Sir: Judging from the tenor of despatches from your department to me, of the 28th ultimo, that the government has not at its command sufficient troops to afford the immediate protection to Texas desired, I herewith tender the services of five thousand (5,000) Texas volunteers. Texas is ready for the emergency and will act at a moment's warning. Texas needs, to repel invasions both from the Indians and Mexico, an immediate supply of arms.
In view of the atrocities committed on our people, I hope the department will send, without delay, by bteam or railroad conveyance, to care of Messrs. Perkins & Co., New Orleans, Forbs & McKee, Port Lavacca, and S. M. Sweenson, Austin, Texas, two thousand (2,000) percussion rifles and appendages, one thousand (1,000) Sharp's breechloading rifles and appendages, three thousand Colt's revolvers, with appendages, one thousand (1,000) cavalry accoutrements.
Texas has always been deficient in arms and has drawn but few. Danger is upon her now and she needs them at once.
Be pleased to reply by telegraph without delay.
SAMUEL HOUSTON
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Governor Houston to Mr. Floyd.
Executive Department, Austin, March 12, 1860.
Sir: Realizing that it is my duty to address your department, that it may be laid before his excellency the President, I thus devote myself to action for two purposes: First to vindicate myself from misapprehension, and next to obtain if possible protection for our frontier inhabitants, whose suffering and losses I feel assured are not felt or known by the government.
In a New Orleans paper my eye met a telegraphic despatch of the 3d instant, from Washington, stating that the "President disapproves of the action taken by Governor Houston in calling out volunteers in Texas to defend the frontier." I can but feel assured that this remark, in view of the facts that have transpired since my induction into office, cannot be justified and calls for refutation, for the reason that I have ordered no troops on the Rio Grande, or destined for that frontier. So far from that being the case, four companies which were in service, on the Rio Grande when I came into office were mustered out of service and two companies were formed under the advice of the commissioners conferring with Major Heintzelman of the United States army. They are subject to his orders.
I was very reluctant to trouble the department, and resolved that I would not do so upon any frivolous pretext. Hence it was that I sent commissioners, that I might possess myself of the origin of the difficulties, and if I should find them of such grave character as to require my action, I would lay them before the government, that the President might direct corresponding action to betaken in relation thereto.
You will thus perceive the becoming caution and, at the same time, the scrupulous deference to the federal head of the government. Had I consulted the wishes of and impulses of our citizens, I would have called into the field the whole available force of Texas, and crossed the Rio Grande, and never recrossed it until we would have had "security in the future."
The troops sent to the Rio Grande did not, so far as I am apprised, contemplate crossing to Mexican soil, until the Ranchero was fired into from the Mexican side of the river and a man wounded, and certainly there was no authority given them so to do; though it does seem to me that I would have been justifiable in pursuing an outlaw and rebel wherever he might be found, or wherever he received aid, succor, and protection. Under the circumstances of the attack upon a vessel of the United States in the waters of Texas, I can but discover more in the conduct to commend than to censure. It may be that the Executive of the United States, regarding the rumors and paragraphs in the newspapers, may suppose that I entertain some covert design of invading Mexico, and for that reason a call for volunteers to protect Texas against Indian depredations has caused misapprehension of my actions.
'Tis true that since 1857 I have been written to from various parts of the United States, urging me to invade Mexico, with a view to the establishment of a protectorate, and assuring me that men, money, and arms would be placed at my command if I would engage in the enterprise. To these overtures I made no favorable response, though, as an individual, I might have co-operated with them, by placing myself beyond the jurisdiction of the United States. Nor was I without the assurance that a large portion of the Mexican population would receive me, and co-operate with me in the restoration of order in that country. Thus I have remained tranquil and silent, in the hope that the government of the United States would consummate a policy which
must and will be achieved by some one; or tbe miserable inhabitants of that lovely region are to be destroyed by a conflict of robbers.
I trust I am one of the last men on earth that would avail myself of an official situation to accomplish any achievement of personal or political aggrandizement.
Yon, sir, may assure the President that I will continue or countenance no action with a view to complicate or embarrass the affairs of his administration; nor will I intentionally plant thorns in his pathway of life. I never have, nor will I ever perform an official act that is not intended for my country's advancement and prosperity, aside from all selfishness.
Now, as to my calling out volunteers, you will be able to judge of the propriety of my calls when you have the facts which I present to the department before you. For the information of the department I have to state that within the last few months our Indian frontier, as well as some counties considered in the interior, have been exposed to ruthless depredations from the Indians, some of them within fortyfour miles of our State capital. Accompanying this letter, I send the department a list of persons killed, as well as the localities in which the murders were perpetrated. In the last four months fifty-one persons were killed and many wounded in escaping from the savages. Horses to the number of eighteen hundred have been stolen, and within the last few days seventy horses were stolen from the dragoons at Camp Cooper.
When the orders which have been issued by the executive of Texas reach the department, they will at once show the necessity of his course as well as the propriety of " calling out volunteers in Texas to defend the frontier."
I cannot hut urge most earnestly the calling out of a regiment of rangers by the federal government to protect the lives and property of our citizens.
The fact th at regulars cannot protect their cavalry against Indian thefts and depredations is evidence that they are not the description of force that can give protection to our frontiers.
Moreover, I have not, until urged by an imperative sense of duty, as well as the destruction of human life, sought to induce the calling out of troops from the State as the only force that can protect our settlements against our Indian foe. They understand Indian habits and warfare, and can trail and reclaim the booty, and at the same time take vengeance on the enemy.
A treaty of peace with the wild Indians who depredate would, with acomparatively small sum, save millions to the governmentof the United States; for until they are exterminated, or peace made with them, guards must be constantly kept at an immense expense to the government, and even then our eettlements will be subject to surprise and massacre.
Were the Indians to enter our territory in large bodies we could meet and destroy them; but they attack in small parlies of from six to fifteen simultaneously for hundreds of miles along our frontiers I do most earnestly hope that the guarantees which we have a right to look to may be extended and " the State protected against invasion."
Since I commenced this communication intelligence has reached me of other murders and thefts in Erath county, a mail rider killed and scalped within six miles of the county seat. Likewise a woman, murdered and a woman and child carried into captivity.
I hope for a speedy reply, as our situation calls lor prompt action. We need arms as well as rangers.
I have the honor to be your most ohedient servant,
SAM HOUSTON.
Hon. John B. Floyd,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. G.
List of persons killed and wounded by the Indian in the lost four months
In Erath county.—Two women killed; two taken prisoners and violated; both escaped naked; one since dead; five persons killed.
In Basque county.—Two ministers shot with arrows; one since dead.
In Comanche county.—Five persons killed; men, women, and children; two persons, (father and daughter,) not found; supposed to be dead.
In Burnet county.—Three persons killed; two men severely wounded.
In San Saba county.—One man killed.
In Jack county.—Nine persons killed; houses robbed and plundered.
In Basque county.—Three men killed.
In Brown caunty.—Five persons killed; two taken prisoners.
In Coryell county.—One man killed.
In Bell county.—Three persons lulled; two taken prisoners.
On Clear Fork —Two persons killed.
In Cook county.—One woman killed.
In Gillespie county.—Four persons killed.
In Young county.—One person killed.
On overland routes.—Two persons killed.
In Webb county.—Two persons killed; 51 persons killed, and probably as many more wounded and taken prisoners; 1,800 horses stolen, including seventy-four of the United States troops, at Camp Cooper.
The above is compiled from reliable documents on file in the department.
SAM HOUSTON