The regular force is now entirely brought forward except the 2d infantry, of which no portion has been reported. I am extremely anxious to secure the services of this regiment, and hope that a portion of it at least may join before I march. You will perceive from my orders that the volunteer force has been duly organized. The general officers have all arrived except Major General Patterson. A majority of the regiment of Texas foot, under Colonel Johnston, having expressed a disinclination to serve for another term of three months, I have ordered their discharge, and they have already been mustered out of service. Colonel Wood's regiment of Texas horse is now encamped in this neighborhood, and its companies are rendering useful service as escorts, &c. Col. Hay's regiment is on its march from Matamoras, having taken San Fernando in its route, which passed through a part of the country not before examined. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. [No. 79.] HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camargo, August 26, 1846. SIR: I respectfully enclose, herewith, a communication (No. 1) addressed to me by a citizen of Victoria, and my reply to it (No. 2.) These translations were made or obtained by I do not know the full extent or character of the movement proposed in these papers, or whether it would be calculated at this time either to forward our own views or benefit its projectors. I have accordingly given but little encouragement to who has visited me at this place. On reaching Monterey I can tell better how far it may be advisable to encourage such projects. My instructions from the Department of War do not authorize me to promise any protection to independent States after the conclusion. of a peace, and it is very doubtful whether a movement will be made without such pledge. I respectfully submit the case to the department, to the end that additional instructions, if necessary, may be given to me. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. Army, commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. [The enclosures are of a confidential character, and are not copied.] [No. 80.] HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: No general depot of clothing has yet been established for this army. The "clothing depot," so called, is simply a place of deposite for clothing, &c., drawn on regimental estimates, and not suited for promiscuous issue. We need very much a depot similar to those established in Florida, the officer in charge of which shall make his requisitions direct for clothing and camp equipage, and issue to all officers who may require such articles. Only the fatigue or undress clothing would be necessary, with a large proportion of boots. I beg that the subject may be submitted to the proper authorities, and if my suggestion be approved, that the quartermaster general may be at once instructed to establish a proper clothing depot, say at Point Isabel. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General U. S. Army, commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. [No. 84.] HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I feel it my duty to call your attention to the great scarcity of medical officers with this army. While nearly two thirds of the regular army is now serving on this frontier, we have not more than two-sevenths of the medical staff-a manifest disproportion, to the great injury of the service. Our general hospitals at St. Joseph's island, Point Isabel, and Matamoras, are scantily supplied with officers, and yet we take the field with no more than one medical officer to a battalion, and in eight battalions of regular troops but one full surgeon. This allowance is quite too small for the field, and the public interest demands that it be at once increased; but it is now too late to do so for this campaign. The great deficiency of medical officers brings with it the obvious necessity of hiring less competent physicians, and often at higher rates. There are many surgeons and assistant surgeons at garrisons on the seaboard, and elsewhere, whose places might be filled at moderate cost, while their valuable services might be secured where most needed in the field during active operations. Under the circumstance above stated, I regret that I cannot possibly spare the services of Assistant Surgeon Wells at this juncture. Until a considerable increase shall be made in the strength of the medical staff serving with this army, I should deem myself culpable to permit any medical officer to leave who is able to perform duty. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D, C. Remarks of the surgeon general on the letter of Surgeon P. H. Craig, medical director, army of occupation, asking for a leave· of absence, with the endorsement of General Taylor thereon, to the following effect: "Owing to the scarcity of medical officers, I find it impossible to dispense with the services of Surgeon Craig at this time, and therefore forward his application, with the urgent recommendation that additional medical officers be sent to this army to admit of the relief of Surgeon Craig and others, who are more or less broken down by long and arduous service in the field," &c. [A copy of these remarks was sent to General Taylor on the 18th September, 1846, by the adjutant general of the army.] SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE, July 29, 1846. Upon the subject of the scarcity of medical officers in the field, I have no hesitation in expressing the belief that the regular troops employed against Mexico have comparatively as large a number of medical officers as any other army in the world. The laws of the land in former times, as on a late occasion, awarded two medical officers to a full regiment of about 750 men, or one medical officer to 375 men; and this proportion of medical officers to a consolidated. regiment or body of 750 men has been found, from long experience, sufficient to meet the requirements of the service. From the monthly returns in the adjutant general's office for May last, (the latest report received,) it appears that on the 30th of that month the