Samuel Cooper to First Regiment of Infantry, January 31, 1862

Colonel First Regiment of Infantry, California Volunteers : COLONEL: My proposition to the General-in-Chief to organize an expedition under your command, to consist of your own regiment, the

Log Le ee ee A s

KARAT be) First Cavalry Regiment, and a light battery, to move from the southcried frontier of this State, was immediately approved at headquarers. :

The objects of the expedition you are fully aware of—the recapture of all our forts in Arizona and New Mexico, driving the rebel forces out of that country or capturing them, and opening the southern mail route. Every exertion has been and is still being made to provide your command with everything necessary to insure success, and had it not been

for the unprecedented continuance of the rain, which made it impossible for the troops or wagons to move, an advance could have been made before this time. i

The light artillery battery, Company A, Third Artillery, commanded by First-Lieutenant Shinn, is now at the Presidio, and will be sent to

you as soon as the roads are passable. Four companies of the cavalry

and seven companies of the Fifth Infantry have already been sent to your district. The remainder of the Fifth will be sent down soon.

I desire that you dispose of these troops in the manner you may deem best calculated to preserve the peace and quiet of the district. When you finally advance, the command of the district of Southern California will be devolved on Colonel Bowie or the senior officer then present.

I do not consider it necessary to be more minute in regard to the object to be accomplished or the mode of effecting it; with the first you ` are well acquainted, and as far as the second, I take great pleasure in assuring you that I confide everything to your well-known skill, zeal, and gallantry. I shall take occasion to write to you again before you commence your march, and give you all the information possible.

Wishing you success, I am, colonel, yours, most truly, +> G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

oy 2 CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, HTC.

INSPECTOR-GENERAU’ OFFICE, Richmond, Va., June 12, 1861.

GENERAL: Herewith you will receive a requisition for twenty companies of infantry, to be raised within the State of Texas, made by authority of the President of the Confederate States. The recent law of Congress, passed at Montgomery, empowers the President to receive into the service of the Confederate States for the war, unless sooner

discharged, companies of men from the several States, to be organized

by him into battalions, squadrons, or regiments. But this organization

will not take place until the arrival of such companies at any point which

may be designated by the Executive. It will therefore be understood that the first enrollment will be by companies, the officers of such companies to be elected by the men.

To carry into effect this requisition, you will, when requested by the governor of the State of Texas, order an officer of the Army of the Con-

` federate States to act as mustering officer at such points as may be

designated by the governor (not expected to-be more than two), by

-whom the several companies, with their organizations, will be mustered

into service. it is the order of the President that the companies com-

: . ing from Texas shall be fully armed, four of them with rifles, if practicable.

92 – OPERATIONS IN TEX., N. MEX., AND ARIZ. [Cuar. X. L. Orders for the supply of arms, ammunition, camp and garrison equipage, clothing, transportation to the points of embarkment, and quartermaster and commissary stores, are to be issued to the proper officers

in Texas. Such as cannot be there supplied will be provided at this place or at such other point as may be deemed important. The organization of a company of infantry is, one eaptain, one first and two second lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, two musieians, and not more than 100 norlessthan64 privates. “Thefield and staff officers are tobeappointed by the President, after the companies shall have been embodied into regiments, on their arrival at the point designated by him.

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