Niles' Weekly Register. (Baltimore, Md.), Vol. 14, No. 23, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 6, 1836 Page: 9 of 16
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NILES’ REGISTER—AUG. 6, 1836—MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. 885
upon the territory which now forms the state—and that I was
thus early favored with an opportunity of obtaining as her
adopted son, and her healthful schools, a knowledge of the
arts of free government and of war, or in other words, a know-
ledge of the rights and practical duties of self-government, em-
bracing the right and duty of self-defence as a state or as a na-
tion. Those who clearly understand these kindred rights and
duties, will never hesitate—the people of the state of Tennes-
see have never hesitated, to fly to the frontier for its protection
menaced by a gathering foe: they pause not first to learn that
their border brethren are laid in the dust and ashes.
The reports from the neighboring Indians, which I had the
honor to communicate to you, have been but in part confirmed.
The most formidable tribes are doubtless disposed to keep up
appearances of a pacific disposition towards us, under the pre-
sent depressed condition of their western friends, by whose
agents these Indians have been excited to a spirit of hostility,
against our white inhabitants on the Texas side of our unmark-
ed boundary line, and within the disputed territory, until a
more favorable change occurs in the affairs of those pretended
friends.
I am convinced, that no one in this quarter doubts that the
United States troops at this place and at Fort Towson, follow-
ed by the late extraordinary change of affairs in Texas, has
saved the whole of this and the adjacent country, (near four
hundred miles in extent along the unmarked, and for some dis-
tance of the way, imaginary line), from an Indian war, foment-
ed by persons, now known to have acted under the authority
of president Santa ^na, notwithstanding he was the acknow-
ledged head of the government of Mexico, and hence solemnly
bound to respect the treaty requiring the United States and
Mexico to employ force to restrain the Indians from commit-
ing acts of hostility on either side of the line.
I find that the report, to which the capture of the president
Santa Ana gave rise, that the independence of Texas would be
immediately acknowledged by the Mexican government, is not
now so confidently credited as it was when I last addressed
you. The Indians may therefore again be required to act
against that portion of our inhabitants residing within the dis-
puted territory. In this apprehension I cannot but feel some
reproach, that I should so hastily have denied myself the plea-
sure of receiving at this place and retaining in the service of
the public, until every difficulty among the Indians and their
allies had been permanently settled, the brigade of Tennessee
volunteers. This painful feeling would be greatly heightened
by any disaster which may possibly result from their absence.
If they were here, I felt convinced that the moral effect of their
presence, even should there be no fighting, would be of more
value to the country and the service, than ten times the
amount of their pay; and that a comfortable as well as a pro-
fitable tour of service might be calculated on. We occupy a
high healthy country, having excellent springs, and pure air,
without mosquitoes, with an abundant supply of excellent
flour, pork, beef, sugar and coffee, with corn for 3,000 horses
six months, or for fifteen hundred horses for twelve months.
To which I may add the important consideration, that I have
nowhere seen better instructed troops, particularly the 6th U.
States regiment, than those now with me. Indeed, this fron-
tier, should we have some active movements in the presence
of an enemy, or even in reconnoitring the military school,
where a few months’ tour of service would give to the Ten-
nessee volunteers, a perfect knowledge of all the tactics, and
other duties of the company and the battalion, necessary to
make them in the highest degree efficient in battle. They
would then, when added to the regular forces, under any pro-
bable change of circumstances, afford complete protection;
that sort of protection which is guarranteed by the constitution
of the United States to the people of the United States—the
whole of the people, including the pioneer, the orphan and the
widow, inhabitants of the frontier camp or cabin, as well as
the polished and wealthy citizen of the great emporium of
party politics, of commerce and fashion—that protection, which
should, if possible, commence before the work of destruction
on the frontier has begun—protection to the living citizens ra-
ther than to the ashes of the slain.
The Tennessee volunteers would moreover have the advan-
tage of studying and acquiring a knowledge of the topography
of this all-important border of our national domain, which,
with their military knowledge and known powers, would fit
them as veterans for great future usefulness, when some foreign
power, in order to cripple or divide us, shall again tamper with
our Indians, or send to Texas an overwhelming force to operate
against us. Under all these circumstances of the service, I
think it my duty to request your excellency, to authorise the
brigade of Tennessee volunteers, enrolled agreeably to your
proclamation, to calculate on the probability of another call to
this frontier. Should I have occasion for volunteers, as I ap-
prehend I shall, those enrolled under your proclamation shall
have a preference to all others.
Accept, I pray you, renewed assurances of my respect and
friendship. EDMUND P. GAINES, maj. gen. com.
His excellency governor Cannon.
We published in the last “Register,” page 365, the procla-
mation of the governor of Kentucky, calling for volunteers for
the United States service, and now publish the requisition of
the war department and the letter of general Gaines, under au-
ithority of which the governor acted.
