A part of our Regt. has started to Camargo, I embark in a few hours with another detachment making a total of five Companies We have met delay and detention at every turn, the quartermasters at New Orleans have behaved either most incompetently or maliciously, and I am now but two days in possession of the Rifles ordered forward before I left Washington. But don't give the quartermaster's Dept. credit for that, my acknowledgements for having them now are due to your naval Militia—Maj. Roach despairing of the Q.M. Dept. applied to Capt. Webster of the revenue service who placed the arms on the cutters "Ewing" and "Legare" and brought them to the Brazos Santiago. The ammunition and accoutrements sent from Baton Rouge to be forwarded by the quarter Master have not arrived and the ordnance stores on the frontier above have a very insufficient supply of Rifle ammunition. All this arises from having a bundle of papers and prejudices against Volunteers charged with the duties of quarter Master at New Orleans—viz. Lt. Col. & Asst. Qr. Master Hunt of the U. S. Army.
I must acknowledge the debt due from the Missi. Volunteers for service timely and courteously rendered by Capts. Webster and Moore Comdg. the Cutter "Ewing" and the Captain Comdg. the "Legare." If you can notice their conduct, I hope we may so use the rifles as to show the service was not to us alone.
Maj. Roach informs me that the surveyor of the port of New Orleans Mr. Hayden gave him kind assistance and feeling that it was done as a favor to your friends causes me to regret that I heard the statements in New Orleans which were communicated to you.
The mouth of this River has but little to invite one seeking the Land of promise to enter it the banks are low and without trees, but the current meets the sea with such force as to keep the entrance generally smooth, and it has been to me a matter of surprise that goods bound up the river were not brought ashore here, instead of being carried over the breakers at the Brazos in lighters & then brought in other lighters here. The anchorage is said to be equally good and the entrance habitually more quiet, though somewhat more shallow. I have not received the letter you intended to send me but hope always a brave and cheering us onward leads to the expect a letter from at Army Head Qrs. (Letter torn in this sentence).
"Claiborne" went off on the Louisiana Volunteers, (as I understand it a mere pretext) for the fact is they were sick of the job, and but very (few) of all I have seen wished to remain longer in this country. Our Regt. have suffered much from disease, had transportation been furnished promptly we would (have) gone with a full Regt. and what is more important with men full of zeal, and vigor, into the Campaign
Though we pick the mill stone we can't see through it, if ever I find a hole it will give me pleasure to communicate to you the wonders found within.
Present me to Mrs. Walker in the kindest terms and give my remembrances to my young friends your Children
With great regard I am* Walker, Robert James (1801-1869), an American political leader and financier, was born in Northumberland, Penn., July 23, 1801; was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1819 and began the practice of law in Pittsburg in 1822. He removed to Mississippi in 1826; became prominent as a lawyer and land speculator; was a member of the U. S. Senate from March 4, 1835 to March 5, 1845; Secretary of the Treasury 1845-1849; Governor of Kansas from April to December 1857. He died in Washington, D. C., November 11, 1869. Walker was firm against the nullification doctrine of 1832-1833; was the author of the tariff bill of 1846, a revenue and not a protectionist measure; negotiated a loan in Europe for the United States 1863-1864; impaired the European financial credit of the Confederacy, and came to the rescue of the Alaska purchase treaty. Consult W. E. Dodd, Robert J. Walker, Imperialist, 40 pp., Chicago, 1914.
SOURCE: Dunbar Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters, Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, p. 58-60
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