August 20, 1845
The Governor’s Orders. — The war rumor
increases, and the excitement grows still more intense. The official
orders of the Governor to the Adjutant and Inspector General of the State,
calling on him to furnish, forthwith, for service in Texas, from the First
Division of the State Militia, two companies of artillery, with field
pieces complete; and from the Militia of the State, two regiments of
riflemen and two regiments of infantry, equipped for service in the best
possible manner, appeared in the Courier of last evening.
Before the time at which these orders
appeared in print, they have been previously communicated to Gen Lewis and
by him to Major Gally and Captain Forno; these two latter officers had
mustered a volunteer force all sufficient to fill up the two artillery
companies. Captain Forno’s command is mustered, as we write, at the
Armory of the Washington Regiment.
Major Gally’s men, we understand, are busy
down town, and to prove that he is “always ready,” the new and formidable
field pieces of the State, under his control, are ranged along St. Peter
street, opposite the Arsenal. A glorious career to the brave Orleanois!
Companies F and G of the 7th
regiment of Infantry, arrived last evening from Baton Rouge, on the
steamer Arkansas No. 5. They are under the command of Maj. Seawell,
Lieut. N. Hopson, Lieut. F. N. Page and Lieut. Gantt. They are en
route for Texas.
Departure of the Troops. — Besides the
Artillery companies under Maj. Gally and Capt. Forno, six companies (B, C,
F, G. H and I) of the 7th Infantry, about 200 muskets, will
embark for Texas in the steamship Alabama to-morrow evening. The officers
attached to these companies are Captains Hawkins, Lee, Seswell, Moore, and
Holmes; Lieutenants Britton, Hopson, Humber, Page, Gantt, and Dana. An
officer will remain at Forts Wood, Pike, and the Barracks below the city,
to take charge of the public property. The adjutant of the 7th
Infantry, Lieut. Gatlin, proceeds with the Regimental Head-Quarters in the
Alabama, expecting to join the commander of it in Texas; that officer
being with the command of four companies in Pensacola harbor. Surgeon
Craig accompanies the six companies.
The Baltimore Patriot mentions that Lieut.
Ringgold left Washington on the night of the 8th inst., with
important despatches for our army in Texas. It was stated that such was
the emergency of the case, the Bank of the Metropolis was opened at 10
o’clock P.M., for Government funds, to enable the despatch-bearer to
proceed forthwith.
Source: The Daily Picayune, August
20, 1845, p. 2, col. 2.
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