J. Bankhead Magruder to Hamilton P. Bee, June 4, 1863

Brig. Gen. H. P. BEE, Commanding, &e., Western Sub-District :

Six: Iam instructed by Major-General Magruder to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 22d ultimo, in regard to the arrival of alot of arms per the consort of the Peterhoff. The general directs me to say that you will at once take the necessary steps to secure these arms, and as much of the cargo as may be needed in your judgment. The general also desires you to secure such supplies as Mr. Clements may be able to procure, and that you procure the amount of cotton necessary to cover this cargo, by borrowing it, if possible ; if not, by impressing it in the hands of the speculators. You are requested to discriminate in favor of those who have contracts with the chiefs of the disbursing department.

You will in no case interfere with the cotton belonging to the supply associations or sent forward by the different counties for the relief of the families of [absent] soldiers, in pursuance of the appropriations

made by the State. EDMUND P. TURNER, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Hpagrs. Dist. oF TEXAS, NEW MEXICO, AND ARIZONA, Houston, Tex., June 4, 1863. His Excellency F. R. LUBBOCK, Governor of Texas:

GOVERNOR: When J arrived in Texas, about the last of November, 1862, I found her islands and portions of her coast in the possession of the enemy, and her territory threatened on all sides. The Divine Ruler has vouchsafed success to our efforts to drive the foe from our soil, and at this moment every island and all the passes on the coast are in our possession.

Texas, throughout the broad extent of her vast territory, is still free from the presence of a foreign enemy. It is my most earnest desire to meet our foes beyond the confines of this State, even at sea, if it were possible, in order to preserve her from the devastating effects of war. It must be obvious, however, even to those who reflect least, that this can be effected only by great and timely preparations, involving a vast expense both of money and labor. Since these favorable results, which were the immediate consequences of the battles of Galveston and Sabine Pass, and other smaller but brilliant affairs on the coast, the people seem to have lost all apprehension for the future, and to have been living in a fancied state of security, entirely inconsistent with the magnitude of the preparations of the enemy for renewed attacks; and it becomes my duty to point out plainly to Your Excellency, and through you to them, the imminence of the danger which threatens them, and to urge all to unite with me generously and cordially in the prompt execution of the plans devised for their protection and security.

Late events in a neighboring sister State demonstrate plainly the objects of the enemy, which are to open the navigation of the Mississippi, and to push their light-draught gunboats into every navigable bay and bayou of Louisiana and Texas, to liberate the negroes, to lay waste the country, destroying not only crops, but farming implements, to slay or imprison the men, and to subject our women to every species of insult and brutality.

If there be any so timid or ignoble as to hope to escape by submitting to the disgrace of taking the oath of allegiance to the Government of our deadly oppressors, the examples in Louisiana prove that their property cannot be saved, even by the loss of their honor. There the cravens who took the oath of allegiance to the Abolitionists were rewarded by the assurance that they would not be believed unless they proved their sincerity by going into the Federal ranks and serving against us, whilst the Emancipation Proclamation was enforced against them as against all others, and both their negroes and their honor were forfeited forever. I do not know and can scarcely believe that there tare such base men in Texas, but I proclaim to all that we can hope to preserve our liberties and save our property only by fair “stand-up” fighting, and that, if our enemies are brave enough to overcome us, which my coolest judgment tells me can never be the case, they will visit with contempt and despoil without mercy the cowards who shrank from the conflict, while they will respect, as alone worthy of their confidence, the brave men who courted every danger and were proud of every sacrifice in defense of rights that the same Northern men would have defended to the last on their own soil, were such a crusade made against them as they, under the dictation of a despotic and fanatic Administration, are making against us. But, to fight suecessfully, troops must be provided and organized in time; important passes and positions must be fortified with skill, and the soldiers must be well drilled.

