P. Hébert to Edward Clark, October 16, 1861

— His Excellency EDWARD CLARK, Governor of Texas :

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of your excellency’s communications of the 10th* and 12th instant, both of which

reached me yesterday. SE. i * Not found.

i92 OPERATIONS IN TEX., N. MEX., AND ARIZ. [Cm XL

Col. W. H. Parsons, Fourth Regiment Texas Volunteer Cavalry, hav- – ing by letter and through the major of his regiment this day expressed a strong preference for service in the State, I have ordered his regiment to be mustered into service at Spring Creek, near Hempstead. In regard to the other regiments, it is, perhaps, advisable, in view of the position of General McCulloch and the urgency of his call, that they should be mustered into service under the authority granted to Colonel.

ously interfere with the plans of the War Department, of which, how- . – ever, [am not advised, and under the authority I could not well entirely countermand orders emanating from the headquarters of the – Army.

The heavy guns intended for Galveston are reported on the way, — strung along the road from Alexandria to Niblett’s Bluff. Two or three of them are expected by the end of this or the beginning of next week.

I have ordered them to be placed in battery as they arrive, and, as the number is limited, distributed to the best advantage. Owing, however, to the vast superiority of the naval armaments of the enemy and the almost defenseless state of the coast, the problem of defending it successfully with the means at our disposal is one of difficult, if not of impossible, solution. The enemy having complete possession of the seas, as in the days of our first revolution, we must fight this war as our forefathers did, and, I have full faith, as successfully. :

With respectful salutations,

I have the honor to be, your excellency's