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the Government to defend these men.

         I have not a sufficient number of Officers to sent out with each small party, detached for Escorts &c., but when I do not, the party usually gets into trouble.
         While there are no orders on the subject, it is understood between Lt. General Sheridan and myself, that escorts are not to be furnished to parties engaged in private work of their own, for that of Companies.  The escorts in question were furnished by me on the supposition that the Engineers or Surveying parties were engaged in work facilitating the progress of the Texas and Pacific R. R.
         We are so much interested in the completion of this Railroad, that I am prepared to do anything in my power to further any movement that conduces in the least to that end.
         So soon as I can be satisfied that those Soldiers did not get into trouble through the agency or indifference of the parties, they were escorting, and that everything was done by such parties, to get them out of their difficulties, I shall be willing to send a sufficient escort for your parties engaged in determining the 100th Meridian.   I cannot engage to furnish escorts for parties engaged simply in surveying lands for your Company, as I have heretofore declined to furnish such escorts to parties surveying and locating lands for other Companies.
         I am anxious that every Officer and soldier in the Department - they have the same feeling themselves - should assist as far as possible in the advancement of any project that in any way promised to result in the public good.
         Again thanking you for the kind interest you have taken in the cases of these poor soldiers, I remain
                                                                     Very respectfully and very truly
                                                                       Your obdt. servant
                                                               (Sgd)          C. C. Augur
                                                                                  Brigadier General U. S. Army
                                                                                  Commanding

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 532. A.G.O. [eft margin] July 14. 1874. Adjutant General United States Army Washington, D. C. Thro! Hdqrs. Mil. Division of the Missouri Sir: