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[red ink] 1873 from both nations not only protection but a fostering care which would extend to the surrounding country on either side until the entire border interest of both nations would be on the side of peace and quiet. Open and unsettled borders have ever been the theatre of violence and robbery, those intimately connected with commerce and business are as a rule peaceful and friendly. (Sgd) C. C. Augur Brig. Genl. USA Commanding

4 Encl official D.T. Jany 4, 1873

[red ink] Official (Sgd) Colon Augur [red ink}A.D. C.

Paymr. Genl. USA

[red ink] 118

   Endorsements on communication from  [?]. E. Whitehead Post Surg. Ft. Brown, Texas and fourteen other officers.  Requesting authority be given the local Paymaster at New Orleans to pay them their pay a/cs at maturity L.R. 1401 D.T. 73

  Recd D.T. Apl 2? 73 from the P.G.O. with the following endorsement dated Mar 21 73 thro Chf P.M. D. T.

Respectfully referred to Chief Paymaster Dept. of Texas. The Dept. Commander consenting, and a more convenient mode of payment within the Dept. proving impracticable this office has no objection to compliance with the within request. This is forwarded to the Chief Paymaster Dept. of the Gulf, will serve as authority for him to pay vouchers of officers serving at Ft. Brown. Chief Paymaster Dept of Tex will please advise this office and petitioners of action taken herein. (Sgd) B. Alvord Paymaster Genl. USA Endorsement of Chief Paymaster Dept of Tx. dated April 1, 73 Respectfully referred to the A. A. A. Genl. Dept of Texas for the information of the Dept. Commander. As Maj J. W. Nicholls is now under orders to take station at Ft. Brown it is not deemed necessary to provide for the payment at at [sic] New Orleans of the petitioners. Col. Doubleday's complaint of the non payment of his command is hardly fair, the records of this office show that the troops have been regularly paid every two months (since I have been Chief Paymaster) with the exception of the 31 December payments, when owing to the "Epizootic" it was impossible to procure transportation to Ft. Brown and some other of the posts in the Dept. As soon as transportation could be obtained a paymaster was sent to pay at Ft. Brown as the Dept. Commndr. is aware. In the enclosed extract Col. Doubleday also states that "the officers have been obliged to sell their Pay [?]