Doc. 91.-General Magruder's orders.
the Commanding General, learning that some doubt still exists among the troops as to the permanence as cavalry of those regiments which have been dismounted, again takes occasion to assure the troops that he shall keep all of the regiments in service as cavalry, which have been recently dismounted; that he prefers to have these regiments to march on horseback and fight on foot, provided their officers will perfect them in the infantry drill, and that nothing but an absolute necessity, arising from scarcity of forage, or where railroads offer a more rapid transportation, will induce him to dismount his cavalry regiments; and further, that when so dismounted it will be but temporarily, unless in the case of regiments which, having the opportunities, will not avail themselves of them, to perfect themselves in infantry drill, so essential to the success of our arms and the safety of the men themselves. He also again urges upon the officers and men the imperative necessity of taking care of their bayonets, however inconvenient it may be to do so, and upon the officers the duty of preparing bayonet-scabbards out of rawhides, as previously ordered.
The Commanding General avails himself of this opportunity to notice the fact that Terrell's regiment lost not a man by desertion when ordered to be dismounted, notwithstanding the example set them by some others. He holds the officers responsible for the conduct of his men, and hereby calls upon them to use their weapons, at all hazards, against those who attempt to desert under any circumstances, or who may be guilty of mutiny, or of aiding, abetting, joining in, or exciting the same; and in all cases where efficient steps are not taken by the commanding officers to prevent and punish such crime, they will be arrested and brought before a general courtmartial for trial, conviction, and punishment.
In cases where troops temporarily dismounted are moved from one locality to another, their horses will also be removed to places which are convenient to the men, and where forage at the same time can be procured. It is to be understood, that the short marches, occasionally required to be done by the troops of the regiments temporarily dismounted, when their horses cannot be procured in time, are not to be considered as violations of the assurances held out by this order, and are only here alluded to by the Commanding General to prevent a misinterpretation by his troops, with whom he shall always deal, as he has ever done, with frankness and truth.
VII. It being absolutely necessary to take possession of the cisterns upon Galveston Island for the use of the troops, Mr. Thomas M. League is authorized to take control and possession of all of the said cisterns. He will permit each family to use what may be necessary for their purposes [421] at all times, reserving a sufficient quantity for the troops.
The labor necessary to carry water to the commands will be furnished by the Post-Quarter-master.
