It is our opinion that the seventy-five barrels of pilot bread, and the half-barrel of butter crackers, had better be sold at public auction, and the proceeds placed to the credit of the boundary fund. No. 61. JOHN H. CLARK, JAMES W. BALDWIN. INDIANOLA, TEXAS, April 29, 1851. SIR: I herewith enclose you a statement of my accounts for disbursements on account of the surveys under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, with abstract A, account-current, and vouchers from No. 1 to No. 93, for auditing and settling. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Lieut. Col., Head of the Scientific Corps. Hon. STEPHEN PLEASONTON, Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, Washington. No. 62. (Copy for Lieutenant Colonel Graham.) ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: The Secretary of War directs that Lieutenants W. F. Smith and Michler, topographical engineers, be ordered to report to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel J. D. Graham, for duty on the boundary survey. Should it be the mutual desire of Lieutenants Smith and Bryan to exchange duties, the Secretary authorizes the exchange, so that the former may remain in the 8th military department, and the latter report to Lieutenant Colonel Graham. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, COMMANDING OFFICER, HEADQUARTERS 8TH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, True copy. San Antonio, May 18, 1851. No. 63. GEO. DEAS, Assistant Adjutant General. INDIANOLA, TEXAS, April 30, 1851. SIR: Understanding that you are expected here by the next steamer from New Orleans to report to me for duty, I have to request that you will, on your arrival here, repair to San Antonio with all practicable despatch, in order to be in time to join me there before the departure of the military escort from thence to El Paso del Norte. Should Brevet Major Rains and Lieutenant Burnside be with you, please communicate the same request to them, or to any other officer who may be detailed for the Mexican boundary service. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. W. F. SMITH, J. D. GRAHAM, Major Top. Engineers, Brevet Lieut. Colonel. Corps of Topographical Engineers. No. 64. Colonel Graham to the Secretary of the Interior. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, May 10, 1851. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I arrived here on the 5th instant, with my party and all the instruments, destined for El Paso del Norte for the boundary survey, in good order. A few of the larger ones, intended to be used hereafter for the survey of the lower Rio Grande, were left at Indianola, to be taken to that part of the line at a future time. Those I have brought forward, and the provisions for my party, were transported from Indianola to this place by the quartermaster's department at the usual rate of charge. Finding that a single wagon, which I was authorized to call on the quartermaster's department for, was insufficient for the transportation of these articles from this place to El Paso, owing to the small size of the wagon bodies used here, I made a requisition for five wagons and teams instead of one, for I found that number indispensably necessary. Under the emergency of the case, this requisition was approved by General Harney, commanding the 8th military department, and they were issued to me. Captain S. G. French, of the quartermaster's department, commander of the train destined to El Paso, for the transportation of army supplies, was still here when I arrived, and did not leave until the 7th, intending to organize his train at Leona for the line of march, which would require several days. My wagons were carefully packed with the instruments and provisions with all despatch, and they proceeded early this morning to join the train of Captain French at Leona. In addition to the accommodation furnished by Major Babbitt, the chief quartermaster at this station, I was obliged to purchase sixteen mules for the purpose of drawing two light spring-wagons loaded with the more delicate instruments, and for mounting my party. The quartermaster could spare me only ten, which I bought at the average original cost. The remaining six were purchased in the market here. With these and a portion of my party, (who did not accompany the wagons,) I shall proceed on to join the train at Leona, as soon as I can complete the papers necessary to a settlement with Major Babbitt. For these necessary equipments for the journey and for future service, and for the provisions furnished by the subsistence department here, I have drawn on the Department of the Interior at Washington, payable on the 1st of July next, and I request that my drafts may be honored at maturity, as follows, viz: 1. My draft in favor of the quartermaster's department at Washington, for services, as shown by accompanying paper marked D... 2. My draft in favor of same for the purchase of mules, harness, and other articles enumerated in accompanying paper marked E.......... 3. My draft in favor of J. R. Sweet & Co., for purchase of five mules, as shown by accompanying paper marked F, 4. My draft in favor of the subsistence department at Washington for provisions furnished, as shown by accompanying paper marked G.......... Total.... $2,861 60 1,174 72 400 00 117 76 4,554 08 I was not able to obtain transportation for all the boxes of chemicals and natural history appurtenances found at Indianola, which I stated in my letter to the department, of the 26th ultimo, I would forward to El Paso. Nos. 3, 5, and 6, mentioned therein, containing hospital stores, have been sent forward, as they weigh altogether only 208 pounds. Nos. 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8, weigh altogether 881 pounds, which is more than one-third of a load for a wagon, such as are used here. Their contents are not absolutely applicable to the service, though they would aid in very interesting investigations in natural history. On my arrival here, I found that the order of detail, directing Lieutenant Michler to report to me, had not been served on him, owing to some irregularity, as viewed by the commanding general of the eighth military department, in the mode of issuing it. He could not, however, have joined me, owing to ill health, and has gone north on a sick leave. It would be a great aid to this survey if two graduates from the Military Academy, of next month, could be obtained as assistants and ordered out, by way of Independence and Sata Fe, to report to me. I trust, sir, the fiscal arrangements which I have reported above, and which I was compelled to make, will meet the approbation of the department. They belong properly to the quartermaster's and commissary's department of the commission, but I have been obliged temporarily to assume them, in the absence of officers for those branches. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant, J. D. GRAHAM, Lieutenant Colonel, Head of the Scientific Corps, United States Boundary Commission. Hon. ALEX. H. H. STUART, Secretary of the Interior, &c., &c., Washington. P. S.-Since closing the above communication, Lieutenant Smith, topographical engineers, and Mr. Radziminski, one of my assistants in the Northeastern Boundary office, have arrived and reported to me. They inform me that Mr. Gray and Lieutenants Tillinghast and Burnside, of the artillery, are about a day's travel only from this place, on their way to report to me, and that they will require facilities for transportation, &c. Under these circumstances, I have thought it proper to await their arrival, otherwise they might not be able to go forward promptly; and that would be a great embarrassment to the service, for I have felt the necessity of their services. Very respectfully, J. D. GRAHAM, Lieutenant Colonel, &c., &c. D-(Appended to No. 64.) The United States Mexican Boundary Commission in account-current with the U. S. Quartermaster's department. DR. 1851, May 9.-For services of five six-mule teams with wagons, in transporting instruments, provisions, and other public supplies appertaining to the Mexican boundary survey, 100 days from 9th May, 1851, (estimated time necessary for the whole trip to and from) at $5 50 per day for each wagon, which is to include the cost of such forage as may be used at the ends of the route for a portion of the 100 days, and also pay of teamsters and subsistence For transportation of 7,440 pounds of same stores from Indianola to San Antonio, between the 25th April and 8th May, 1851, at $1 50 per 100 pounds.. $2,750 00 111 60 2,861 60 CR. 1851, May 9.-By draft, as follows: "The honorable Secretary of the Interior is respectfully requested to cause this amount to be transferred at Washington to the quartermaster's department, from the appropriation for the Mexican boundary survey for the fiscal year commencing 1st July, 1851" $2,861 60 J. D. GRAHAM, Lieut. Col., Head of the Scientific Corps, U. S. B. C. E. B. BABBITT, Brevet Major and A. Q. M. E-(Appended to No. 64.) The United States Mexican Boundary Survey bought of the U. S. Quartermaster's department: 1851. 5 pounds Castile soap, at 37 cents per lb. 1 87 1 small bottle laudanum, at $1............. 5 water kegs with bails, at $2 25 each. 4 large saddle blankets, at $2 50 each.. 1 00 1 00 75 48 20 8 50 11 25 2.00 150 10 00 750 1,174 72 SAN ANTONIO, May 10, 1851. I certify that the above account is correct and just; that the articles enumerated above have been received by me for the service of the United States boundary survey, under my charge; and the Hon. Alex. H. H. Stuart, Secretary of the Interior, is respectfully requested to cause the amount, eleven hundred and seventy-four dollars and seventy-two cents, to be transferred at Washington to the credit of the United States quartermaster's department, out of the appropriation for the survey, for the fiscal year commencing 1st July 1851. A true copy: J. D. GRAHAM, JOHN LAWSON, Secretary, &c., &c. F-(Appended to No. 64.) Copy the original has been rendered with my accounts to the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury at Washington. J. D. G. |