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16 / Taylor’s Corps of Observation officers are all collected in little parties discussing the affairs of the nation,” he informed her. “Annexation of Texas, war with Mexico, occupation of Orregon [sic] and difficulties with England are the general topics. Some of them expect and seem to contemplate with a great deal of pleasure some difficulty where they may be able to gain laurels and advance a little in rank.”47 With James Knox Polk having donned the mantle of the presidency on March 4, it was only to be expected that the government would already be adopting measures designed to accomplish the basic goals that had defined the “Young Hickory” campaign, not the least of which was the annexation of Texas. While Grant was on leave in Missouri the corps of observation had additional units attached to it—the two companies of the Third Infantry that had been stationed at Fort Leavenworth.They reported to Camp Wilkins for duty on April 24. With these reinforcements were Lieutenants Bushrod Johnson and William T. H. Brooks.The Fourth Infantry’s two companies at Fort Scott were left in place until August.48 By late April Colonel Twiggs had received 260 complete sets of horse equipment in addition to the 143 horses purchased in Missouri, but he let the adjutant general know that no horses had been delivered to his three companies at Fort Washita, nor any items of equipment. In May he wrote that it was impossible to enlist farriers in New Orleans and requested seven to be sent from the general recruiting service. On June 12 he complained to the adjutant general that although 260 sets of equipage had been delivered, 425 sets were required. Within another two days he listed in detail what his troops at Jesup needed: “2 saddles, 2 Bridles, 2 Valises, 2 carbine sockets & straps, 2 holsters, 172 nose bags, 172 pairs of spurs & straps, 172 curry combs, 172 Horse brushes, 172 Mane combs and 157 horses.”49 General Taylor,who took leave again in May,knew by June that in all probability it would not be long before at least some of his troops at Jesup and Salubrity would be ordered to Texas. President Anson Jones of Texas had called a special session of the republic’s congress, and had arranged for a national convention to meet on July 4 at Austin to consider the annexation issue. In anticipation of a favorable outcome with both of these bodies, President Polk’s secretary of war,William Marcy, had written General Taylor on May 28:“So soon as theTexas Congress shall have given its consent to annexation,and a convention shall assemble and accept the terms offered in the resolution of Congress, Texas will then be regarded by the executive government here so far a part of the United States as to be entitled, from this government, to defense and protection from a foreign invasion and Indian incursions. The troops under your command will be placed and kept in readiness to perform that duty.” Taylor had already asked to be provided with enough medical supplies and surgical instruments to stock five or six posts in Texas, and now, after dispatching a copy of his latest instructions to Anson Jones, he took a hand in preparing Taylor’s Corps of Observation / 17 the dragoons for a possible overland march. On June 18 he wrote the adjutant general that “150 horses are yet wanted to complete the mounting of the 2nd Dragoons”; that more than 80 mules would be needed and none had been received ; and that he had ordered the immediate return from Jefferson Barracks of the detachment of Second Dragoons which had been sent from Jesup in December to facilitate the purchase and delivery of horses.50 The officers at Jesup and Salubrity could of course read the signs that something was about to happen, although they evidently did not suspect that all of the troops assembled between the Red and Sabine rivers would be posted to Texas. Grant wrote Julia toward the middle of June: “The Texan Congress has already met and it is thought will soon accede to our terms of Annexation and then in we go without delay, that is, some of the troops from these parts will. The 4th [Infantry] is hardly considered as one bound for Texas unless in case of difficulty with Mexico.”51 Finally, late on the evening of June 29, General Taylor received...

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