Twiggs has been instructed to move, upon receiving authentic information of the action of the convention, now sitting at Austin, upon the proposition of annexation, say from the 15th to the 20th instant. My orders will show the dispositions that have been made. in regard to the sick, public property, &c. A public train of at least fifty wagons will accompany the dragoons. Thirty more wagons will be taken from New Orleans; the teams for them can be obtained in Texas. One hundred mules will arrive with the dragoon horses, and will be nearly sufficient to fit up all the wagons here. The 4th infantry embarked for New Orleans on the 3d instant. The 3d marched yesterday, and will embark at Grand Ecore to-day. I shall leave to-morrow, and expect to reach New Orleans by the 12th. In view of the sickly season being at hand, I shall not consider it necessary to wait for information in regard to the action of the convention, particularly since receiving the communication of Major Donelson. I hope to embark with the brigade of infantry as early as the 16th instant, and expect to reach Corpus Christi in four days. Unless I get news from the convention in New Orleans, I will probably touch at Galveston, where it cannot fail to reach me. I look for instructions to turn over the command of the 1st military department, before embarking for Texas, and shall do so at any rate, if it be approved by Major General Gaines. It is evident that I cannot, in Texas, exercise the command of the 1st military department, without great delay and inconvenience to the service. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brigadier General, U. S. Army, commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington City, D. C. [Endorsed.] General Taylor's views highly approved. WINFIELD SCOTT. July 27, 1845. DEPARTMENT OF WAR AND MARINE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication addressed to his excellency the President, bearing, date 13th instant, and enclosing a copy of instructions to you from the Department of War of the United States, dated May 28, 1845. I am instructed by the President to inform you that a joint resolution (a copy of which is enclosed) has been passed by the Congress of Texas, making it the duty of the Executive "to invite the Executive of the United States, through their representatives near this government, to occupy, without delay, the frontier of this republic with such troops as may be necessary for its defence." This re quest has been made through Major A. J, Donelson, the chargé d'affaires of the United States near this government. The convention of the people of Texas will shortly assemble. Should their deliberations result in assenting to annexation, the powers conferred upon you, in your instructions from the Department of War of 28th ultimo, will be sufficient for the government of Texas to avail itself of the forces under your command, which his excellency the President, if the interests of the country require it, will do. At this time, the frontier is entirely quiet from Indian disturbances and Mexican invasion, but the conditions preliminary to a treaty of peace between Mexico and Texas having been rejected by Texas, renders it probable that Mexico will shortly assume a hostile attitude. Early information shall be forwarded to you of any movement of the Mexican troops, having for its object the invasion of our territory. The town of Austin where the convention will assemble, and the most of the archives of our government are now deposited, being on the frontier, and exposed to Indian depredations and Mexican invasion, would require protection, as would also San Antonia de Bexar and Corpus Christi. The United States troops stationed at Fort Washita could be removed to Austin and San Antonio in a short time, the distance to the former place being about two hundred and fifty miles, through a country tolerably well watered, but sparsely settled. Vessels drawing eight feet can enter the bay of Corpus Christi, and approach within twelve miles of the village. Lighters would be required to effect a landing. The Congress of Texas has unanimously adopted the United States resolutions on the subject of annexation. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, To Brevet Brigadier General Z. TAYLOR, LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, GENERAL: I received, by Captain Waggaman, your letter and the accompanying documents, written for the purpose of acquainting me with your instructions, and of ascertaining what will be the probable necessity for the employment of the troops under your command within the limits of Texas. Captain Waggaman will hand you a letter from the War Depart ment of this government, containing an application for the immediate employment of the troops under your command in the western borders of Texas. He will also bring you other papers, show ing that all the branches of this government have given their consent to the annexation of Texas to the United States, and that the consent of the convention, which is to assemble on the 4th of July, will be certainly given. If any reliance is to be placed upon the threats of Mexico, and upon the advice which we may presume will be given by the British and French governments, an invasion of Texas may be confidently anticipated. At all events, it is so probable as to justify the removal of your force, without delay, to the western frontier of Texas, in order that you may be ready to give the protection which the President of the United States has felt himself authorized to offer. I would advise you to send your dragoons over land, taking the most direct route for San Antonio, which is a healthy point, about one hundred and twenty miles from the gulf, abounding in good water, and surrounded by a country said to be in a, good state of cultivation. Your infantry I would advise to be furnished with transportation direct