Copies of letters from officers and agents of the quartermasters' department to the quartermaster general's office, transportation for General Taylor's army." in relation to [Extract.] HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Corpus Christi, Texas, August 26, 1845. SIR: I have been preparing for organizing an efficient wagon train, by sending two officers into the interior to purchase oxen, delivered at Corpus Christi. We have here but thirty wagons; and I have not yet been informed what number came through by land with the dragoons who arrived at Goliad a few days since; but we shall require for the force now here, in the event of a movement in the direction of the Rio Del Norte, a train of at least one hundred wagons; and if forage is to be furnished to the dragoon horses forty miles in the interior, an increase of fifty more; making, in all, one hundred and fifty wagons. I have been told that oxen are to be found in great numbers in western Texas, and for sale at a low price; but the few I have found it necessary to purchase for depot and camp service were bought at rather a high price, say forty or fifty dollars a pair; and I fear it will be necessary to pay a similar price for all we require, if not still more. The large number needed will probably enhance the price. Colonel HENRY STANTON, G. H. CROSMAN, Assistant Quartermaster. Assistant Quartermaster General U. S. A. [Extract.] CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, September 4, 1845. SIR: The commanding general is desirous to be furnished as soon as practicable with a ponton equipage complete. It is believed this equipage can be soonest obtained of the Indian rubber company at Boston. The impossibility of procuring wood or timber here of any kind fit for manufacturing tools or machinery of any description, makes it necessary that all the wooden parts, such as the string pieces and flooring of the bridge, be forwarded with the rest of the articles. G. H. CROSMAN, Assistant Quartermaster. Colonel H. STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. [The following are endorsements on the above.] QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, Respectfully referred to the engineer department, charged by the regulations (paragraph 858) with the planning and construction of military bridges. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. There are, at present, no funds under the control of this bureau applicable to the construction of a ponton equipage. Were such funds available, an engineer officer might at once be charged with the duty of superintending its construction. As it is a portable equipage, belonging to the train of an array, and as it is used as a means of transportation in crossing water courses, it has occurred to me that the cost of its construction might probably be a legitimate charge against the appropriation for transportation. This, however, is a question which it is not for me to decide, but it is respectfully referred to the Secretary of War. I have understood that a small ponton equipage was used a few years since in Florida. I do not know from what appropriation it was constructed, but think it not unlikely that it was constructed from the transportation fund. Should the Secretary of War decide that it cannot be constructed from the transportation fund, then I see no means by which it can be furnished until a specific appropriation is obtained from Congress. GEO. L. WELCKER, Lieut. Eng., in charge of department. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, October 10, 1845. Respectfully referred to the Secretary of War, with the suggestion that, as there is no appropriation for either the engineer or quartermaster's department applicable to the procurement of the ponton equipage required by the general commanding the army of Occupation, which is regarded as highly important and necessary in the event of active field operations in Texas, the proper department be instructed or authorized to contract immediately for the building, construction or brication of the equipage desired, to be paid for on delivery, or as soon as Congress shall have made the appropriation for the purpose; which, it is believed, can be effected without increased expense or delay. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. [Extract.] CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, October 9, 1845. SIR: On the 1st instant the steamer White Wing was purchased, on account of the United States, for seven thousand five hundred dollars, as provided for in her charter party. The services of this boat were deemed necessary, in addition to those of the Neva, and she was accordingly, with the approbation of the commanding general, bought as above, instead of being longer hired at the rate of two hundred dollars per day. This purchase was, under the circumstances, an act of true economy for the public interests. I am engaged in purchasing mules and horses from the Mexicans to fill the teams, &c., for the wagons expected from Philadelphia. A movement towards the Rio del Norte is anticipated, but not yet determined upon by the commanding general; and no preparations for the organization of wagon trains, of sufficient capacity for the wants of this army in such an event, are ordered or in course of being got ready. G. H. CROSMAN, Assistant Quartermaster. Colonel H. STANTON, ster Assistant Quartermaster General U. S. A. MATAMORAS, July 16, 1846. SIR: I enclose, herewith, a triplicate of a contract made with Edmund F. Newell, agent for the owners, for the hire of the steamboats "Panola" and "Enterprise;" together with all the official correspondence in my possession relative to the employment of these boats at New Orleans by direction of the commanding general. G. H. CROSMAN, Assistant Quartermaster. Major General T. S. JESUP, CAMP IN MATAMORAS, May 26, 1846. SIR: I am directed by the commanding general to request that you will do him the favor to aid him in procuring for the public service here two or three good steamboats, adapted to the navigation of the Rio Grande. The kind of boats required are short, strong freight boats, with double engines, and very light draught of water, drawing, when loaded, not more than about thirty inches, or so as to run full freight in three feet water. Two such boats certainly, and probably three of them, will, if despatched here immediately, be insured employment at a fair and reasonable compensation. And I am authorised by the commanding general further to say, that, in the event of an amicable adjustment of the existing difficulties with Mexico, so as to render it unnecessary to employ the boats after their arrival here, the United States will remunerate the owners for any loss or expense they may incur in coming here, for the purpose above stated. Colonel JOHN WINTHROP, G. H. CROSMAN, Assistant Quartermaster. Aid-de-camp to his excellency the governor of Louisiana. MATAMORAS, June 27, 1846. SIR: Your letter addressed to Major General Taylor, dated 9th instant, was received by him yesterday, and he has referred it to me, with instructions to lose no time in answering it, and to say that the two boas already engaged by you, viz: the Panola and Enterprise, will be sufficient for the present, with those now here. He desires, therefore, that the third boat mentioned in your letter be not engaged. The general thinks the rates at which you chartered the two boats above referred to are rather high; but instructs me to say that, under the circumstances, they are, of course, sanctioned by him. I trust these boats will soon arrive, for we are much in need of their services at this moment. JOHN WINTHROP, Esq., New Orleans, Louisiana. SIR: I enclose, herewith, a triplicate G. H. CROSMAN, Assistant Quartermaster. CAMARGO, July 23, 1846. day with Peter Dowd, for the hire of pack mules for the use of the army. G. H. CROSMAN, Assistant Quartermaster. WASHINGTON, September 10, 1845. COLONEL: I am satisfied, from the best information I can gather, that the means of land transportation, thus far provided for the army of occupation, is inadequate to enable the army to take the field. It appears from Captain Crosman's report of the 26th ultimo, that he had then with the troops at Corpus Christi only thirty wagons. The number attached to the dragoons then at Goliad is estimated at not exceeding fifty-making, in all, but eighty wagons with the army. On the 15th of August, thirty were shipped from Philadelphia to New Orleans; and, supposing these may have arrived safely at that place, and could soon be forwarded to Corpus Christi, they may be added to the eighty already there; making, in all, one hundred and ten wagons that may be considered available by the 1st of October, or thereabouts. The twenty just finished at Philadelphia, but not yet shipped, when they reach their destination, will raise the total to one hundred and thirty, which is ten short of what Captain Crosman estimated as necessary, in his report of the 26th of August, for the force in Texas at that time, and the reinforcement then expected. But since that time, additional reinforcements, equal to twelve companies of artillery, have been ordered, and are now on the way. The fifty wagons you ordered on the 4th instant from Cincinnati cannot be counted upon at Corpus Christi before the 1st to the 10th of November; but, even when they shall have arrived, the number will, in my opinion, be still deficient. There are 76 companies of regulars in, and on the way to, Texas. quire.. Add for field and staff General head-quarters, say ...... Total baggage train.... If the army take the field and advance to the Rio Grande, a line of operations one hundred miles in length will be established, on which all the supplies of the army must be transported. This, considering the number of dragoons and the horse artillery to be maintained, will, in my opinion, require a supply train of at least Making in all .... The number already provided, and in progress, as above, is ... Leaving to be provided..... 76 wagons. 8 I would respectfully urge that orders be immediately given for the preparation of this number, with harness complete for four horses each. |