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General:

                  I have the honor to invite attention to the case of Polonio Ortiz, the New Mexican, who was wounded and captured near Fort Concho, nearly a year since, while engaged in stealing stock in Texas, and driving it to New Mexico.   He was not a principal in this traffic, but simply an Employe, working for wages.  His statement regarding this traffic, and the information he gave concerning the routes over the Staked Plains, were very useful to Colonel MacKenzie on his Expedition, last year.  He is still retained a prisoner at Fort Concho.
    I respectfully recommend, that he be released.  I would release him myself, were it not for the order, directing this class of persons to be turned over to the State authorities.
                                                                                      Very respectfully
                                                                                        Your obdt. servant
                                                                          (Sgd)      C. C. Augur
                                                                                         Brigadier General
                                                                                         Commanding

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 188. SHERMAN, [left margin] February 19. 1873. General W. T. Sherman, Commanding U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. General:

              I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th. inst., in which you state that the President wishes me to give great attention to affairs on the Rio Grande frontier, and directing the the Fourth Cavalry be moved there.
              It would not be well to move the Fourth Cavalry just now, on account of the debilitated condition of the horses, resulting from the Epizootic.  Owing to the effects of the same disease, I have been prevented from making my visit to the Rio Grande Posts, which I contemplated doing early in January last.  My arrangements are made, to leave here on Friday next for Brownsville via Forts Clark, Duncan, McIntosh and Ringgold Barracks.  This visit will consume a month, by which time, the Fourth Cavalry will be in condition to more and I will be better able to judge of the proper sphere of their operations.
              My present idea is, that sufficient of the Ninth Cavalry should be kept at Fort Brown and Ringgold Barracks, to meet the requirements of those Posts and vicinity, and that the Fourth should take care of that portion North from Ringgold.