Today in History:

54 Series I Volume IV- Serial 4 - Operations in the South and West

Page 54(Official Records Volume 4)


OPERATIONS IN TEX., N. MEX., AND ARIZ. [CHAP. XI.

organization of these companies should conform to that prescribed by the regulations of the War Department of 1861.*

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The commanding officer at Fort Garland will be instructed to muster these companies into the service, and the arms and camp and garrison equipage necessary to equip them for service will immediately be sent to that post. No clothing can be issued at present, and the volunteers should be provided in this respect for at least three months.

Most respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

ED. R. S. CANBY, Major Tenth Infantry and Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel , U. S. Army, Commanding

CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO, Santa Fe, N. Mex., July 6, 1861.

The reclamation of persons who have been enrolled in the volunteer companies mustered into the service of the United States will no doubt be raised at your post; and I am instructed to state for your information that no discharge for this cause will be ordered at department headquarters; consequently, that the only resource of the persons claiming such services will be by the writ of habeas corpus from the United States courts in the Territory. The local courts of the Territory have no jurisdiction, and their writs will not be respected.

By order of Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel E. R. S. Canby:

A. L. ANDERSON, Second Lieutenant, Fifth Infantry, A. A. A. G.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO, Santa Fe, N. Mex., July 7, 1861.

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army:

SIR: No information, except the special orders of May 17, has yet been received in relation to the volunteers to be called into the service in this department, and as the organization of the regiments cannot be postponed without delaying the concentration of the regular troops or hazarding important interests, I have informed the governor of the Territory that, in addition to the requisitions that have already been made, I would at once accept and muster into service the companies that are required to complete the organization of Colonel St. Vrain's and Pino's regiments.

The organization of the companies already called for progresses very slowly, and I entertain such serious doubts of the ability of the Territory to furnish all, that I have made a requisition on the governor of Colorado Territory for two companies of infantry for the garrison of Fort Garland. The state of affairs at the South and the increasing Indian hostilities will render it inexpedient to detach any of the force now in this section.

Fort Bliss has been re-enforced by four companies of Texas troops. The movements of these troops have no doubt been hastened for a special purpose, in connection with enterprises against this department. Colonel Loring left the department on the 23rd instant, but I had previously, for reasons that have already been assigned, exercised the command of the department without reference to him. There is reason to

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*Details omitted.

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