PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 153 



driven into the cavity of the chest, causing a severe inflammation of 

 the lungs, and under which the animal sunk. The lungs, he says, 

 showed an intense degree of inflammation, being highly engorged 

 with bloody and frothy serum. All the other internal organs were 

 in a perfectly healthy and sound state. 



Inquiry so far has failed to elicit anything to indicate the perpe- 

 trator of this brutal deed. The Arabs deny all knowledge of it, and 

 persistently declare their own and each other's innocence of it. As 

 the animal was gentle, I can hardly think the act one of self-defence. 

 Besides, in such a case, the defender would be apt to report the fact 

 himself and the necessity that induced it. 



My visit to Fort Martin Scott has been unavoidably delayed until 

 this week, but to-morrow I hope to get off for it. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



HENRY C. WAYNE, 



Major U. 8. Army. 



Hon. Jefferson Davis, 



Secretary of War, Washington City, D. C. 



San Antonio, July 28, 1856. 



Sir : I returned yesterday from an examination of Fort Martin 

 Scott. This post is situated in a tract of barren sand and post oak. 

 In the immediate vicinity of the fort there is no grazing worth any- 

 thing, and within a range of two or three miles of it, it is at the betit 

 indifferent. The buildings, from positive injury and the want of care, 

 are in bad condition, requiring a good deal of repair to be habitable ; 

 and there are no stables nor stabling suitable, though a large store- 

 house might be converted to that use. Altogether, the place is not 

 such as I would select, but may be made to answer in the event of 

 my failing to secure a better arrangement. The owner, Mr. Twohig, 

 offers its use to government unreservedly, with the general right of 

 grazing outside, on a lease of five or ten years, at $50 per month. 



A post having been established at Grreen Valley, (Val Verde,) 

 within sixty miles of this place, and in a country, according to rep- 

 resentations made to me, suitable to our purposes, I shall take an 

 opportunity in this or the next week to visit and examine it. If the 

 troops are to be kept there for two or three years, and as everything 

 for the accommodation of officers, men, and horses, has to be con- 

 structed, it may, perhaps, require but a slightly additional expense 

 to make all necessary arrangements for the camels and the men at- 

 tending them. As far as the intentions of the present department 

 commander are concerned, I atn at liberty to say that he considers 

 Green Valley an important point, and that troops should be kept at 

 it until the settlement there is strong enough to protect it.self. 



Any other arrangements that may occur to me, or that may be 

 offered to me, shall be promptly reported to you for your consideration 

 and instructions. 



I have the honor, also, to acknowledge the receipt this morning of 



