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74 503. MACKENZIE, [left margin] June 2. 1873. Dear General MacKenzie,

                                        Your letter of May 29th. with its enclosures has been received.  It appears to me that the Indians talk too much and are too open and noisy in their movements to mean much. It is possible however, they have lived too long in Mexico, as to have acquired somewhat of the boisterous and demonstrative qualities of their Latin neighbors.  It will not do however to take anything for granted, and you should - as your probably are- be well prepared for their doing somewhat desperate.

The other five Companies of your Regiment should be with you before this letter reaches you; they left McKavett on the 29th except, perhaps, Heyl. I do not hear of him, I only know his party is in and he should be on his way to you. I have ordered two Companies of the 10th Infantry from McKavett to report to you, for temporary duty.

         The transportation with O'Connell will be returned to you and we will supply him from here.
         If you are in need of horses, perhaps it would be well for the Board - if near Denison - or other point on the Railroad, whenever they have one or two Carloads of horses, to ship them at once to Austin.
         Strang is Quartermaster at Denison and will be instructed to ship the, if you desire it.                  Nothing new.
         The papers are very quiet over the invasion, waiting probably to hear from the Mexican Government.  I shall write to the Government, that the men sustaining you in this one act, will not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the situation here.  It must either require Mexico to force the Indians to leave the country or else permit our troops to follow them to their homes, whenever they raid into Texas.
         The Government must remember too, that it is only above Laredo, the Indians participate in the cattle stealing.  Below that point it is all done by Mexicans, and it is just as important to the interests of that frontier, that they be restrained, as that the Indians should be.
         Whether the Mexican Government will look as complacently upon our following Mexican thieves into their country, as they have upon the punishment of the Indians, it is a doubtful question, yet it is one that must arise and must be answered very soon.
         Would it not be well to make a strong Camp at San Felipe for the two Companies of Infantry sent you, and keep a depot of supplies there for the use of parties out?  I think you should have a camp of that kind somewhere where [strike] towards the frontier, to avoid the frequent returns of Companies to Ft. Clark.
         You can best judge however, if it is necessary or advisable.  I merely make the suggestion.  Keep yourself and myself thoroughly informed upon what is transpiring in Mexico.  Very respfy, Your obdt. servant (Sgd) C. C. Augur, Brig. Gen'l. Comdg.

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