The battalion of volunteer artillery has a fine battery of eight pieces-two twelves and six sixes, completely equipped in every respect. The officers are zealous, and the men seem to be quite well instructed in their duties. In case of need, I look for valuable service from this battalion. I have just received a communication from President Jones, under date of the 23d instant, noti:ying me that he had taken preparatory steps towards organizing a volunteer force of 1,000 men to assist me if necessary. This matter will form the subject of a special communication to your office in a few days. Apprehending that the erroneous impressions current in New Orleans in regard to our situation might induce General Gaines to order the muster of a battalion or brigade of infantry, I addressed a communication to his staff officer by the steamship Alabama, expressing my thanks for the reinforcement of the volunteer battalion. of artillery, but with the hope that no more volunteers would be sent without a requisition from me. That communication will reach New Orleans to-night or to-morrow, in time, I trust, to stop the employment of any more volunteers. We have no news from the Rio Grande. Idle stories are brought in from that quarter, but with the means of accurate information which we now possess, I do not deem it necessary to repeat them. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Brev. Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C, HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Corpus Christi, Texas, September 6, 1845. SIR: I have the honor to report that a confidential agent, despatched some days since to Matamoras, has returned, and reports that no extraordinary preparations are going forward there; that the garrison does not seem to have been increased, and that our consul is of opinion there will be no declaration of war. A decree had been issued prohibiting, under penalty of death, any communication, by writing, across the frontier-a precaution which has been adopted on former occasions, and caused, no doubt, by our presence here. Nothing definite can be learned in relation to the march of troops from the interior. A body of 3,000 men was reported in march to Matamoras, but the information is too vague to merit much confidence. The agent, who is intelligent, and upon whose statements a good deal of reliance may, I think, be safely placed, says that the mass of the people, with whom he mingled, is opposed to a war with us, and that if war be declared, the frontier departments of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon, will probably declare themselves independent of the central government and establish pacific relations with us. This is the substance of the information brought from Mata moras. Notwithstanding its character, I shall not relax my exer tions to prepare for active operations and a state of war with Mexico. I must express the hope that no militia force will be or dered to join me without my requisition for it. I am entirely confident that none will be required. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient şervant, Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brigadier General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Corpus Christi, Texas, September 14, 1845. SIR: I respectfully acknowledge the following communications I' from the Secretary of War-one of August 23, conveying the instructions of the department in relation to the employment of volunteers from the United States; one of August 26, enclosing copies of circulars to the governors of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi; and two of August 30, giving further instructions for my government, and enclosing copies of instructions to Commodore Connor, and of a letter of August 28 to Major General Gaines; also, your communications of August 26 and 30, enclosing a copy of the same letter to General Gaines, and desiring more frequent communications from my head-quarters. I now regret that I suffered the interval between July 28 and August 15 to elapse without making any report to your office; but I was incessantly occupied, during that time, in examining the country, and afterwards in making an establishment at this point, and could not have reported anything important, of a positive nature, until my arrival here. Could I have imagined the possibility of such extravagant rumors as prevailed in New Orleans, and, above all, that they could gain credence in the public mind, when the same means of communication brought no report from me, I would certainly have apprized the department, by every opportunity, of our operations, unimportant as they might have seemed. No intelligence, worthy of credit, was received from the Rio Grande, until just before my report of August 15. Since that date I have kept the department advised, at short intervals, of our situation and the news from the frontier. In view of the large reinforcements of regular troops ordered to join me, I cannot believe that it will become necessary, under any circumstances, to employ volunteers from the United States. In reply to my communication, of August 16, to President Jones, a copy of which was forwarded to your office, the President indicated a few companies of rangers, amounting in all to about 300 men, as proper to be mustered into the service for the protection of the frontier. I have accordingly given orders for the muster of one company at Austin and one at Bexar. A company at this place, and one at Goliad, are designated by the President, and will be mustered when their enrolment is completed. Three small detachments, of 30 men each, are to be considered in service, but cannot, Te from their position, be conveniently mustered at present. It will be recollected that when I addressed the president of Texas on this subject, I could not anticipate the transfer of dragoons from Fort R. Washita; and although two of the companies indicated above might, perhaps, be dispensed with, I think it best, from motives of policy, to retain them for three months, the term for which all are to be mustered. You will see from my "special orders," No. 14, that I have directed two of the three companies from Red river to San Antonio, retaining one at Austin. With a company of mounted rangers at each place, the frontier will be secure from insult. The commander of the rangers at San Antonio, Major Hays, has reputation as a partisan, and to him I have specially intrusted the duty of keeping me advised of any movements on the Rio Grande in the neighborhood of Laredo, with strict injunctions, however, to molest no Mexican establishments on this side of the river. Should San Antonio be seriously menaced, it can be readily succored from this point. A route will be immediately opened hence to San Antonio. I would at once put a larger force in that town, but for the difficulty of supplying it. An examination is now making by an officer of engineers of the country in our front, chiefly to select suitable sites for encampments, should it become necessary to winter in this neighborhood. The great scarcity of wood will render it necessary, in that case, to change our position. Reconnoissances will soon be made of the Nueces and the Laguna Madra, to ascertain their navigability, and the facility of establishing depots in the event of a forward movement to the Rio Grande. We have no news of interest from the frontier. Arista, at the last accounts, was at Mier, but without any force; nor is there, as yet, any concentration of troops on the river. A report reached San Antonio, a few days since, that preparations were making to receive troops at Laredo. This I consider very doubtful; but if troops arrive there, I shall expect to receive early information of the fact from San Antonio. