The following letter 1852 was written from San Antonio, Texas, during a period of heightened conflict north of the Red River. It was penned by Captain William Barrett Blair (1818-1883) to Commissary General George Gibson, reporting “aggravated Indian hostilities” which, if confirmed, will require “extensive movements of the troops in this Military Department.” Acting under the direction of Brevet Major General Persifor Frazer Smith, Blair anticipates the need for “say three hundred thousand rations” beyond the current stock on hand. Blair notes a preference for supplies obtained from northern depots “in consideration of the superior quality of those received from there, over those received from New Orleans,” but authorizes immediate procurement through Maj. Henry Waggaman in New Orleans if the situation proves too urgent to allow delay. Blair closes by advising the Subsistence Department that formal requisitions will follow as the situation develops.

The 1850s Red River–Cross Timbers corridor remained one of the most volatile regions in the Southwest, with Comanche, Kiowa, and allied groups resisting U. S. encroachment and the Army maintaining a chain of scattered posts from San Antonio northward.

William Barrett Blair graduated from the US Military Academy in 1838 and after an early assignment to the Northern Frontier, returned to the Academy as a professor of Mathematics until the War with Mexico. In that conflict, he served in the Ordnance and Commissary Departments. He afterward took an assignment in Texas on the staff of the Commissary Subsistence Department unto the Civil War broke out at which time he resigned his commission and joined his native State of Virginia in rebellion against the United States. At the time of his death in 1883, he was on the faculty at VMI in Lexington, Va. 

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Office of Commissary Subsistence, 8th Deptartment
San Antonio, [Texas]
July 27th 1852

General,

Reports of aggravated Indian hostilities north of the Red River have been received here, which, if confirmed, will lead to extensive movements of the troops in this Military Department.

In that event, under instructions from Bvt. Maj. Genl. [Persifor F.] Smith, Commanding, large supplies of subsistence will be called for to secure the movements. In addition to the supply now on hand for the current year, there will be required say three hundred thousand rations. I am directed by General Smith to say that if time will allow, he desires these stores to come from the north, in consideration of the superior quality of those received from there, over those received from New Orleans; but if the emergency shall appear to be so pressing as not to admit of delay, then Maj. [Henry] Waggaman, C. S. in New Orleans will be called upon direct to supply as much as will be immediately required.

Specific requisitions will be made when the occasion shall call for them, the design of this communication being to advise you, in anticipation, of the probability of such calls being made upon the Subsistence Department.

I am very respectfully, your most obedient servant, W. B. Blair, Capt. C. S.

[to] Bvt. Maj. Genl. Geo. Gibson, Com. Genl. Subsistence, Washington D. C.