CHAP. XI.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.

SAN ANTONIO, TEX., August 10, 1861.

HonorableL. P. WALKER, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: I have the honor to report that I have called upon the governor of Texas for ten companies of infantry, to be stationed at Galveston, for the defense of that island and city, and that I have appointed, subject to the approval of the President, the following field officers: Captain J. C. Moore, C. S. Army, colonel; Mr. J. T. Ward, lieutenant-colonel; Major X. B. Debray, major. Colonel Moore is now in command of the defenses of Galveston and captain in the Army. Mr. J. T. Ward has been connected with the U. S. Army for six or eight years, and is well qualified for the position I have assigned him. Major Debray will hand you this letter, and you may judge for yourself of his qualifications. I hope you will be pleased to approve of these appointments, as well as of my calling upon the governor for the regiment. I am so isolated from the headquarters of the Army that I am compelled to act a little independent of the usual authorities, and to assume responsibilities not given me by the Regulations of the Army.

I expect in a day or two to receive a reply to my dispatch sent to you by Mr. Sweet, of this city. If I do not, I shall call upon the governor for ten more companies, to be stationed at Fort Brown. The troops now there will not muster into the service of the Confederate States for the war, and I will be compelled to replace them by others who will. It is advisable, without doubt, to have at least a regiment there. I respectfully recommend the following gentlemen to the command as field officers: Colonel P. N. Luckett, now quartermaster-general of this State, appointed by the Convenient, and a "West Pointer," as colonel; for lieutenant-colonel, A. Buchel, of Indianola, formerly of the army in Mexico; served under General Davis at Buena Vista; as major, E. F. Gray, formerly of the Navy, of Houston. These gentlemen I shall appoint subject to your approval.

It will be gratifying to you to learn of the complete success of Colonel Baylor's expedition against the U. S. troops in New Mexico; 700 prisoners of war were taken, with their arms, &c. I have not as yet received the official report, but have some of the facts from eye-witnesses of the surrender.

I hear from headquarters but seldom, and am inclined to believe that my letters are intercepted. The governor of the State has received important dispatches from you in regard to the raising of troops for the Confederate service. I have received nothing.

An interchange of several shots between our batteries and the blockading vessels took place at Galveston the other day. One man, a citizen, was killed by a shell from the South Carolina. The vessels were driven off.

Very respectfully, sir, I am, your obedient servant,

EARL VAN DORN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

RICHMOND, August 14, 1861.

General P. O. HEBERT, New Orleans, La.:

You are appointed a brigadier-general in the Provisional Army, and assigned to the Department of Texas. Your attention is specially directed to the coast defense of Texas. General Van Dorn has been ordered here for duty. You will proceed at once to Galveston, where

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