Unknown to Edmund P. Turner, June 22, 1863

Capt. EDMUND P. TURNER, Assistant Adjutant-General, &e., Houston, Tex. : Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of June 17, 1863. The arrival of Colonel Gray, of my staff, at Houston, will, before this can reach you, have explained the position of

matters with me; but I find a paragraph in your communication which calls for a response :

The general wishes you to state why the orders directing you to remain on the Rio Grande have not been complied with.

As the inquiry conveys an intimation that I have disobeyed the orders : the general commanding, I hasten to place my answer on the record.

I did not comply with these orders because I did not receive them until I had arrived at King’sranch. I left Brownsville in compliance with orders to march my brigade to the eastern portion of the State, having delayed my departure in hopes of obtaining arms for the troops, of which delay I notified the general commanding, but before I could receive any response, the necessity of my further delay was removed, and I hastened on to overtake my command.

The positive order to remain on the Rio Grande reached me on the Medio Creek, 20 miles west from Goliad, but in view of the condition of my command, each regiment moving separately, and their supplies of ordnance, commissary, and quartermaster’s stores scattered from Fort Brown to Columbus, it was necessary for me to remain at this place

(CHar. XXXVIII, CORRESPONDENCE, E’TC.—CONFEDERATE.

until these difficulties could be obviated ; my teams also required rest before returning across the plains.

I trust that this explanation will be satisfactory to the general commmanding, and that he will relieve me from the implied charge of disobedience of orders. I am ready to return to the Rio Grande and carry out the wishes of the general commanding.

With great respect, I remain, your obedient servant,