Orders and instructions to General Taylor. War Department, July 30, 1845

Reiterating the administration's position that the Rio Grande was the legitimate boundary of Texas (a position wholly rejected by Mexico), Secretary Marcy urged Taylor to take up a position below the Nueces River. Believing Mexico might be planning an invasion of Texas, the administration ordered Taylor to monitor Mexican troop movements below the Rio Grande.

Topics:

U.S. Military Preparation

Date: 1845-07-30

Format: correspondence

Format Notes:

Letters (correspondence)

Publisher and Date Published: Wendall and van Benthuysen 1848-00-00

Language: English

Publication Place: Washington (District of Columbia)

Creator:

Marcy, William L.; Taylor, Zachary

Physical Characteristics: 25 cm

Collection: The University of Texas at Arlington Library, Special Collections.

Call Number: E404.U59 Library Collections Depository, Special Collections

Source Title: Messages of the President of the United States, with the correspondence, therewith communicated, between the Secretary of War and other officers of the government, on the subject of the Mexican War

Source Alternative Title:

Thirtieth Congress -- First Session. Ex. Doc. No. 60. House of Representatives. Mexican War Correspondence.

Transcription:

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, July 30, 1845.

SIR: Your letter, from New Orleans, of the 20th instant, addressed to the Adjutant General, has been received and laid before the President, and he desires me to express to you his approval of your movements.

He has not the requisite information in regard to the country to enable him to give any positive directions as to the position you ought to take, or the movements which it may be expedient to make. These must be governed by circumstances. While avoiding, as you have been instructed to do, all aggressive measures towards Mexico, as long as the relations of peace exist between that republic and the United States, you are expected to occupy, protect and defend the territory of Texas to the extent that it has been occupied by the people of Texas. The Rio Grande is claimed to be the boundary between the two countries, and up to this boundary you are to extend your protection, only excepting any posts on the eastern side thereof, which are in the actual occupancy of Mexican forces, or Mexican settlements over which the republic of Texas did not exercise jurisdiction at the period of annexation, or shortly before that event. It is expected that, in selecting the establishment for your troops, you will approach as near the boundary line, the Rio Grande, as prudence will dictate. With this view, the President desires that your position, for a part of your forces at least, should be west of the river Nueces.

You are directed to ascertain and communicate to this department the number of Mexican troops now at Matamoras, and the other Mexican posts along the border, their position, the condition of them, and particularly the measures taken or contemplated to increase or strengthen them. If you should have any reason to believe that the government of Mexico is concentrating forces on the boundaries of the two countries, you will not only act with reference to such a state of things, but give the earliest information to this department.

Very respectfully, &c.,
WM. L. MARCY, Secretary of War.

Brig. Gen. Z. TAYLOR,
Commanding the army of occupation in Texas.