In communicating these views on the 29th instant, the Secretary of War
states that the recommendation at the close of Gen. Schofield’s letter
herewith, will be carried out.
[Inclosure.]
Gen. Schofield
to Mr. Lamont.
Headquarters of the Army,
Washingto D. C., February 20, 1893.
After full consideration of the communication herewith returned to
you from the Mexican chargé d’affaires to the Secretary of State,
dated February 6, 1893, I have the honor to remark as follows:
[Page 447]
I cordially concur in the suggestion of the Mexican Government to the
effect that timely information be communicated by the officers in
command of the forces on either side of the Rio Grande to those
commanding the corresponding forces on the opposite side, of any
movement of a lawless character, either from the United States into
Mexico, or the reverse, so that the earliest possible action may be
taken for the attack, pursuit, and capture of all engaged in such
lawless enterprises. Also, that on the United States side of the Rio
Grande, as well as on the Mexican, detachments be stationed at all
the fords of the river, so as to prevent the crossing of marauders
in either direction without being exposed to immediate pursuit and
attack by the forces of the two Governments on the one side or the
other of the river.
The difficulty encountered by the United States forces is the same in
kind, but much greater in degree, than that experienced by the
Mexican troops, for the reason ‘that the marauders do not appear in
organized bands on the American side of the river, especially after
having committed their depredations in Mexico. They do not offer an
object of attack for even a single troop of cavalry on the American
side, while on the Mexican side they must appear, for a short time
at least, in organized forces in order to commit the depredations
which they design. The Mexican troops therefore are given some,
although unsatisfactory, opportunity to attack and pursue them.
The function of the United States can only be to assist the civil
officers in the pursuit and arrest of the marauders after they have
returned from Mexico, and sometimes to prevent, as far as possible,
their crossing into Mexico, this latter, however, being exceedingly
difficult, because they may cross even individually or in very small
numbers so as not to attract attention.
It is not possible to say for any definite period of the future how
large a force it may be found expedient or necessary to station in
Texas for the important service required there. But in view of the
nature of that service the force need not be so large as that on the
other side of the river, for the reason that under no circumstances
can anything more than the very small detachments be required,
either to prevent the crossing into Mexico or for the pursuit of the
criminals after they return.
It is respectfully recommended that the Adjutant-General send a copy
of the communication herein referred to from the Mexican Government
to the commanding general Department of Texas with instructions to
act in accordance with the spirit of the suggestions therein
contained.
Very respectfully, etc.,
J. M. Schofield,
Major-General
Commanding.
