OPERATIONS IN TEX., N.MEX.,AND ARIZ. [CHAP.XI.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C.S.A., Richmond, October 13,1861.

Gov.EDWARD CLARK, Austin, Tex.:

SIR: The very great pressure on my time and the absorption of all my energies in the attempt suddenly to direct the operations of this Department on the resignation of General Walker will furnish an apology that I trust you find satisfactory for my delay in replying to your two favors of 7th and 14th ultimo. I appreciate to the fullest extent the zealous and hearty co-operation of yourself and your generous fellow-citizens in the effort fully to supply clothing for our troops in the field.

After maturely considering the various modes suggested, it occurs to me that the simplest and best plan is for the State of Texas to clothe her own troops, under rules and regulations to be executed by her own officers, and to receive the commutation of $25 for every six months' clothing furnished to each man, according to the act of Congress of 30th August last, and which cannot have reached you at the date of your letters. I have prepared regulations on this subject, now in press, and in a day or two, when I get them from the printers, will furnish you a copy. If your State will, under these regulations, furnish her own troops, in whole or in part, it will greatly relieve our labors, that are now taxing with the utmost severity all our energies.

Please inform me as soon as you get my printed circular whether you will do this. If not, could you not have the wool manufactured at your penitentiary and sell it to us at a fair value, which we will cheerfully pay? State agency in all these matters is much more effective than our own, and I desire, as far as I possibly can, to avoid the multiplication of Confederate officers and agencies.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J.P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS, Dona Ana, Ariz., October 14, 1861.

Colonel H.E.McCULLOCH:

SIR: Please find inclosed a copy of a letter received at my headquarters to-day. It embraces a correct account of the present critical condition of the citizens and miners in that region of the Territory which includes the locality of the Pinos Altos and other important mines of Arizona. The most important and available to the Confederacy are under the sway of Indians. I am at present unable to render the necessary assistance, although I have ordered Major E.Walker to proceed thither and render what aid he could with a detachment of 100 men. He left for the Pinos Altos mines on the 10th instant.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN R.BAYLOR, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Second Reg't T.M.R., P.C.S.Army.

[Inclosure.]

PINOS ALTOS, October 8,1861.

To the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF Of the Confederate Troops in Arizona Territory:

DEAR SIR: A few days since the majority of the citizens of this place addressed you a petition. However, many of these that gave