strength of the army of occupation in officers and men was 3,938; and from the returns in the surgeon general's office it is found that there were at that time 24 medical officers serving with that army. Now, if we divide 3,938 men, the strength of the command, by 24, the number of medical officers present with it, the result will give one medical officer to every 164 men, instead of 375, or 100 per cent. more of medical officers than is contemplated by the laws providing for the organization of military corps. If we give twelve medical officers to the 3,938 men in the field, which is the full complement recognised by law, we shall have, after furnishing one for medical director, two for a general hospital, and one to perform the duty of medical purveyor, still eight officers, or one-third of the whole number, in reserve to meet the contingencies of the service, the incidents and accidents growing out of active operations in the field. Since the last return from the aray, one medical officer has gone into the field with a body of recruits; two are now en route with detachments of the 2d infantry towards the theatre of action, and one is about to sail in a day or two with another portion of the 2d infantry for the seat of war. In this way-that is, by sending a medical officer with each detachment of troops which goes into the field-the standard number of medical officers (originally large) will be kept up with the army of occupation. To do more than this would be making a sacrifice of military propriety and the public interest, to save a little labor to some of the medical officers, who, if the duties are equitably distributed among them, I am free to say, from analogy and from experience, have not more to do than the government has a right to claim of them. I know what a man can perform and ought to do in time of need. I have myself acted as medical director, medical purveyor, and attending surgeon to a body of troops, at one and the same time; nay more, I have frequently prescribed for 250 men a day; and I have a right to expect that those under my control will perform something like the same amount of duty. As to the exposure and privations incident to a camp life making serious inroads upon a man's health," or his being "broken down by long and arduous service in the field," of less than one year's duration, I can scarcely entertain the idea. Why, I never would permit myself to be sick when honor and duty claimed from me active exertion; but whether sick or well, I was never known to quit the field until called off by authority. It is very easy for an officer, who is called upon to do a little more duty than the very little service he has been accustomed to perform at a small military post, to speak in round numbers of the arduous duties, the privations and sufferings, he has experienced in the field, when a statistical examination into the matter will prove that his grievances are all imaginary-mere trifles, as light as air. It may be proper to remark, in connexion with this subject, that there are other armies or bodies of troops operating in the field, besides the army of occupation, to be provided with medical officers; and as they are further removed, being more in the interior of the country, from the facilities of obtaining reinforcements or relief in the way of medical aid in the event of a fatality, it is perhaps proper that they should be furnished in the outset with a comparatively larger medical corps; also, there are some important and indispensable duties to be performed by medical 'officers of the army other than those of prescribing for the sick and administering to the wounded; and for cases of this kind, provision must be made. Again, we must have some officers in reserve to meet contingencies nearer at home; such as may arise from the hasty assemblage of recuits for transportation to the theatre of war, the getting up of new expeditions, &c., &c.; each case requiring the employment of medical officers of the army, and therefore constituting a good reason for not sending all the medical officers at once into the field. I have been thus particular in my statements, to show that, in the fulfilment of my obligations generally to the goverment, involving a due regard to the public interests as well as to the sights and claims of individuals, I have not been unmindful of the legitimate claims and wants of the army of occupation. I have given all in the way of medical aid which military propriety, the customs of the service in like cases, and the actual wants of the army, seemed to require; but if they desire more medical officers they shall have them, with myself to boot, if acceptable, and I am borne out in the measure by the government. Far be it from me to wish to withhold aught that will contribute to the comfort, the convenience, or to the gratification of either one of those gallant souls who so valiantly fought and so signally triumphed on the battle fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, TH. LAWSON, Brig. General R. JONES, ]No. 85.] Adjutant General U. S. A. Surgeon General. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: My "orders" Nos. 98, 100, and 108, will have advised you of the organization which I have given to the regular and volunteer forces now taking the field. For reasons already set forth I have found it impossible to throw forward more than a small portion of the volunteers, and I deem it best to select that portion from as many States as possible, organizing a temporary division for the campaign. If the state of supplies in the country will be found to warrant it, I shall bring forward other portions of the volunteers. REGULARS. One heavy battery (24-lb. howitzers) detached 1st artillery. 1st Division-Brigadier General Twiggs. Cavalry.-2d dragoons. Ridgely's battery. 3d brigade.-Bragg's battery. 3d infantry. 4th infantry. Captain Shiver's company of volunteers. 4th brigade.-1st infantry. Baltimore battalion. 2d Division-Brigadier General Worth. 1st brigade.-Duncan's battery. Artillery battalion. 8th infantry. 2d brigade.-Taylor's battery. 5th infantry. Blanchard's company of Louisiana volunteers. |