from New Orleans to Corpus Christi, as being the most certain and least expensive route. Corpus Christi is said to be as healthy as Pensacola, a convenient place for supplies, and is the most western point now occupied by Texas; another point between that and San Antonio, or further north than the latter, may be selected with still more advantage after you reach Corpus Christi. I would by no means be understood as advising you to take an offensive attitude in regard to Mexico, without further orders from the government of the United States. The probability is, if Mexico undertakes the invasion, that she will attempt to drive you from the points suggested for your occupation. In that event, your right of defence will of course authorize you to cripple and destroy the Mexican army in the best way you can; but it should be distinctly understood that your action will be strictly defensive, and aimed at the protection of the rights of Texas. The occupation of the country between the Nueces and Rio Grande, you are aware, is a disputed question. Texas holds Corpus Christi; Mexico, Santiago, near the mouth of the Rio Grande. The threatened invasion of Texas, however, by Mexico, is founded upon the assumption that Texas has no territory independent of Mexico. You can safely hold possession of Corpus Christi, and all other points up the Nueces; and, if Mexico attempts to dislodge you, drive her beyond the Rio Grande. I will send you an express as soon as I am in possession of the vote of the convention accepting the terms offered by the United States for the admission of Texas into the Union. I will also, at the same time, send, by the way of Galveston, the same information to the President of the United States. I regret to inform you that my health is so much prostrated by an attack of fever, that I am not able to give you a more full account of the state of things here. I avail myself of the kind ser vices of Captain Waggaman, to whom I have dictated this commu nication. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. J. DONELSON. Brigadier General TAYLOR, Commanding General, Fort Jesup. WAR DEPARTMENT, July 8, 1845. SIR: This department is informed that Mexico has some military establishments on the east side of the Rio Grande, which are, and for some time have been, in the actual occupancy of her troops. In carrying out the instructions heretofore received, you will be careful to avoid any acts of aggression unless an actual state of war should exist. The Mexican forces at the posts in their possession, and which have been so, will not be disturbed as long as the relations of peace between the United States and Mexico continue. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier General Z. TAYLOR. W. L. MARCY, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: Herewith I transmit a letter of this date from the Secretary of War, addressed to you, touching the instructions heretofore communicated for your guidance. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier General Z. TAYLOR, R. JONES, Adjutant General. U. S. Army, commanding 1st department. HEAD QUARTERS, 1ST MILITARY DEPARTMENT, SIR: I respectfully acknowledge your communication of July 8, covering the instructions of the Secretary of War of the same date, relative to the Mexican settlements on this side the Rio Grande. Those instructions will be closely obeyed; and the department may rest assured that I will take no step to interrupt the friendly relations between the United States and Mexico. I am gratified at receiving these instructions, as they confirm my views, previously communicated, in regard to the proper line to be occupied at pres ent by our troops. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. army, commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, July 30, 1845. SIR: Your letter from New Orleans, of the 20th instant, addressed to the adjutant general, has been received and laid before the President, and he desires me to express to you his approval of your movements. He has not the requisite information in regard to the country to enable him to give any positive directions as to the position you ought to take, or the movements which it may be expedient to make; these must be governed by circumstances. While avoiding, as you have been instructed to do, all aggressive measures towards Mexico, as long as the relations of peace exist between that republic and the United States, you are expected to occupy, protect, and defend, the territory of Texas to the extent that it has been occupied by the people of Texas. The Rio Grande is claimed to be the boundary between the two countries, and up to this boundary you are to extend your protection, only excepting any posts on the eastern side thereof which are in the actual occupancy of Mexican forces, or Mexican settlements, over which the republic of Texas did not exercise jurisdiction at the period of annexation, or shortly before that event. It is expected that, in selecting the establishment for your troops, you will approach as near the boundary linethe Rio Grande-as prudence will dictate. With this view the President desires that your position, for a part of your forces at least, should be west of the river Nueces. You are directed to ascertain and communicate to this department the number of Mexican troops now at Matamoras, and the other Mexican posts along the border, their position, the condition of them, and particularly the measures taken or contemplated to increase or strengthen them. If you should have any reason to believe that the government of Mexico is concentrating forces on the boundaries of the two countries, you will not only act with reference to such a state of things, but give the earliest information to this department. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier General Z. TAYLOR, W. L. MARCY, Commanding the army of occupation in Texas. |