to make as many cavalry units out of these as in his opinion the public interest might require. The men were to be enrolled for three years, "unless sooner discharged," and to be paid at the rate of $16 per month. An enlistment bounty of $30 was to be paid to each man at the time of enlistment. All officers were to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Congress authorized the issuance of $300,000 in promissory notes for carrying into effect the terms of this law, and gave its approval to the uniform and articles of government for the army as prescribed by the President.[8] 

The regiment was to be divided into eight detachments to be stationed at the following points: 56 men at or near Red River; 168 men at or near the Three Forks of the Trinity; 112 men at or near the Brazos River; 112 men at or near the Colorado River; 56 men at or near the St. Marks (or San Marcos) River; 56 men at or near the headwaters of the Cibolo; 56 men at or near the Frio River; and 224 men at or near the Nueces River. These detachments were to constitute two battalions. Those west of the Colorado were to comprise the First Battalion and those east of the Colorado were to constitute the Second Battalion. The distance between stations was to be traversed twice a day by detachments from the stations.

The troops which had been enrolled under the law of May 15, 1838, for frontier protection were to be incorporated in this regiment and immediately equipped and sent to the post on the Nueces, which post was to receive its full compliment of men from those first enlisted in the service. The detachment on the Nueces was to traverse the country between the Nueces and the Río Grande, in such manner as to give the best protection possible to that section of the country. Three auxiliary posts were to be set up within the settled area -- one on the Navasota, another on the Neches, and the third near the junction of the San Gabriel and Brushy Creek. In carrying out the terms of the act, the War Department constructed additional defense works for the protection of the capital and national archives.