W. R. Shoemaker to E.R.S. Canby, August 15, 1861

Col. E. R. S. CANBY, 19th Inf., Comdg. U. S. Troops in New Mexico, Hdqrs. Santa Fé :

SIR: I have been informed that, in pursuance of orders from the Headquarters of the Army, dated at Washington, long previous to the invasion of this Territory by the Texan troops, you contemplate the marching out at an early day all of the regular troops under your command. Therefore I deem it proper to inform you that the property belonging to the United States in my charge, by the inventory taken on the 30th of June ultimo, amounts to more than a quarter of a million of dollars ($271,147.55) at Eastern eost, exclusive of the post store-houses, outworks, &c., and embraces all the fixtures for a new arsenal for the Territory of an expensive character.

A residence of twelve years among these people enables me to know, and it is the opinion of every well-informed, candid person resident among them, that without the support and protection of the Regular Army of the United States they are entirely unable to protect the publie property in the Territory, or the lives of such officers, civil and military, as may be left among them after the withdrawal of the regular forees now under your command, no matter how many there may be or how well armed the New Mexican volunteers are.

A. view of the present invasion by the Texan troops on the south, the threatened invasion on the east from Arkansas and Upper Texas, and the almost certain capture of all the posts and publie property in the

Territory, if left unguarded by the regular troops under your command, –

induces me to make this representation, with the hope that you will at least delay the movement now contemplated until after the present state of affairs in New Mexico is made known to the authorities in Washington, and they shall have been heard from on the subject. * A copy of this communication will be forwarded to the Hon. Secretary of War by the next outgoing mail. : I am, sir,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,