Unknown to L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War, September 14, 1861

Hon. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, to the effect that the regiment of cavalry which went from Texas and joined Brigadier-General MeCulloch at Fort Smith, about the 30th of July, “were denied arms by the authorities of Texas upon his (McCulloch’s) requisition therefor.”

In reply it will be sufficient to state the following facts :

Ist. No requisition was made upon the authorities of Texas for arms for the above-mentioned regiment. ; 2d. Had such a requisition been made, it were entirely beyond the power of Texas to comply with its demands, from the fact that the State was, and continues to be, destitute of arms, those arms scized by Texas from United States troops having been transferred to the Government of the Confederate States on or about the 10th of April. _ 9d. The authorities of Texas did not receive a word of official infor-

. mation in reference to this regiment, either from the Secretary of War, General McCulloch, or from Colonel Greer, commanding the regiment. – – It was authorized, organized, and removed from the State independent — of State authorities, and without their offieial knowled ge. The only thing approximating a requisition which has been received . is a letter from General MeCulloch, with the following reference to arms for the troops which he had been appointed to command :

” Two thousand of the arms at San Antonio are ordered to Dallas ; also one battery of artillery.”

The communication containing this extract was dated April 14, at

_ which time, as you are aware, the arms in Texas had been transferred

_ to the agents of the Confederate States. Dallas is the point in this . State where the regiment of Colonel Greer made its rendezvous. Hence

the only conclusion was that the agents of the Confederate States had

been ordered to send arms thither for the purpose of arming this regiment. The above quotation from General McCulloch’s letter is the only information in respect to this regiment from any one of the authorities interested which has ever reached this department.

From the foregoing facts you will perceive that no blame can attach to the authorities of Texas. They have faithfully endeavored, and will continue their efforts, to meet every requisition which has been or may hereafter be made upon them by the authorities of the Government of the Confederate States.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A : Richmond, V. A., September 14, 1861.