I found this in the OR, and concluded the only place to put it was in the "What if ..." section.
The author of the plan, Baylor, had been removed from command in Confederate Arizona for issuing orders to invite the Apaches in for pace conferences and poison their food, murdering the men and selling any surviving women and children into slavery. I'm not quite sure why he thought he'd be the man to form treaties with the Indians after that.
Note the dates here. Christmas-time in 1864 and the high people in the Confederacy are thinking in some pretty bizarre and unrealistic terms.
=====
RICHMOND, December 21, 1864.
Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War:
SIR: I have the honor to submit for your information the following statement:
In the present emergency, when the resources of the country are so far exhausted, it becomes a question of paramount importance as to where recruits can be had for our armies, and every effort should be made to fill up our decimated ranks. With this view I would suggest the following plan as affording one field of recruiting not yet resorted to. The only section where men of Southern birth can be raised in large numbers, who sympathize with us and who would join us in this struggle, is Southern California and New Mexico. A considerable number might be raised on the Rio Grande. The only plan for getting those men from Southern California is to send an expedition for the recapture of Arizona. This would open the route into Southern California and enable those who are disposed to join us to do so, and I am confident that one or two brigades of New Mexicans could be raised. As to the number of men that could probably be raised in Southern California (including the mines), I am governed by the opinion of prominent men from that country, who are well acquainted with the sentiment of the people, such as Judge Terry, Colonel Showalter, and many others, who assert that from 15,000 to 20,000 men could be raised. But I would not put the numbers at more than 10,000 nor less than 5,000, but, including the New Mexican population, I would not think there would be any doubt about raising with certainty 10,000 or 15,000 men. In order to accomplish this it would be necessary to send an expedition of 2,500 men and retake Arizona and, if possible, New Mexico. The troops used for this purpose could be returned to Texas so soon as the forces raised could be organized for holding the Territories. This plan for recruiting when I was in command of Arizona was perfectly feasible, and I know of no reason why it might not be accomplished now.
Another field for recruiting would be Mexico. I know of many Californians, New Mexicans, and Arizonians who would not hesitate to join a force to recapture those Territories who would not join the Confederate Army for the war to serve in Louisiana or Arkansas, but who would join for this particular service.
Should the Government conclude to make the effort for the double purpose of retaking the Territories and raising a force, the present seems a favorable time for such a move. The Trans-Mississippi Department is comparatively free from the enemy at the present, and the large proportion of cavalry in that department-the number being greatly augmented by the forces brought out of Missouri by General Price--would indicate that the troops could be spared without inconvenience. Should the Government conclude to make such a move as I have indicated, I would suggest that a formidable alliance might be made with the numerous Indian tribes on the route between Missouri and New Mexico. Those Indians now hostile to Texas and continually committing depredations upon the citizens might, in my opinion, be induced to join us in breaking up the overland travel in that route, thus giving us strong assistance and forcing the enemy to use a large force in keeping open this route by which to supply the Territories, and at the same time relieve the frontier of Texas from the desolating war now waged upon them by these hostile tribes, who are incited and armed by the enemy to rob and murder our citizens.
As to the resources of New Mexico and Arizona and their ability to sustain the forces sent or raised there I have no question. An abundance of wheat, corn, and stock is raised in the country to subsist any force the Government would send there, except, perhaps, the beef, which can be driven from Texas with great ease.
I would suggest that the superiority of the grass in that country does away with the necessity for the amount of corn that would be required for the same force anywhere else.
The plan I have submitted is, in my opinion, the surest means of obtaining any considerable force and one that would increase our army in the Trans-Mississippi Department and enable us to assume the offensive instead of the defensive. I cannot do more, in the brief space of a letter, than call your attention to this important matter and leave for the Government to take such action as it deems best.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
JNO. R. BAYLOR.
[First indorsement.]
DECEMBER 30, 1864.
Respectfully submitted for the consideration of the President. This matter was earnestly commended and pressed on my attention by Colonel Harrison during his recent visit to this city, and, through deference to a request from him as well as due respect to the writer, is submitted to you. I fear no resources for such an enterprise can be now spared and that existing exigencies demand that, if practicable, instead of sending off any forces on a distant expedition on the mere contingency of obtaining recruits, all the trans-Mississippi forces at command should be either brought over to this side or used to create diversion in our favor.
J. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
[Second indorsement.]
JANUARY 5, 1865.
SECRETARY OF WAR:
It is certainly desirable to secure friendly relations with all the tribes on the borders of the Texas, and to make them auxiliary to operations against the enemy on the plains might best relieve the people of Texas from their depredations. The treaties made with many of the prairie tribes, if faithfully observed, would in part secure the object suggested within and would facilitate further arrangements. The best means would probably be the employment of a battalion of the Creeks or the Cherokees, accompanied by a competent agent to secure co-operation of the nomadic tribes. The commanding general of the Trans-Mississippi Department could best judge of the propriety of detaching any portion of his command for the proposed expedition into New Mexico and Arizona. We can here decide that if a large force would be requisite that it would be impracticable to spare it. If it be possible to raise in Mexico and in New Mexico and Arizona a number of Southern refugees from California and elsewhere equal to the smallest number named, and who would organize themselves for service with our armies in the field, it would certainly invoke every feasible effort to accomplish such an end. Colonel Harrison thought that could be done and suggested the peculiar capacity of the Hon. Mr. Baylor for the service indicated--that of raising the force and putting it in service.
JEFF'N DAVIS.
[Third indorsement.]
JANUARY 6, 1865.
Noted. For inquiry and conference with the honorable Mr. Baylor.
