BEYER, Captain 9 th United States Cavalry to the post adjutant, Ringgold Barracks, March 4, 1875

Captain Beyer to the post adjutant, Ringgold Barracks.

To the Post Adjutant, Ringgold Barracks, Texas:

Sir: Referring to your letter dated headquarters Ringgold Barracks, Texas, March 1, 1875, upon the subject, I have the honor to report that I have good ground to believe that there, are parries living at the following-named ranches fronting on the river, viz, Alamo, Casa Blanco, Loz Arrieroz, Salenenio, Chapeno, Lopinio, Loelee, Clarenio, and Tapozan, who are engaged in cattle-stealing as well as hide-peeling, and that they are aided and abetted by the inhabitants of the above-named ranches. I am further convinced that all the inhabitants of ranches along the river are cognizant of the movements of cattle-thieves, and of the time and places when and where stolen stock is crossed into Mexico.

I have no doubt but that there are some rancheros who would inform the proper authorities relative to the movements of cattle-thieves, and are only deterred from doing so on account of the danger they would run of having their ranches destroyed, and perhaps being murdered by the thieves; but, as a general thing, the rancheros care very little about cattle being stolen as long as the thieves exempt their stock, and only steal from Americans living in the neighborhood of the Nueces River, and other streams in the interior, as can be easily proved by the large number of cattle running at large between the river and the sand prairies bearing Mexican brands, showing clearly that the thieves do not steal cattle from their Mexican friends, living near the river, which they could easily do, but rather go into the interior, and steal from Americans, well knowing that if they stole any stock belonging to Mexicans they could not easily cross the river with their stolen stock, because the Mexicans would guard the various crossings and fords at or near the various ranches on the river.

I would further state that I have never received any information from the resident or civil authorities that would lead to the arrest or capture of cattle-thieves, but on the contrary residents have given the cattle-thieves information relative to the movements of my scouting parties, thereby frustrating all efforts on our part to put an end to cattle-stealing.

All information I have ever received in regard to movements of cattle-thieves was given me by personal friends of mine, who reside in Mier and Guerro, Mexico.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,