J. Bankhead Magruder to His Excellency F. R. LUBBOCK, July 30, 1863

His Excellency F. R. LUBBOCK, Governor of Texas:

Sir: Nothing but an earnest desire for the defense of the State would prompt me to make asuggestion to Your Excellency in reference to the call for 10,000 men; but regarding General Orders, No. 32, from adjutant and inspector general of the State, as calculated to impair almost entirely the efficiency of the draft, I respectfully present to Your Excellency the importance of a reconsideration of the same.

From all the information I can gather, such has been the extent of exemptions on account of physical disability, that not one-half of the men called for will be drafted. Learn from the quartermaster at Chappel Hill, out of 70 persons enrolled, all obtained certificates of exemption on this account but 20. I had hoped that the certain and pressing necessity for the defense of the State would have been met by a prompt compliance with your call. If now there is to be added to this number all those whose services may be deemed necessary at home by the county courts, but few outside of the large cities and towns will be held to service. The means brought to bear upon the county courts to induce their indorsing applications for furlough will be such that most of the cases will meet with approval. I cannot but express the opinion that the best mode of protecting the families of the absent soldiers is for the men able to perform service to rally to the call of danger, and aid in repelling the foe who would desolate his hearthstone and despoil him of his property. If men are to be detailed from the army to pro- vive for their wants, it would be better that the gallant fellows who in Virginia and the west have toiled for long months amid privation and danger should be allowed to return to taste the endearments of home, and that these men should take their places.

The necessity for troops is so pressing that the full extent of this call will be required, and in the future calls that will have to be made to meet the deficit arising from the large list of exempts and furloughed men, the burden will fall heavily upon that class who are willing to serve the country. It is but just to them that every citizen able to do duty should be subject to the draft, and, if drafted, placed in the field. The large number of them who will necessarily be exempt, as well as the number of discharged and disabled soldiers, will surely supply the actual necessities of the country ; and I trust that no mistaken idea of humanity or regard for the feelings of those who have thus far known but little of troubles incident to war will dictate a policy which will allow so many to escape service.

There are but few soldiers’ families but would prefer to provide for themselves, that those who have till now enjoyed the comforts of home may share the dangers of their brethren in the field; and when such patriotism is exhibited, the county courts should themselves see that their wants are supplied.

I am instructed by Lieutenant-General Smith to make speedy arrapgements for the concentration of the available forces of the State at Nacogdoches. The State troops will be ordered to repair to that place as soon as their organization is complete. A thorough cavalry officer, Brigadier-General Gano, from the army of General Morgan, has been assigned to the organization of that arm of service in the State troops, and I expect to place all the departments in as competent hands. Orders have been issued for the concentration of supplies there, and every means will be adopted tu bring to bear all the resources at my command to make them efficient. .No one can be more impressed with your genuine patriotism than myself, and I am convinced that your humanity is equal to your patriotism, I feeling it my duty to guard you against yielding to the dictates ot the latter when the result would be disastrous to the country defense of the country, it is my promise to know the danger [sic]. I rely much upon your efforts, knowing that the earnest desire is to further any measures intended to avert if. With an army in the field calculated by its numbers to make the enemy cautious how they invade us, we may escape invasion altogether this year. Without such an army, our very weakness will invite attack.

I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's obedient servant,