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Brigadier General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Corpus Christi, Texas, October 4, 1845. SIR: I beg to leave suggest some considerations in relation to the present position of our force, and the dispositions which may become necessary for the more effectual prosecution of the objects for which it has been concentrated. It will be recollected that the in structions of June 15, issued by Mr. Bancroft, then acting Secr tary of War, directed me to "select and occupy, on or near the Ri Grande, such a site as will consist with the health of the troops and will be best adapted to repel invasion," &c. Brazos Santiag is the nearest entrance to the mouth of the Rio Grande; and Poin Isabel, within that entrance, and twenty-one miles from Matam ras, would have fulfilled more completely than any other position the conditions imposed by the Secretary. But we had no artillery no engineer force or appliances, and but a moderate amount of in fantry; and the occupation of Point Isabel, under these circumstances, and with at least the possibility of resistance from the Mexicans, might have compromised the safety of the command. I therefore determined to take up the next accessible position in the rear, which is the mouth of the Nueces river. All the information which I could obtain before leaving New Orleans, seemed to point to Corpus Christi as the most suitable point for concentration; and, although before the President's instructions of July 30 reached me, I would have preferred a position on the left bank of the river, yet a careful examination of the country had already convinced me that none could be found combining so many advantages as this. Every day's experience has confirmed these impressions. Corpus Christi is healthy, easily supplied, and well situated to hold in observation the course of the Rio Grande from Matamoras to Laredo-being about 150 miles from several points on the river. I have reason to believe, moreover, that a salutary moral effect has been exercised upon the Mexicans. Their traders are continually carrying home the news of our position and increasing numbers, and are confessedly struck by the spectacle of a large camp of well-appointed and disciplined troops, accompanied by perfect security to their persons and property, instead of the impressment and pillage to which they are subject in their own country. For these reasons, our position thus far has, I think, been the best possible; but, now that the entire force will soon be concentrated, it may well be a question whether the views of government will be best carried out by our remaining at this point. It is with great deference that I make any suggestions on topics which may become matter of delicate negotiation; but if our government, in settling the question of boundary, makes the line of the Rio Grande an ultimatum, I cannot doubt that the settlement will be greatly facilitated and hastened by our taking possession at once of one or two suitable points on or quite near that river. Our strength and state of preparation should be displayed in a manner not to be mistaken. However salutary may be the effect produced upon the border people by our presence here, we are too far from the frontier to impress the government of Mexico with our readiness to vindicate, by force of arms, if necessary; our title to the country as far as the Rio Grande. The "army of occupation" will, in a few days, be concentrated at this point, condition for vigorous and efficient service. Mexico having as yet made no positive declaration of war, or committed any overt act of hostilities, I do not feel at liberty, under my instructions, particu in 1 larly those of July 8, to make a forward movement to the Rio Grande without authority from the War Department. In case a forward movement should be ordered or authorized, I would recommend the occupation of Point Isabel and Laredo as best adapted to the purposes of observing the course of the river and covering the frontier settlements of Texas. Point, Isabel is accessible by water, and can be safely occupied by two brigades of infantry, with a suitable force of field artillery. On the arrival of the steamer Harney, I shall order à careful reconnoissance of Brasos Santiago, as a necessary preliminary measure to the occupation of Point Isabel. To occupy Laredo will require a land march from this point. Supplies may probably be transported by water as high as San Patricio, and possibly to the junction of the Rio Frio with the Nueces. I propose to establish a depot on the Nueces river, probably at the crossing of the San Antonio and Laredo road, from which to operate towards the Rio Grande. You will perceive from my "special orders" No. 24, that a reconnoissance has been ordered in that direction. A brigade of infantry, with the cavalry, and a battery or two of field artillery, will be sufficient for the occupation of Laredo. That town is on the left bank of the Rio Grande, and possesses the military advantage of holding in observation the main route from the interior of Mexico through Monterey to Matamoras. In case it should be found impracticable to establish a suitable depot on the Nueces, the entire force, after strengthening San Antonio, might be thrown forward to Point Isabel, where it could be readily supplied, and held in readiness for any further service. I have deemed it my duty to make the above suggestions. Should they be favorably considered, and instructions based upon them, I will thank you to send the latter in duplicate to Lieut. Colonel Hunt-one copy to be despatched direct, without delay; the other to be sent via Galveston, should a steamer be running to that port from New Orleans. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. P. S.-It is proper to add that, should any auxiliary force be required, I propose to draw it wholly from Texas. I do not conceive that it will become necessary, under any circumstances, to call for volunteers from the United States. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Corpus Christi, Texas, October 11, 1845. SIR: I respectfully report the arrival at St. Joseph's island, on the 9th instant, of five companies of the 5th infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel McIntosh, two companies of the 8th infantry, under Captain Montgomery, and one company of the 7th infantry, under |