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
War department, May 6, 1836.
Sir: I am instructed by the [(resident, to request that you
will call into the service of the United States, such number of
militia as may be required by general Gaines, to whom has
been entrusted the command of the forces for the south west-
ern frontier, to serve not less than three months after their ar-
rival at their place of rendezvous, unless sooner discharged.
Very respectfully,your most ob’t serv’t, LEWIS CASS.
His exc. J. T. Morehead, act. gov. of Kentucky, Frankfort, Ky.
Head quarters, western department, Camp Sabine,
Tuesday morning, 28th June, 1836.
Sir: I last night received information from a high official
source in Texas, that the Mexican army at Matamoras, under
general Urrea, had been reinforced to the number of 7,000
men, and was, on the 18th instant on its march, and rapidly
advancing towards Guadaloupe Victoria, the head quarters of
the Texian army, under general Thomas J. Rusk; that the
Mexican motto was, “Extermination to the Sabine, or death,”
to which the soldiery were sworn, and that the motto of the
Texian army was “Liberty or death.”
This intelligence was preceded by the report of major Ster-
ling C. Robertson, sustained by the deposition of two facts de-
posed, that two men were recently killed, and another wound-
ed on the water of the Navasota, in Robertson’s colony, about
120 miles west of Nacogdoches, by the Indians of several differ-
ent tribes (Caddoes, Kuchies, and others), who had taken and
carried away several women and children, of the families of
the men killed.
The above intelligence, taken into connection with the histo-
ry of the bloody conflicts of the months of March and April
last, at the Alamo, at Goliad, and at San Jacinto, sufficiently
indicate the character of the approaching events, as well as
the necessity of increasing vigilance on the part of the United
States, to maintain our neutral relations, and stay the work of
devastation in the disputed territory, and preserve this frontier
from the horrors of savage war.
To effect these important objects, a mounted force fully
equal to that of the principle belligerents is necessary. For this
purpose I have to request of your excellency, a regiment of
mounted gunmen, volunteers if practicable, to consist of ten
companies, to be enrolled and repair to this place by companies
or in a body, as may be most convenient, via Little Rock, Ar-
kansas. Subsistence, forage and transportation for the route,
will be furnished by capt. J. P. Taylor, similar supplies, with
camp equipage, arms, &c. will be furnished at Fort Jesup and
this place. The companies to continue in service for six months
from the day they reach their rendezvous, to be discharged at
any time by the United States.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant, EDMUND P. GAINES, maj. gen. com.
To his excellency the governor of Kentucky,
Extract from the journal of a military journey to the Sabine:—
In consequence of apprehended difficulties on the Mexican
frontier, and as a protection to our citizens who live in that re-
gion, our government has established a large military force
there, which is now encamped near the Sabine river. It was
advisable also to keep an eye to the Indians in the neighbor-
hood, particularly the Camanches, a restless tribe, and, on our
continent, the Arabsof the prairies. They are excellent horse-
men, leading a roving life, ever ready for war.
The sixth regiment United States infantry received orders
last spring to proceed in this direction; accordingly, leaving
their old station in Missouri, passing down the Mississippi and
up the Red river, they reached Natchitoches near the end of
March last, two hundred miles below “the raft.” It contains
about five hundred settled inhabitants, black and white, the
former being most numerous. Between Natchitoches and Fort
Jesup there is a little Spanish town of some fifty inhabitants,
and although they appeared to have an abundance around
them, they would not sell a single chicken to support us on our
journey. Their houses are built in the Spanish style of logs,
and a small chapel, of the same materials, containing half a
dozen broken bells.
On the arrival of major Thompson, who commands the regi-
ment, he used every exertion to get it out to Jesup. It was
extremely difficult to obtain transportalion, and the roads were
so bad, that the soldiers in marching had to lift the oxen bodily
from the mud holes, and afterwards the wagons—poor fellows,
it was a hard march!
Fort Jesup, so called, though it looks like a little hamlet in
the midst of the forest, without system or regularity, and no
enclosure around it, is near the Spanish border, in a middle
distance between Natchitoches and the Sabine, and one can-
not reach it from either place in one day, except on horseback.
We had not been long at the fort, when an express for the
troops to be ready for marching by 3 P. M. of the same day, was
received, and the day following they proceeded towards the
Sabine—fourteen companies of infantry, being the whole of the
sixth infantry, and four companies of third infantry, with two
pieces of artillery. The line, as it led though the forest, made
a noble appearance.
We encamped near the Sabine. Hundreds of families were
returning from Texas, and there was more misery among them
than could well be imagined. All, throughout the woods, were
living under sheds, those going to Texas, who had been stopped
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Niles, Hezekiah, 1777-1839. Niles' Weekly Register. (Baltimore, Md.), Vol. 14, No. 23, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 6, 1836, periodical, August 6, 1836; Baltimore, Maryland. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1694176/m1/9/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .