ments have been sent forward to join the army without being accompanied by the means of transportation, both by land and water, to render them efficient. As matters now stand, whatever may be the expectations of the department, I cannot move from this place; and, unless Captain Sanders shall succeed in procuring boats of the proper kind, I can give no assurance in regard to future operations. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brig. General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. [Endorsement by the Adjutant General.] Remark. ["How far the volunteer force will be increased without previous notification to me, it is impossible to tell." With regard to the force called out by General Gaines, and pushed forward by him, General Taylor, no doubt, was not informed, as he could not be from this office, because the amount was unknown. Of the twelve months men authorized by the Executive, the general was timely and specially notified. See the general-in-chief's instructions of June 12, and adjutant general's of June 16.]—R. J. [Endorsement by Major General Scott.] Respectfully laid before the Secretary of War, who is requested to look at my circular, (memoranda,) sent round to chiefs of staff, including quartermaster general, dated May 15, 1816. JUNE 27, 1846. WINFIELD SCOTT. SIR: It gives me sincere pleasure to transmit herewith a commission, issued to you by the President, of major general in the army of the United States, pursuant to the first section of the act of Congress, passed 18th of June last, a copy of which is also herewith. enclosed. On receiving your despatch No. 51, stating your want of means for transporting troops, supplies, &c., on the Rio Grande, I desired the quartermaster general to inform me what measures had been taken on that subject. I herewith send you his reply. I trust that the steps taken by your orders, and those of the quartermaster general here, will have furnished the means to enable you to prosecute active operations, as suggested in my letters of the 28th of May and 8th of June. I anticipated the embarrassments of which you complained, by the accumulation of troops before accommodations could be possibly provided, and arrangements made for the employment of them. The only relief which can be applied to the case is that contained in my previous communication to you on the subject, and in that from the Adjutant General of the 25th of May. The atrocious murder of Colonel Cross has created a general anxiety that the guilty perpetrator of it should be brought to punishment. It is generally understood here that he is Romano Falcon, and that the crime can be proved against him. If this be so, allow me to express a hope that you may be able to get him into your custody, to the end that he may be dealt with as he deserves. Any fair and proper means you may deem fit to effect this will be approved and sanctioned by this department. Verry respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General Z. TAYLOR, W. L. MARCY, Commanding Army of Occupation on the Rio Grande. Memoranda. Lieutenant Colonel Hunt reported, on the 23d of May, that he had been requested by Major Thomas to send to the Rio Grande a light draught steamboat. On the 4th of June he reported that he had not up to that time been able to obtain a suitable boat. On the 11th of June he reported that he had purchased the Undine and the Troy, two light draught boats, and expected to buy one or two more: had engaged one, which he expected in a week. On the 19th of June Colonel Whiting reported that Lieutenant Colonel Hunt had purchased and chartered seven steamboats for the Rio Grande. Captain Sanders, on the 21st of June, reports that he had purchased a boat, and on the 25th of June another, under orders. from General Taylor, for the Rio Grande. On the 12th of June, the day on which I received the report of Lieutenant Colonel Hunt of the 4th, I directed Captain Clark, then at Columbus, Georgia, to ascertain whether suitable boats could be obtained on the Chatahoochee, and to communicate with Colonel Hunt. On the 17th of June I gave authority to Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, brother of General Taylor, then in this city, on his way to the south, to provide, on his way down the Ohio, all the transports that he, after consulting Captain Sanders, might deem necessary for the most efficient operations of the army under the command of his brother. On the 16th of June Major Tompkins, at Cincinnati, was ordered to purchase three boats. On the 20th of June Captain Wayne, assistant in my office, was despatched to the south to examine one or more light draught iron steamers; and, if they should be found suitable for service on the Rio Grande and other shallow southern rivers, to purchase and have them taken in the shortest time possible to the Brazos San Iago. On the 24th of June Captain Sanders was requested to purchase or charter such boats as he might be assured would render efficient service on the Rio Grande, and to employ pilots if he considered them necessary. TH. S. JESUP. NOTE.-Measures have been taken to prevent the accumulation of a greater number of boats than will be required, whilst there shall be a reasonable prospect of having enough. [No. 52.] HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Matamoras, June 17, 1846. SIR: I deem it proper to report that no advices have been received from general head-quarters since the 10th inst.; " general orders" No. 13, and "special orders" No. 45, both of May 26th, being received on that day. Our dates from the north, through the newspapers, are some days later. No steamboats have been sent out from New Orleans for the navigation of the Rio Grande; and in the absence of all information on that point, or respecting the views of the government, I am altogether in the dark as to our future operations. I must think that orders have been given by superior authority to suspend the forwarding of means of transportation from New Orleans. I cannot otherwise account for the extraordinary delay shown by the quartermaster's department in that city. Even the mails, containing probably important despatches from the government, are not expedited. Lieutenant Colonel Wilson has occupied Reinosa without opposition. What remains of the Mexican army is understood to be still at Linares, and has suffered from disease. Gen. Torrejon has died, and Colonel Carasco, at last advices, was very ill. I learn that Generals Arista and Ampudia have gone to Mexico-probably for the trial of the former, or both. Volunteer regiments have arrived from Louisville and St. Louis; making, with those from Louisiana, eight strong and organized battalions, mustering over 5,000 men. In addition we have seven companies of Alabama volunteers, and twelve or fifteen companies from Texas: others from Texas are continually arriving. A portion of these volunteers have been lying in camp at this place for nearly a month, completely paralyzed by the want of transportation. Exposed, as they are in this climate, to diseases of the camp, and with out any prospect, so far as I can see, of being usefully employed, I must recommend that they be allowed to return to their homes. I have despatched Captain McCulloch, a good partizan officer, in the direction of Linares with his company, to gain information touching the numbers and position of the enemy, and the resources of the country. I enclose here with the descriptive roll of the detachment of recruits brought out by Lieutenant McPhail. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brig. General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. NEW ORLEANS, June 5, 1846. SIR: By the instructions of General Taylor, (a copy of which I have the honor to enclose,) you will perceive that he has sent me hither to procure transportation, for the want of which his movements at the present moment are completely paralyzed. His new base of operations requires his principal depot to be at Camargo, which is 150 miles inland. To get his supplies there, and keep his wagon train free to move with the army, renders it imperatively necessary to use the river in transporting them. The distance from the mouth of the Rio Bravo to Camargo by the river is from 350 to 400 miles. I have been up as far as Matamoras. From personal observation, and the best information I can procure about that part of the river which I have not seen, I am satisfied that none but our lightest draught river boats will answer the purposes. of navigation on that river. These boats are very fragile, and there will be serious risk of their loss in carrying them from the Mississippi to the Rio Bravo. The general, with his usual close. and strict economy in all public expenditures, has limited the number to the fewest which, under the most favorable circumstances, could answer his purposes. Colonel Hunt, of the quartermaster's department, thinks with me that the number should be doubled; that is, increased to eight. I have taken this informal but direct way of appealing to you for authority to increase the number. To have half transportation when ready to start would again thwart the best arranged movement. There is nothing which will so firmly secure our acquisition of the Rio Bravo as the introduction of steam navigation on its waters. Also, I do not despair of seeing one of the lightest boats being sent up as far as the crossings of the roads from San Antonio to Mexico, which must be the routes followed by any mounted troops sent by land from the Mississippi valley into Mexico. Colonel Hunt and myself are both satisfied that not over two of the proper kind of boats can be procured here; I therefore start immediately for Louisville. I expect to get one of the public boats from Colonel Long, of the topographical engi རྒྱུ་ neers. If I cannot obtain another suitable one there, I certainly . can at Cincinnati. As soon as I have procured and sent off the four boats, I have the general's verbal permission to visit my family at Pittsburg; at which place I hope I may receive your authority of procuring the additional number which seems so indispensably requisite for the certain transportation of our military stores. The general's calculation of the wants of transportation was for a much. smaller number of troops than are evidently being sent to him. Very respectfully sir, I have the honor to be your obedient servant, JOHN SANDERS, Captain Engineers. Hon. W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War, Washington. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: With a view to expedite the procuring of small steamboats for the navigation of the Rio Grande, which is indispensable to future operations, the commanding general directs that you proceed without delay to New Orleans, and there assist Lieutenant Colonel Hunt in procuring boats of the proper draught and description. Four boats will be required, and you may give assurances that they will receive employment at good prices in transporting military stores on the river. Should any change in the condition of affairs render it necessary to discharge them at an earlier period than is now contemplated, you will assure the proprietors that they shall be remunerated for the time so lost. In executing this service you will please communicate with Lieutenant Colonel Hunt, to whom you will show this letter of instructions, and also with Colonel Winthrop, who has promised his aid in this matter. The proper draught of the boats and the description best adapted to the purpose you have already learned from the commanding general. After the completion of this service you will please return to head-quarters. If the requisite number, or indeed the proper kind of boats, cannot be procured at once in New Orleans, you will proceed up. the Mississippi and Ohio rivers until you fully accomplish the object of your mission. The commanding general deems it preferable to make arrangements for compensating the boats by giving the owners assurances of their receiving liberal prices for freight, but the boats must be procured if they have either to be bought or chartered. As expedition is essential in this business, arrangements must be made to have at least the first boats you engage or procure towed |