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

whenever, in his judgment, the services shall no longer the necessary for frontier protection, should the same not be accepted by the Confederate Government, under the provisions of this act.

SEC. 11. That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved December 21, 1861.

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN MILITARY DISTRICT, San Antonio, Tex., December 31, 1861

Colonel H. E. McCULLOCH, Commanding Western Military District of Texas:

SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit for your information a note from Colonel Steele, of General Sibley's brigade. You will readily perceive that the commands of yourself and General Sibley somewhat clash, as General Sibley assumes the command of all the troops on the Rio Grande above Fort Quitman, making his headquarters at Fort Bliss, and styling his command the Army of New Mexico.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B.E. BENTON, Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Western Military District of Texas.

[Inclosure.]

SAN ANTONIO, TEX., December 31, 1861

B. E. BENTON, Aide and Acting Adjutant-General:

SIR: General Sibley's order,which you have asked a copy of, is packed in my regimental desk, and has gone forward. Its support is, assuming command of all the troops on the Rio Grande above Fort Quitman, and designating his command as the Army of New Mexico.

Your obedient servant,

WM. STEELE, Colonel Seventh Texas Mounted Militia.

HDQRS. THIRD REG'T TEXAS INFANTRY, PROV. ARMY, Fort Brown, Tex., December 31, 1861

Lieutenant WM. O. YAGER, A.A.A.G., West. Mil. Dist. of Texas, San Antonio, Tex.:

SIR: Since my last I have had more time to investigate the state of affairs on this frontier and to examine into the condition of the command assigned me for its defense, and I regret to inform you that they are deplorable enough. The difficulties now existing in the neighboring Mexican State of Tamaulipas have so wholly changed the commercial condition of affairs from what they were but a few months since, as to deprive us of many facilities upon which we could then with a reasonable certainty, calculate and depend. The civil war extends over almost the entire State, and renders intercourse and transportation precarious and unsafe; so much so, that it is with extreme difficulty that the usual public carriers can be prevailed upon to incur the risk of bringing even the necessary supplies for subsistence, and when they do so, it is at large rates and in but small quantities. The present of