2d Session. No. 38. MILITIA OF NEW MEXICO. JANUARY 29, 1855.-Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed. Mr. FAULKNER, from the Committee on Military Affairs, made the following REPORT. The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred a resolution of the House instructing it to inquire into the expediency of providing for the payment of certain militia of the Territory of New Mexico, called out by the acting governor of said Territory, in the summer of 1854, for the suppression of Indian hostilities, have, according to order, had the same under consideration, and respectfully report: That no satisfactory evidence has been adduced to enable the committee to judge of the necessity of the calling out of the said militia, the actual time it was in service, or of the amount of money necessary to defray the expenses thereof. The committee report the accompanying papers received from the War Department relative thereto, being all the information which they have been enabled to obtain upon the subject, and, without expressing any opinion as to the justness of the amount asked for by the governor of New Mexico for the present, beg to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 27, 1855. SIR: I have received your letter of the 25th instant asking for all information in this department relative to the calling out of a military force, by the (acting) governor of New Mexico, for the suppression of Indian hostilities in that Territory during the last summer, and in reply have the honor to transmit you a copy of a letter from Governor D. Meriwether, dated 28th July, and of the answer of this department thereto, dated 11th September last; also, extracts from two letters from Brevet Brigadier General John Garland, commanding the department of New Mexico, to the headquarters of the army, dated June 5th and 30th last. These letters contain all the information this department is in possession of on the subject. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. C. J. FAULKNER, JEFF'N DAVIS, Secretary of War. Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, Ho. of Reps. The acting governor of the Territory has deemed it necessary, in my temporary absence, to call out several companies of volunteers. This step is much to be regretted. Of its necessity I cannot well judge until my arrival at Santa Fé, to which place I am now hastening. Most respectfully, I am, Colonel, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. L. THOMAS, But. Brig. Gen. Comd'g. A. A. General, Army Headquarters, New York. [Extract.] HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO, Santa Fé, June 30, 1854. COLONEL: By request of the acting governor of this Territory, Mr. Messeny, I hastened to this place to confer with him about our Indian relations, which had become somewhat threatening during my temporary absence at El Paso-so much so as to induce his excellency to call out some two hundred of the militia of the county of Rio Arriba. These troops succeeded in making prisoners of about thirty-nine Apaches, men, women, and children, most of whom have subsequently escaped; several were, however, shot in making the attempt. The Indians are now driven to such extremity by the regular troops, as to have caused his excellency to dispense with this force, retaining, perhaps, a company as minute-men." I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. L. THOMAS, JOHN GARLAND, A. A. General, Headquarters of the Army, New York. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Santa Fe, N. M., July 28, 1854. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that during my absence from this Territory, the acting governor, the Hon. Wm. S. Messeny, deemed it necessary to call out the militia to assist in protecting our frontiers, and the suppression of Indian hostilities. Concurring, as I do, in the necessity and propriety of this step, it becomes my duty to ask of you that the necessary steps be taken to cause these men to be paid at as early a day as practicable, and to assure you that all concur in the opinion that these militiamen have rendered good service to their country. Should you deem it necessary that Congress shall make a specific appropriation before these men can be paid off, I would inform you that four hundred were called out; that they were in actual service at times varying from one to two months; and that I estimate twenty-five thousand dollars to be a sum sufficient for their compensation. It may not be improper that I should inform you that these militiamen furnished their own arms and ammunition, horses, forage, and subsistence, during the time they were in service. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. MERIWETHER, Hon. JEFF'N DAVIS, Governor of New Mexico. Secretary of War, Washington City. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 11, 1854. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th July last, informing me that during your absence from the Territory, the acting governor had called out four hundred militia to assist in protecting the frontiers and suppressing Indian hostilities, and asking that the necessary steps may be taken to pay for their services. In reply, I have to inform you, that as the men were called out without the usual requirements, or the competent authority, it will require special legislation to bring the case within the action of this department. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, His Excellency D. MERIWETHER, JEFF'N DAVIS, Governor of New Mexico, Santa Fé, N. M. |