Guy M. Bryan to J. B. Magruder, September 4, 1863
Maj. Gen. J. B. MAGRUDER, Commanding District of Texas, Arizona, &e.:
GENERAL: I am directed by Lieut. Gen. E. Kirby Smith to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the Ist instant, with inclosures.* He directs me to say that he inclosed to you on yesterday duplicates of important letters to Mr. Slidell,t one of which was to be sent by Hon. A. Superviele, and the other by some safe and expeditious channel to Mr. Slidell. He calls your attention to the importance of instructing Hon. A. Superviele of the necessity of having the co-operation of the French to prevent the landing of the enemy at Lavaca and Rio Grande, and the consequences of their success in cutting off our trade, and the serious detriment to French interests from that and other causes if they get possession of Western Texas.
He also desires you to communicate these facts to Hon. Mr. Slidell, and press upon him the importance to France to prevent it. News from Northern Texas not quite so bad as previous reports indicated.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, &e.,
Major, and Assistant Adjutant-General.
SPECIAL ORDERS, } Hpqrs. TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT,
No. 129. Shreveport, La., September 4, 1863.
X. The lieutenant-general commanding the department learns with
regret, that a regiment of Texas troops, known for their valor and good
conduct, should, in an ill-advised moment, have sullied their reputation.