E. Kirby Smith to Samuel Cooper, June 10, 1863

General 8S. CooPER, Richmond, Va.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to request that General Slaughter may be ordered to report for duty in this department. General Slaughter has the confidence of the Mexican population on the Rio Grande, and, from his influence, is better suited for command in that section than any person that has been suggested to me.

I am induced to make this request from the growing importance of the Rio Grande as a channel by which supplies are to be brought into this Confederacy, and from the necessity of having an officer in command who, in addition to his military qualifications, possesses the faculty of controlling the Mexican population and accommodating the differences which are continually arising on that frontier.

General Slaughter can best counteract the influence of Colonel Davis, and prepare for the efforts which the Federal Government will make next winter to close that channel of supplies to the Confederacy.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,