. Doc ACCOUNTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, CONCERNING Accounts of the State of Texas. DECEMBER 27, 1876.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., December 26, 1876. SIR: I have the honor to inform the House of Representatives, in answer to a request from its Committee on Military Affairs, that this Department possesses no evidence concerning the accounts of the State of Texas, further than the statements on two abstracts which are for $1,536,487.62, and which were received from the committee, and except accounts for $223,143.89. The latter were examined at this Department in the year 1871, and they were reported upon in full, as appears in House Executive Document No. 277, second session Forty-second Congress. The papers received are returned, as requested, inclosed herewith. Very respectfully, you obedient servant, J. D. CAMERON, The SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Washington. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SIR: Pursuant to direction by the Committee on Military Affairs of the House of Representatives, I herewith transmit to you a joint resolution, (H. R. 23,) and certain papers accompanying the same, providing for the payment to the State of Texas for moneys expended in frontier defense, referred to this committee, together with a copy of a resolution adopted by the committee, requesting that you cause the accounts to be inspected and report thereon the "amount really due the State of Texas on account of the same." The original papers herewith transmitted you will please preserve and return with your respouse. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. J. D. CAMERON, Secretary of War. A. S. WILLIAMS, Acting Chairman. Referred to Maj. Thomas H. Bradley for investigation and report. By order of the Secretary of War. JULY 25, 1876. H. T. CROSBY, Chief Clerk. Respectfully returned with report that there are no accounts found in the War or Treasury Departments from the State of Texas for re-imbursement on account of H. R. 23, current series, except those for $223,143.89, reported upon in 1871. (H. Ex. Doc. 277, 2d ses. 42d Congress.) THOMAS H. BRADLEY, Brevet Captain, U. S. A. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 23, 1876. DEAR GENERAL: FORT BROWN, TEXAS, December 3, 1875. [Extract.] We have had quite an excitement lately. Will send you the reports of the officers concerned as soon as they are all received. I under stand that McNally goes to San Antonio shortly, and he may be able to tell you all about it. The Mexican authorities promised to return all the cattle but did not. They did send over a small part of the stock, enough to swear by I suppose. Roundlett having hit one herd and pitched into the thieves, caused them to drop two other herds I understand. One was dropped on the 18th ultimo not far from the river (about 300 head 'tis reported) the other is reported to have beet very large. 'Tis said that there were over forty thieves in these raids, that is on this side; the entire outfit was ready to receive them on the south bank. The mail-rider was captured near Las Cuevas, and detained some twelve hours, to prevent him reporting the raid to Captain Rand lett, at Edinburg. I think cattle stealing is going on quite as rapidly as ever. The river is very low and there is no trouble in crossing cattle. About forty of those returned were King's, I understand. |