tier for the term of three months, if not sooner discharged from said service by the governor. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed at the city of Austin this the 4th day of October, A. D. 1858, and of the independence of Texas the twenty-third year. [SEAL.] By the governor: H. R. RUNNELS. T. S. ANDERSON, Secretary of State. No. 92. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Austin, Tex., October 8, 1858. SIR: I have the honor herewith to inclose an abstract from the comptroller's office of the different sums appropriated by the State of Texas for protection against the Indians, and now remaining unpaid by the Government of the United States, which, if consistent with the views of the department, we shall hope will be included in the estimates of expenditure for the present year. The muster-rolls and vouchers are all on file in that office, and will be forwarded to the proper office at Washington as soon as intelligence shall reach here of an appropriation by Congress to cover the amount. I have also the honor to inclose herewith copy of a letter of recent date from this office to Colonel James Bourland, with instructions for his guidance in regard to Indian disturbances on the northern frontier of this State. These particular disturbances are believed to be, in a great degree, attributable to certain predatory bands in treaty with the general government, who have hitherto roamed on that part of our Territory at pleasure, and of which I have at former times taken occasion to give the government due notice, and to ask that they should be restrained to their own limits. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD, H. R. RUNNELS. Secretary of War. No. 93. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Austin, Tex., November 2, 1858. CAPTAIN: You are hereby authorized and empowered to raise a company of rangers to serve for six months, unless sooner discharged. The said company will be organized in accordance with the laws of the United States, and will consist of one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, four sergeants, four corporals, two buglers, two farriers and blacksmiths, and seventy-four privates. You will rendezvous at this place and proceed to organize by the election of officers at the earliest practicable period, and you will report the result of said election to the proper department immediately. After the completion of the organization and the procurement of the necessary supplies, the said company will move without delay to a suitable point to protect the exposed settlements, which have recently suffered from Indians. H. R. RUNNELS. Captain J. S. FORD, Austin, Tex. No. 94. In the name and by the authority of the State of Texas. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting : Whereas, at an election held in the county of Travis on the 10th day of November, 1858, John S. Ford was elected to the office of captain of a company of Texas Rangers, called into service for frontier protection for six months, unless sooner discharged: Know ye that I, H. R. Runnels, governor of the State of Texas, reposing special trust and confidence in your courage, patriotism, and integrity, and in your fidelity to the constitution and laws of the State of Texas, and your attachment to the United States of America, do hereby commission you, the said John S. Ford, to the office of captain of the said company of rangers, to rank as such from the 10th day of November, 1858; and the said company you are to lead, train, muster, exercise, and command according to the existing laws and military discipline of the United States, and you are strictly to observe and execute all such orders and instructions as you shall, from time to time, receive from the governor (the commander-in-chief) for the time being, or any of your superior officers, according to the rules and discipline of war; and all inferior officers, or others belonging to said company, are hereby commanded to obey you as the captain thereof. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed at the city of Austin this the 10th day of November, A. D. 1858, and in the year of the Independence of the United States of America the eightythird and of Texas the twenty-third. [SEAL.] By the governor: H. R. RUNNELS. T. S. ANDERSON, Secretary of State. No. 95. In the name and by the authority of the State of Texas. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas, at an election held in the county of Travis on the 10th day of November, 1858, John R. Gibbons was elected to the office of first lieutenant of a company of Texas rangers, called into service for frontier protection for six months, unless sooner discharged: Therefore, Know ye that I, H. R. Runnels, governor of the State of Texas, reposing special trust and confidence in your courage, patriotism, integrity, and in your fidelity to the constitution and laws of the State of Texas, and your attachment to the United States of America, do hereby commission you, the said John R. Gibbons, to the office of first lieutenant of the said company of rangers, to rank as such from the 10th day of November, 1858; and the said company you are to lead, train, muster, exercise, and command according to the existing laws and military discipline of the United States, and you are strictly to observe and execute all such orders and instructions as you shall, from time to time, receive from the governor (the commander-in-chief) for the time being, or any of your superior officers, according to the rules and discipline of war; and all inferior officers, or others belonging to said company, are hereby commanded to obey you as the first lieutenant thereof. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed at the city of Austin this the 10th day of November, A. D. 1858, and in the year of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-third and of Texas the twenty-third. [SEAL.] H. R. RUNNELS. NOTE.-Commission similar to the above was issued to Aaron Burleson, as second lieutenant of said company, November 10, 1858. No. 96. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Second Auditor's Office, January 8, 1859. SIR: I herewith respectfully return the papers connected with the claim of the State of Texas, now before the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia of the Senate of the United States, with a list of six companies of Texas volunteers, called out in the year 1854, and paid by the United States, under the act of Congress approved March 3, 1855. By an examination of this list you will perceive that, up to this time, the United States has paid to these six companies $68,449.70, and the records of this office cannot show that any stoppages were made in favor of the State of Texas. The records of the Third Auditor might show an additional allowance to these companies for subsistence, &c., which would increase the allowance made by the United States. This office is not aware of any other companies of Texas volunteers in 1855 having been paid by the United States. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. COOPER, Colonel and Adjutant-General U. S. A. T. J. D. FULLER, No. 97. Six companies of Texas volunteers, under act March 3, 1855. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, SECOND AUDITOR'S OFFICE, January 8, 1859. 