A. L. Anderson to Isaac Lynde, June 23, 1861
June 23, 1861.
Santa Fé, N. Mex., June 23, 1861.
Maj. Isaac LYNDE, : – Seventh Infantry, Comdg. Southern District, Department of New Mexico, Fort Fillmore, N. Mex.:
SIR : I am instructed to say that your communication of the 14th instant and Major Paul’s report of the 16th instant, in relation to affairs in the Mesilla Valley, have been received. The orders and instructions heretofore given you anticipate the recommendations made by Major Paul and yourself. Duplicates of these orders and instructions will be sent herewith. I am instructed to state, for your information, that your command will be re-enforced by two mounted companies: one from Fort Craig and one from Fort Stanton. A requisition has been made upon the governor for volunteers to strengthen the garrisons at Forts Stanton and Craig, and keep open the communication between these posts and Fort Filimore.
You are authorized, if you should consider it necessary, to call into the service of the United States two or more companies of volunteers from the neighborhood of your post. Three hundred rifles and muskets and 12,000 cartridges will also be sent for the purpose of arming any volunteers that you call for. Twenty thousand rations of subsistence have been ordered from the depot at Albuquerque for the use of your force. Assistant Surgeon Alden will be ordered to report to you for duty with your command. You are requested to transmit, at as early
_ a period as possible, your requisitions for any supplies that. may be
needed for your command, basing them upon the supposition that there will not be less than 2,000 men to be provided for, in order that arrangements may be made for filling them as rapidly and as fully as possible.
It is impossible, at this distance, and with the imperfect knowledge of passing events in your neighborhood, to give you definite instructions, but the lieutenant-colonel commanding relies upon your zeal and judg. ment to give the greatest effect for defense or for offense to the means that will be under your control. The present strength of Fort Bliss and the period of the expected arrival of the re-enforcements from Texas are not known here, but it is scarcely necessary to suggest to you that the frontier in charge could be more permanently secured from invasion
_ by the seizure of that post and the property of the United States now
there than by any other course and before the re-enforcements have arrived. You must judge whether the means under your control will be sufficient to accomplish this object without hazard to the more important object of maintaining your position at Fort Fillmore;
It is represented that there are many loyal men in the Mesilla Valley who would really volunteer their services, and as the organization of volunteer companies in their midst would tend greatly to paralyze the disaffected, this course is suggested in calling for any volunteers you may consider necessary. i
The promotion of Major Paul to the Eighth Infantry has been received here, but as his services will be necessary in organizing and mustering volunteers into the service of the United States, you are authorized to retain him for the present, and will please give the same directions at other posts within your district where the immediate change would leave a company without an officer or occasion other serious embarrassments to the service.
Very respectfully, sir, &c.,
Second Lieutenant, Fifth Infantry, A. A. A. G.