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

Colonel W.H. Parsons, Fourth Regiment Texas Volunteer Cavalry, having by letter and through the major of his regiment this day expressed a strong preference for service in the State, I have ordered his regiment to be mustered into service at Spring Creek, near Hempstead. In regard to the other regiments, it is, perhaps, advisable, in view of the position of General McCulloch and the urgency of his call, that they should be mustered into service under the authority granted to Colonel Young. Any other divisions of those regiments might perhaps seriously interfere with the plans of the War Department, of which, however, I am not advised, and under the authority I could not well entirely countermanded orders emanating from the headquarters of the Army.

The heavy guns intended for Galveston are reported on the way, strung along the road from Alexandria to Niblett's Bluff. Two or three of them are expected by the end of this or the beginning of next week. I have ordered them to be placed in battery as they arrive, and, as the number is limited, distributed to the best advantage. Owing, however, to the vast superiority of the naval armaments of the enemy and the almost defenseless state of the coast, the problem of defending it successfully with the means at our disposal is one of difficult, if not of impossible, solution. The enemy having complete possession of the seas, as in the days of our first revolution, we must fight this war as our fore-fathers did, and, I have full faith, as successfully.

With respectful salutations, I have the honor to be, your excellency's very obedient servant,

P.O. HEBERT, Brigadier-General, Provisional Army.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS, San Antonio, October 17,1861.

General S.COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector-General:

SIR: From the time I came to this place [2nd September] cotton has been passing through it to Mexico. The quantity has been considerable, though not very great, but it has been increasing for the last three weeks, and I have just been informed by reliable persons that a much greater quantity has been and is still passing from Texas into Mexico by wagons on the route below this and by light-draught vessels that go through the bays and bayous along the coast to the mouth of the Rio Grande. Cotton is now worth twenty-two and twenty-three cents at New York, and I am satisfied that a large proportion of the cotton going into Mexico passes on to that and other Northern ports.

The policy of our Governments is no doubt to prevent our cotton being shipped to the United States to sustain the manufacturing interests of our enemies. Under these circumstances how is to be done, and can the military authority here do anything in it?

There is a large number of beef cattle now being purchased by persons for the market in Mexico. Such a thing has not been known in Texas for many years, and I think there is good reason to suppose that these cattle are for the benefit of the U.S.Army that are expected to come through Mexico either from California or by sea, and for the support of that portion of the Army in New Mexico. It seems to me that a proper regard for the safety of the country would justify the suspension of this trade for the present, or that those engaged in it should be