer.
In has opinion these are the Indians who are
driving the cattle from San Felipe There
7 seemed to Major Morrow no possibility OF
stopping their raids, except by following them
across the river.
Lieut.. Goodman, under date of December
25. writes that on the 23d be proceeded to the
lilo Grande River, appoint where it was re-
ported that some 500 head of cattle had been
crossed
The cattle, it was said by the citizens of the
place, had been stolen from their herds either
by Mexicans or Indians. More than 200 head
had been driven over. The depredations are
oil committed 80 near the river that it is al
most impossible to recover stolen property
without following them across.
1t was reported by citizen that he saw two
Mexicans drive 100 head of cattle over the
river. The general impression is that tho
Mexicans and Indians have q rendezvous in
the mountains and work together.
Capt. l.. H. Carpenter states that, while OF
Del Norte, he learned from reliable American
residents on the Mexican side, that band OF
Wescarle Apaches effected an agreement with
The Ntxican Government, some time ago,
amounting to truce, under which they have
cessn trading continually in the Mexican towns
Of Preside del Norte. residing for the most
OF the time, however, in the Sierra Blanca, |
near the town OF San Carlos. Mexico. Capt |
Carpenter Is satisfied from what he has |
learned from various sources that these In |
dlans have been constantly depredating on |
the American side, and are carrying stock and |
other spoil to Mexico to trade with impunity |
ut San Carlos aud Preside del Norto
he had learned that Alsoto had lately made |
application to the Mexican Government for |
pass for other bands Of Apaohes, who wish |
To DC admitted to the same trading privileges |
enjoyed by his own. There was also q re- |
port among the Mexicans in Del Norte that |
these bands have lately joined Alsoto.
As these Indians have made their homes in |
the most rugged and broken regions in the |
country, it would be necessarily extremely
diff cult to dislodgs them.
Ill lnSa
them could hardly hope to be successful, for |
IS soon a. alarmed, the Indians fly across the |
Rio Grande, where they fud friends and pro- |
lection.
Inspector General N. H. Davis says there is |
a CO. 900 Mexican population between the |
Rio Grande and Nueces rivers. Many OF
them are idle, incident and vagrant people, |
who are persistent cattle thieves and some Of
whom, in conne ction with bands of the same |
,ace flom Mexico, FRI qnently raid the settle |
ments stealing stock, robbing ranches and
numbering inhabitants.
To such an extent have these deprcdations |
been committed that this country has been |
greatly serted Of its stock and the raising OF
il has become more or less hazardous
These raids and the stealing in general.
have become a curse to tho land. There Is
much less planting than heretofore. and those
having stock are Sei!ins and Offering 1t for |
ale Of scarcely half its value.
Those who give Information against thieves.
VI aid in their arrest and punishment are
threatened with death. Sums of mon-y have
,een paid for murders and offeIed for other
The outlook now is that border war may
gith reason be anticipated II these depreda-
io,s ard murders ara continued, and ono
III Ano lepvA.s aAe Lax.