W. M. Byrd to Executive Department, September 9, 1861

COLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 6th instant to the governor; also, in the same mail, one of the 5th instant, of Capt. D. C. Stith, C. S. Army, assistant adjutant-general, in reply to mine of the 29th ultimo, addressed to General Van Dorn.* * None of these found.

The following is a recapitulation of the several requisitions made by

General Van Dorn upon the governor for coast defense, viz: Ten companies of infantry for Fort Brown, or the Lower Rio Grande; ten companies of infantry for Galveston; two companies of artillery for Matagorda or San Luis; one company of artillery for Indianola ; one company of artillery for Sabine Pass ; three companies of artillery for Fort Brown (one of them a light battery): making in all seven companies of artillery. One company of cavalry for the coast between Sabine Pass and Bolivar Point; three companies of cavalry for Galveston Island ; one company of cavalry for the coast between Matagorda and Indianola: making in all five companies of cavalry. In addition to the foregoing requisition, General Van Dorn called upon the governor for an armed regiment of infantry for the vicinity of Victoria. Under this latter requisition I have ordered four armed companies to San Antonio, to be mustered into the service of the Confederate States. In addition to these requisitions the President has called upon the governor for 2,000 men, to be stationed in two camps of instruction. I presume General Van Dorn intended his requisitions as exclusive and additional to this requisition of the President. We are bending all our energies to the work of filling these calls. It may perhaps be difficult to organize efficient artillery companies. They may, however, become so from subsequent instruction. The President, in his call, designed two camps of instruction. The governor authorizes me to say that he will, in accordance with your suggestion, designate Victoria as a point for one of the camps. It will, of course, have to be located by one of your officers. Companies will be ordered there immediately to be mustered into the Confederate service.

In his communication of the 22d ultimo, addressed to the governor, General Van Dorn stated that the troops for Galveston would report to Colonel Moore. Those for the small posts would go to their stations and report to the general, to be mustered into service. Those for Victoria and the Lower Rio Grande were to go to San Antonio. I quote very nearly his own language. It will be impracticable to send ten armed

companies to San Antonio for Victoria under General Van Dorn’s requi_ sition. Shall we send the whole ten, including armed and unarmed companies? It is likely the general designed ten companies, at all events, for Victoria. ;

I have ordered Captain Reuss, commanding an artillery company at Indianola, and who was recommended by Captain Buchel, to report to you under the requisition for an artillery company for Indianola. I suppose the general intended to station it at Sabine. _

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, :