No. 415.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Foster.
Department
of State,
Washington, February 8,
1875.
No. 188.]
Sir: I enclose herewith a copy of a letter of the
5th instant from the Secretary of War, accompanied by one of a report of the
commanding officer of Fort Duncan, Texas, by which it appears that the
officer in command of the Mexican forces in Northern Coahuila has been
instructed to fight Indians hostile to this country, and to co-operate with
United States troops when requested to do so.
You are instructed to express to the Mexican Government the gratification of
this Department that such orders have been issued.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 188.]
General Belknap to
Mr. Fish.
War
Department,
Washington
City, February 5,
1875.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit, for your
information, a copy of the report of the commanding officer of Fort
Duncan, Texas, of an interview with the officer commanding the Mexican
forces in Northern Coahuila, who states his instructions are to tight
Indians hostile to the United States, and to co-operate with our troops
when requested to do so.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. W. BELKNAP,
Secretary of
War.
The honorable the Secretary of State.
[Subinclosure in No. 188.]
Captain French to assistant adjutant-general,
Department of Texas.
Headquarters, Fort Duncan,
Texas,
January 18,
1875.
Sir: I have the honor to report that, in
compliance with instructions contained in a letter dated Headquarters,
Department of Texas, January 9, 1875, I went to Saragossa,
[Page 865]
Mexico, and called upon
Colonel Aguilas, 9th cavalry, Mexican army, commanding the forces in
Northern Coahuila. I handed Colonel Aguilas the communication inclosed,
with the letter referred to above, and he, after reading it, informed me
that his instructions were to fight all Indians
hostile to the United States, wherever he met them, and to co-operate
with our troops when requested to do so. Colonel Aguilas has promised me
to move his troops in conjunction with ours at any time upon information
furnished from this post or Fort Clark. Colonel Aguilas had not learned
of the presence of these Indians before I informed him; otherwise he
would have attacked them. He will leave with all of his command, some
four hundred men, for Santa Rosa immediately, and will drive these
Indians out of his country.
I have notified the commanding officer of Fort Clark of this.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN W. FRENCH,
Captain 25th Infantry,
Commanding.
Assistant Adjutant-General,
Department of Texas, San Antonio, Texas.
War
Department, Adjutant-General’s
Office,
Washington, February 2,
1875.
Official copy.
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant-General.
For the honorable the Secretary of the
Interior.
