Fort Davis, Texas

October   1861.

 

Colonel.

                       

Sir,

         I have the honor to report to you the result your order in regard to A. F. Wolff, of Precidio del Norte, Mexico.

           

Your order arrived here on the 11^th Inst. during my temporary absence to Fort Lancaster to fetch up some recruits which arrived at that place for my Company. the order consequently fell into the hands of 2^d Lieut. Emory Gibbons at that time in command of this post, which order when he received it before opening it himself he handed to R. C. Daly, a clerk in Murphy's store at this post with the request that he should read it, which he, Daly, done publicly in the store, and in the hearing of all present. Lieut. Gibbons left this place for Precidio with a detachment of nine men on the 12^th inst. and on the night of the 15^th Inst. five of his party crossed the Rio Grande to Mexico and about three O'Clock in the morning, attempted to arrest Wolf, when an alarm was raised and a fight ensued between the Mexicans and the five men of Lt. Gibbon's detachment, in which two of the latter were killed. Lieut Gibbons states that his party crossed the Rio Grande without his knowledge or consent. on the 14^th I returned to this post and sent 1^st Serg. Wilson with five men to recall Lt. G. / to this post, but too late to remedy the evil the Lt. had caused, as the men were killed on the night the latter detachment left this post; the two parties ret^d to this place on the evening of the 18^th Inst. when I placed Lieut. Gibbons under arrest untill I reported to and hear from the General commanding the department in regard to the matter.

 

            I also enclose a copy of a letter from the commandant of Precidio which will more fully explain the transaction at that place.

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