65, 863 02 2,586 68 68, 449 70 No. 98. WAR DEPARTMENT, January 11, 1859. SIR: In reply to your communication of the 3d instant, inclosing Senate resolution No. 59, to provide for the payment of certain volunteers called out by the governor of Texas for the protection of the frontiers of that State, requesting me to furnish the committee with any information upon the subject now on file in the War Department, I herewith transmit all the information in the department upon the subject of volunteers called out by the authorities of Texas. The terms of the resolution are so comprehensive that I have felt constrained to communicate everything connected with the services of volunteers in Texas within the period stated. I may, therefore, have transmitted something which may be considered irrelevant to the subject; but, under the circumstances, I could not undertake to discriminate. I beg leave to suggest to the committee, most respectfully, the propriety of appropriating money at once to pay off all the just claims which the State of Texas may have against the United States on account of services rendered by volunteers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, Senate. No. 99. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL SUBSISTENCE, Washington, January 17, 1859. COLONEL: In compliance with your request of the 14th instant, I have the honor to state, for the information of the Secretary of War, that subsistence was furnished by this department to the following-named companies of Texas volunteers and for the periods opposite, viz; Captain G. S. Boggess, Company A, from December 25, 1854, to March 22, 1855. Captain J. G. Walker, Company B, from December 9, 1854, to April 2, 1855. Captain W. R. Henry, Company C, from November 29, 1854, to April 4, 1855. Captain W. Fitzhugh, Company D, from December 25, 1854, to March 23, 1855. Captain C. E. Travis, Company E, from December 9, 1854, to April 1, 1855. Captain P. H. Rogers, Company F, from December 24, 1854, to March 21, 1855. The records of this office do not show that any others of the Texan volunteer companies named in the statement of the comptroller of that State received subsistence from this department. The communication of Governor Runnels and the statement of the comptroller are herewith returned. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Col. S. COOPER, J. P. TAYLOR, Assistant Commissary-General Subsistence. No. 100. QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: In reply to your request of the 14th instant, asking to be informed whether any issues or disbursements were made by the Quartermaster's Department on account of the volunteers who were called into service for the protection of the frontiers of Texas during the years 1854, 1855, 1856, and 1857, I have respectfully to inform you that all the supplies furnished through this department which were required by them were provided, and when the vouchers for the same were analyzed in this office and sent to the Treasury for settlement, a request was preferred that the value of the articles with which they had been furnished, and the amount of the disbursements that had been made on their accounts, might be charged to the appropriation for the support of Texas volunteers, approved on the 3d of March, 1855, which, from inquiry at the Treasury, I learn has been done. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith copies of reports which have been received from the Quartermaster-General, Commissary-General, and Chief of Ordnance, in further response to the call made by the Military Committee of the Senate for information relating to the volunteers called out by the State of Texas for the protection of her frontier in the years 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, and 1858, and in relation to the claim of that State, now pending before Congress, for reimbursement of her expenses incurred on their account. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD, S. COOPER, No. 102. WAR DEPARTMENT, February 2, 1859. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report from the Adjutant-General, covering copies of communications from the Quartermaster-General, Commissary-General, and Chief of Ordnance, in further response to your letter of the 3d ultimo relative to the claim of the State of Texas for reimbursement of expenses incurred for the support of volunteers called out by the governor. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, Senate. No. 103. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, AUSTIN, March 19, 1859. SIR: The muster-rolls for your company were received here some weeks since, and a report also soon thereafter, which would have been acknowledged sooner if I had been able to arrive at a definite conclusion as to the time at which the services of the company could be dispensed with. Having received up to this time no definite information when the United States troops will commence active operations, and learning from your last report (received a few days since) that depredations have not only continued but increased in number, it is determined that the company shall be continued in service until the 23d day of April, at which time you will cause it to be disbanded, unless otherwise ordered. Your course in calling into service an additional number of twenty or twenty-five men, to meet existing emergencies, is approved. You will not, however, further augment the present number, unless the opportunity should be presented for attacking the Indians in a body and striking a signal blow. You will acknowledge the receipt of this, and communicate any information of which you may be possessed in regard to the state of affairs on your part of the frontier. Very respectfully, Capt. JAMES BOURLAND. H. R. RUNNELS. No. 104. April 12, 1859, Adjutant-General. February 16, 1859, Gen. D. E. Twiggs, Department of Texas, forwards report of Brevet Major Van Dorn in regard to the treatment of Indians when found off their reservations. The commander of the Department of Texas may enforce hostilities against all Indians found off their reserves within the limits of this department. The rule should be applied with some discrimination, however, with reference to tribes or bands generally peaceful, individuals of which may be found beyond their limits with no evident hostile intention. The subject of combined operations against the Comanches will be deferred for such future action as the exigencies and interests of the service may render expedient. War Department, April 5, 1859. No. 105. JOHN B. FLOYD, STATE OF TEXAS. Whereas late information has been received at my office to the effect that a large body of men are now assembled in arms near the Brazos agency for the avowed purpose of attacking and making war upon the Indians of said agency; and whereas this movement is the result of the many difficulties and continued quarrels and disturbances between the citizens of that frontier and the Indians at the agency, which have increased for months past; and whereas all the best interests of the State require an immediate, peaceable, and permanent settlement of said disturbances: Now, therefore, I, H. R. Runnels, governor of said State, do hereby constitute and appoint the following-named citizens, to wit, George B. Erath, John Henry Brown, Richard Coke, J. M. Steiner, and J. M. Smith, a board of peace commissioners, with power and authority to repair to said Brazos agency and represent the State of Texas in the peaceable and lawful adjustment of said difficulties. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed, at the city of Austin, this the 6th day of June, A. D. 1859, and in the year of the independence of Texas the twenty-fourth. [SEAL.] By the governor : T. S. ANDERSON, H. R. RUNNELS. |