Head Quarters Dept of Texas

San Antonio, August 20, 1861

[margin]

 

Brig Gen^l

Earl Van Dorn

to Col Jno S Ford

 

To Co^l Jno S Ford

Com^dg Lower Rio Grande

            Fort Brown, Texas,

                                               

Col.

          I received your letter when I was confined to my room with sickness. I take the earliest opportunity to answer. In regard to the purchase of arms Gen. Bee has ere this reached your post "en route" to Mexico for the purpose of buying arms. At the same time, although I have no authority to do so, I will undertake to pay for any arms in (cotton or money) that you may be enabled to secure for us. I will pledge the faith of the Government as its representative here to do so.

 

I hope you can buy some. The state is but poorly armed and we will certainly have an invasion on our coast this fall if the war continues. I am doing all I can to prepare for it. Can you buy any powder in Matamoros? How much have you in your magazines?

 

I have about 16000 lbs. in Galveston and about 5000 lbs here in addition to the fixed ammunition. I have two excellent batteries of light artillery at school in camp at Harrisburg. I am mounting all the guns and howitzers in the arsenal and will soon have quite a formidable array of cannon. Is the battery of Artillery you speak of 6 p'drs? Is it complete and how many guns and caissons and how much harness? If complete I will get a good company to take charge of it and mount it with the artillery horses you have. The folks at Corpus Christi want some guns if you can spare them two 18 or 24^d please send them to Corpus.

 

I have called on the Governor for a regiment of Infantry to be stationed at Ft Brown. They will be raised as soon as / possible. In the meantime I have ordered Capts Donelson's, Nolan's and Littleton's there temporarily both for the purpose of being regularly mustered in, and to guard the post and armament after the companies now there are mustered out of the service of the State. This is the only step I could take, as otherwise the Post would be left without a garrison until the arrival of the regiment.

 

            It is my intention to keep the regiment concentrated at that point ready for emergency, also the battery of artillery. It is also good for discipline and instruction.

 

After the arrival of the regiment the Cavalry will move up, except Benarides' Co. which will scout below towards the Brazos.

 

            Hoping that your health is now perfectly restored,

                                                                       

I remain Co^l Very Respy & Sincerely

Your humble serv't

(signed)           Earl Van Dorn

Brig. Gen Com^dg

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