J. A. S.
=====
Tim
The author of the plan, Baylor, had been removed from command in Confederate Arizona for issuing orders to invite the Apaches in for pace conferences and poison their food, murdering the men and selling any surviving women and children into slavery. I'm not quite sure why he thought he'd be the man to form treaties with the Indians after that.
Note the dates here. Christmas-time in 1864 and the high people in the Confederacy are thinking in some pretty bizarre and unrealistic terms.
=====
RICHMOND, December 21, 1864.
Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War:
SIR: I have the honor to submit for your information the following statement:
In the present emergency, when the resources of the country are so far exhausted, it becomes a question of paramount importance as to where recruits can be had for our armies, and every effort should be made to fill up our decimated ranks. With this view I would suggest the following plan as affording one field of recruiting not yet resorted to. The only section where men of Southern birth can be raised in large numbers, who sympathize with us and who would join us in this struggle, is Southern California and New Mexico. A considerable number might be raised on the Rio Grande. The only plan for getting those men from Southern California is to send an expedition for the recapture of Arizona. This would open the route into Southern California and enable those who are disposed to join us to do so, and I am confident that one or two brigades of New Mexicans could be raised. As to the number of men that could probably be raised in Southern California (including the mines), I am governed by the opinion of prominent men from that country, who are well acquainted with the sentiment of the people, such as Judge Terry, Colonel Showalter, and many others, who assert that from 15,000 to 20,000 men could be raised. But I would not put the numbers at more than 10,000 nor less than 5,000, but, including the New Mexican population, I would not think there would be any doubt about raising with certainty 10,000 or 15,000 men. In order to accomplish this it would be necessary to send an expedition of 2,500 men and retake Arizona and, if possible, New Mexico. The troops used for this purpose could be returned to Texas so soon as the forces raised could be organized for holding the Territories. This plan for recruiting when I was in command of Arizona was perfectly feasible, and I know of no reason why it might not be accomplished now.
Another field for recruiting would be Mexico. I know of many Californians, New Mexicans, and Arizonians who would not hesitate to join a force to recapture those Territories who would not join the Confederate Army for the war to serve in Louisiana or Arkansas, but who would join for this particular service.
Should the Government conclude to make the effort for the double purpose of retaking the Territories and raising a force, the present seems a favorable time for such a move. The Trans-Mississippi Department is comparatively free from the enemy at the present, and the large proportion of cavalry in that department-the number being greatly augmented by the forces brought out of Missouri by General Price--would indicate that the troops could be spared without inconvenience. Should the Government conclude to make such a move as I have indicated, I would suggest that a formidable alliance might be made with the numerous Indian tribes on the route between Missouri and New Mexico. Those Indians now hostile to Texas and continually committing depredations upon the citizens might, in my opinion, be induced to join us in breaking up the overland travel in that route, thus giving us strong assistance and forcing the enemy to use a large force in keeping open this route by which to supply the Territories, and at the same time relieve the frontier of Texas from the desolating war now waged upon them by these hostile tribes, who are incited and armed by the enemy to rob and murder our citizens.
As to the resources of New Mexico and Arizona and their ability to sustain the forces sent or raised there I have no question. An abundance of wheat, corn, and stock is raised in the country to subsist any force the Government would send there, except, perhaps, the beef, which can be driven from Texas with great ease.
I would suggest that the superiority of the grass in that country does away with the necessity for the amount of corn that would be required for the same force anywhere else.
The plan I have submitted is, in my opinion, the surest means of obtaining any considerable force and one that would increase our army in the Trans-Mississippi Department and enable us to assume the offensive instead of the defensive. I cannot do more, in the brief space of a letter, than call your attention to this important matter and leave for the Government to take such action as it deems best.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
JNO. R. BAYLOR.
[First indorsement.]
DECEMBER 30, 1864.
Respectfully submitted for the consideration of the President. This matter was earnestly commended and pressed on my attention by Colonel Harrison during his recent visit to this city, and, through deference to a request from him as well as due respect to the writer, is submitted to you. I fear no resources for such an enterprise can be now spared and that existing exigencies demand that, if practicable, instead of sending off any forces on a distant expedition on the mere contingency of obtaining recruits, all the trans-Mississippi forces at command should be either brought over to this side or used to create diversion in our favor.
J. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
[Second indorsement.]
JANUARY 5, 1865.
SECRETARY OF WAR:
It is certainly desirable to secure friendly relations with all the tribes on the borders of the Texas, and to make them auxiliary to operations against the enemy on the plains might best relieve the people of Texas from their depredations. The treaties made with many of the prairie tribes, if faithfully observed, would in part secure the object suggested within and would facilitate further arrangements. The best means would probably be the employment of a battalion of the Creeks or the Cherokees, accompanied by a competent agent to secure co-operation of the nomadic tribes. The commanding general of the Trans-Mississippi Department could best judge of the propriety of detaching any portion of his command for the proposed expedition into New Mexico and Arizona. We can here decide that if a large force would be requisite that it would be impracticable to spare it. If it be possible to raise in Mexico and in New Mexico and Arizona a number of Southern refugees from California and elsewhere equal to the smallest number named, and who would organize themselves for service with our armies in the field, it would certainly invoke every feasible effort to accomplish such an end. Colonel Harrison thought that could be done and suggested the peculiar capacity of the Hon. Mr. Baylor for the service indicated--that of raising the force and putting it in service.
JEFF'N DAVIS.
[Third indorsement.]
JANUARY 6, 1865.
Noted. For inquiry and conference with the honorable Mr. Baylor.
J. A. S.
=====
Tim
Bringing the