of this letter, the General, in his hot zeal, made a requisition on the Governors of Louis- iana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, each for a battalion of volunteers to protect the frontiers ! The Ge- neral and the Cabinet acted in perfect unison. The former had hinted his readiness to cross the imaginary boundary, for the purpose of anticipating the approach of the Mexicans. The latter, on the 25th April, informed him there was reason to believe the Indians would be in- duced to join the Mexicans, and in that case, should the contending parties approach the frontier, he may advance as far as Nacogdoches. On the 4th May, he is informed *' that the Secretary of War had written to the Governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ala- bama, requi)-ing them to furnish him with such militia force as he may require to protect the Western frontier of the United States from hostile incursions." The General had, on his own responsibility, called for four battalions from four States. The President, still more provident, * Ex. Doc, 1st Sess. 24tli Cono;. Vol. G.
gives him power to call for an unlimited number of Militia from no less than jive States. And why were these vast powers confided to Gaines ?—and what and where was the enemy against whom this unnumbered Militia was to be poured forth by all these States ? Not an Indian, not a Texan, not a Mexican, had invaded our territory. The country was at peace ; nor were there even rumors of ap- proaching war. To understand the management of Gaines and his employers, it must be recollected that adventurers were now flockingr to Texas, and that Texan ao;ents were organizing in the Southern Stiites military expeditions to rescue the province from the dominion of Mexico. A let- ter from one of these men, Felix Houston, dated Natchez, Mississippi, 4t,h March, 1836, and pubhshed in the jour- nals of the day, will suffice to show the character of these expeditions. " I contemplate starting for Texas about 1st May next, and expect to take with me about five hundred emigrants. I am making preparations for arms, ammunition, uniforms, (fee, &c , at an expense of ^40,000. I shall have a rendezvous, and begin to send on supphes by the 1st May." Of course, such expeditions were a drain upon the pockets