Adjutant-General of Texas to Wu. BYRD, Adjutant-General, Austin, Tex, October 25, 1861
Dona Ana, Ariz., October 25, 1861.
_ COMMANDER DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS:
SIR: I hasten to inform you that my spies have returned from New Mexico, bringing the intelligence that Colonel Canby, with 2,500 men
. and a battery of flying artillery, are en route to this plaee. I shall be
compelled to fall back, as my force is too weak to meet them.. I have
petitioned time and again for re-enforcements to prevent this disaster, – to all of which a deaf ear has been turned. I have only to add that the
abandonment of the country will necessarily be attended with a great
. Sacrifice of property, and subject the friends of our cause to persecution — and ruin. If it is the wish of the colonel commanding the department
that Arizona should be abandoned, and I presume it is, he can con-
. gratulate himself upon the consummation of that event.
The colonel commanding the department informs me iri his last orders
to me that in case of invasion I can make such disposition as I think
proper of the troops on my line, Se. This is liberal, when it is remembered that the troops of the enemy are but little over 100 miles from me and my re-enforcements scattered for 500 miles.
It is unnecessary to ask for re-enforcements, as I presume they are not to be had. I shall therefore fall back, and await the arrival of Brigadier-General Sibley. :
Respectfully, &c., ; : ] JOHN R. BAYLOR, LLieutenant- Colonel, Commanding Arizona.
STATE OF TEXAS, ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE, one Austin, Tex., October 28, 1861.
General P. O. HÉBERT, O. S. A, – Commanding Department of Texas, Galveston, Tex. :
GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose you extracts from a letter ad- dressed to me by Brig. Gen. D. M. Stapp, of the Texas militia, respecting the defenses of the important pass leading into Matagorda Bay.
He is the collector of the port of Indianola; was a member of the
late State Convention, and is an old citizen of intelligence and respectability. Trusting that you will pardon any violation of military rule in my addressing you this communication directly,
I have the honor to be, your
– at the Pass, with four 24-pounders, furnished by the Government, and two –
obedient servant, SEU HERD
. ;
Adjutant-General of Texas.
E 4 [Inclosure.]
“There are two companies (Captains Shea/s and Reuss’), say 180 men,
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