I found, on assuming command here, that 5,000 of the State militia had been called out by Your Excellency, in accordance with a requisition for that number from my predecessor, Brigadier-General Hébert. In co-operation with Your Excellency, these troops were organized and made ready for service, when the favorable results of my operations on the coast afforded me the gratification of dispensing with their services, and sending them to their homes to plant the crops, which have proved so unusually productive, and which may now be considered as made. In the meantime the enemy has made some progress in his vast designs, and I consider the State of Texas more critically situated, and, indeed, far more exposed to danger, than she has been at any time since the commencement of the war.

Should the Mississippi be opened, as already stated, the State will be attacked by water as well as by land, and, in the latter case, from more than one direction. Should he’ fail in his designs on the river, still, his attention will be turned to Texas as affording the only employment for his large armies and the ocean fleet that will then be at his disposal] for operations in the Gulf. With the blessing of God, we have ample means, and, I think, ample time, to defeat him, if we make use of them with energy and without delay. To this end, I have the honor to request that Your Excellency will call out the State militia to the number of 10,000 men, to be organized as infantry into companies and regiments, in accordance with the laws of the Confederate Congress, excepting such as will present themselves as cavalry, well mounted and well armed; horses and arms to be subject to inspection by Confed- erate officers, and, when passed upon favorably, to be received as cavalry, and organized separately ; these troops to be assembled at convenient depots, the cavalry depots being separate and distinct from those of the infantry, and the cavalry regiments to. be drilled both as infantry and cavalry; the forces thus raised to be kept in the service six months, unless sooner discharged. It is not the intention to keep these troops from their homes, unless absolutely necessary, which at present is not anticipated, but to organize and prepare them for service, so that they may be ready whenever the emergency shall arise.

I take the occasion also to inform Your Excellency that Congress has passed a law authorizing military commanders to impress property, including slave labor, for the public service. Impressment, when necessary, is, therefore, the law of the land.

I am fully aware that citizens who have been the most patriotic have heretofore borne a greater portion of the burden of furnishing labor than properly belonged to them. There are many reasons for this. The most selfish keep their slaves at home, and, of those who furnish them, the most importunate for their return will sometimes succeed in recovering their slaves, in consequence of the change of officers and agents necessarily incident to military life. Atleast 1,500 slaves are necessary at this moment to work on the fortifications on the coast. I earnestly desire to be snared the painful necessity of using the power which the law of impressment gives me, and am confident that I will not have to apply it in the majority of cases; nevertheless, [ will execute it with firmness when necessary, and will give credit to the patriotic for the sacrifices they have made, whilst the public interest will be protected by calling more iargely upon those who have been dilatory or who have omitted entirely to contribute their quota tothe public defense. A mere inspection of the map should satisfy any holder of slave property that these defenses are absolutely necessary to its security. Your Excellency, in company with myself, has recently visited and inspected the fortifications and the inland fleet, and could not but have felt a greater sense of security after witnessing the effect of the fire of our guns upon the channels of approach, and after an examination of the strongest and most skilifully constructed earthworks that are to be found in any country.

Much has been done, but more remains to be done. I have made Your Excellency the above plain and frank statement of facts, that they may be communicated to the people of Texas through the highbest official authority in the State. I have devoted myself solely and exclusively to their interests since my arrival here, and shall follow the path of duty to the end, wherever it may lead; combating with the difficulties of my position with energy and fidelity, alleviating, as far as in my power, the sufferings of all, and injuring none.

Tn conclusion, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that J have made arrangements to furnish the facilities of the Government in conscripts and conscript teams to all those good men and patriotic associations who have undertaken the disbursement of the money so liberally appropriated by the last Legislature for the benefit of the suffering families of our absent soldiers, and to assure Your Excellency that the patriotism, zeal, and intelligence which have marked your co-operation with the Confederate commanders in this district are fully appreciated by them and the Government, and have contributed greatly to the suecess of their efforts to rescue the District of Texas from the presence of the enemy, and to maintain it to this moment free and defiant. Tor these great services reudered by yourself and the patriotic and able

36 W. FLA., S. ALA., 8. MISS., L. A., TEX., N. MEX. [Cuar. XXXVIIL

men who control the military resources of the State of Texas, I beg leave to tender my cordial thanks and public acknowledgments.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,