When completed and garrisoned by a strong force they will exercise : powerful effect on the wild bands of Sioux, who for the past two year have occasioned so much mourning and alarm among the white borde settlers by their ruthless deeds of massacre and desolation. In addition to the other duties imposed upon the troops in this dis trict, they have had to act as escorts to trains of supplies to distan posts, and on one occasion last fall three companies of the Sixt) Minnesota Volunteers were dispatched, as guard to a large provis ion train belonging to the U. S. Indian Department, to the Indian reservation on the Missouri. These companies with their charge lef on 15th of November, accomplished the march safely, and returned t this district about the 1st of January last, having marched nearly 80 miles, without any loss of men or animals. The extent of the line to b protected from the hostile Indians may be estimated at upward of 400 miles, and a force is also required at Fort Ripley to operate as a check on the Chippewas, who are uneasy and discontented. Until these In dian difficulties are at an end there should be, in my judgment, not les than one entire regiment of men and one battery, in addition to th force required to hold the posts and stations, in order properly to defend the frontier and repel attack. There are now in this district the regi ment of Second Minnesota Cavalry, six companies of Independen Battalion, one company Veteran Reserve Corps, Third Minnesota Bat tery, five companies of U. S. Volunteers and Connecticut cavalry, wit detachments of other rebel deserters and refugees which have been dis patched to this district for service. Many of the latter are desperat characters, requiring an equal number of men to keep them in subjection and prevent their desertion. A few men have been on duty in the pro vost-marshal's department, and one company of the Independent Bat talion is now serving as provost guard under the direction of acting assistant provost-marshal-general of the State. In concluding this report I beg leave to call through you the earnes attention of the honorable Secretary of War to a subject which I hav repeatedly presented in my official dispatches to department headquar ters. I refer to the fact that the British Government still permits He Majesty's territories to be made the refuge of the murdering bands wh disturb the peace of our frontier, from the pursuit of the troops unde my command, and these savages are in constant and open communica tion with British traders, who furnish them with ammunition and othe articles with which to carry on the war with our Government withou let or hindrance by the local authorities. Indeed, the half-breed sul jects of Her Britannic Majesty traverse our domain in every directio for purposes of trading and hunting, and are thus directly interested i the continuance of hostilities between us and the upper bands of Siou Indians, and it is known that they foment discontent with the Chip pewas with whom they come in contact by representations that they ar defrauded by the United States Government by payment in pape instead of coin, of the money due them under treaty stipulations. I fact, until some arrangement shall be made between the two Govern ments whereby these constant violations of international comity on th part of Her Majesty's subjects can be arrested, and a sufficient force c troops to guarantee the neutrality of British soil stationed in the vicin ity of the boundary line, it is almost hopeless to look for a speed solution of these Indian difficulties. On the contrary, if it can possibl be effected by the influence of the Red River half-breeds, we may antic ipate that the Chippewas will soon be added to the number of ou active enemies. I trust you will agree with me in my views of the im portance to be attached to early action on the part of the United States Government, and press the subject upon the attention of the honorable Secretary of War. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE, Comdg. Department of the Northwest, Milwaukee, Wis. JULY 3, 1864.—Skirmish in Platte County, Mo. Report of Brig. Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, U. S. Army, commanding District of North Missouri. SAINT JOSEPH, Mo., July 4, 1864. Lieut. Col. Daniel M. Draper, with a detachment of the Ninth Cavalry Missouri State Militia, attacked a band of guerrillas in Platte County yesterday, killing 6 and wounding 3 of the villains. We captured 15 horses and many revolvers. Two of our men were wounded. Among the dead bushwhackers was the leader of the band who committed the murder in Buchanan County in May last. Col, O. D. GREENE, CLINTON B. FISK, Assistant Adjutant-General, Saint Louis. JULY 3-25, 1864.-Operations in the vicinity of Baton Rouge, La., with skirmish near Benton's Ferry, on the Amite River (25th). REPORTS, ETC. No. 1.—Itinerary of the Second Brigade, Cavalry Division, Nineteenth Army Corps Lieut. Col. Thomas Logan, One hundred and eighteenth Illinois Mounted Infantry, commanding. No. 2.-Maj. Franklin Moore, Second Illinois Cavalry. No. 1. Itinerary of the Second Brigade, Cavalry Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, commanded by Lieut. Col. Thomas Logan, One hundred and eighteenth Illinois Mounted Infantry.* July 3.-The One hundred and eighteenth Illinois Volunteers, in obedience to orders received, left Port Hudson and arrived at Baton Rouge the same day; distance, twenty-five miles. Captured 2 prisoners on the march. The usual pieket duty has been done during the month. July 17.-With 400 men made an expedition across the Amite River. Killed 2 and captured 8 prisoners. Returned the following day; distance, twenty-one miles. July 21.-With 400 men went across the Amite, crossing at Benton's Ferry. Captured 1 prisoner. Returned to camp the following day; distance, 15 miles. July 24.-Sent Maj. Franklin Moore, Second Illinois Cavalry, with 136 men across the Amite River, crossing at Benton's Ferry. He reports From monthly return. that he attacked Captain Doyal (rebel) in his camp seven miles fro the river, whipped him, burned his camp, including 150 stand of arm and 7,000 rounds of ammunition; captured 2 prisoners and killed 15 20. Returned to camp the following day; distance, twenty-eight mile No. 2. Report of Maj. Franklin Moore, Second Illinois Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS SECOND ILLINOIS CAVALRY, Baton Rouge, La., July 25, 1864. SIR: In obedience to orders received from division headquarter dated July 24, 1864, with detachment from the Second Illinois Volu teer Cavalry and One hundred and eighteenth Illinois Mounted Infa try, numbering in all 135 men, I marched at 7 p. m. out to the Amit River, distance seventeen miles. Found the river swimming, an camped for the night. Crossed at daylight. Came upon their picket about a mile and a half from the river; drove them seven miles to pla of encampment, when I completely routed them, numbering 300 me capturing 150 stand of arms, which were broken and destroyed f want of transportation, 4 horses, 4 prisoners, and destroyed some 15,00 rounds of ammunition. I then fell back to the Amite River, heav skirmishing all the way, where I formed line of battle and delivered deadly fire into them, killing some 20. Casualties in my command, horses killed. Respectfully submitted. FRANK. MOORE, Major, Commanding Second Illinois Volunteer Cavalry. Captain STEIN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. JULY 5-6, 1864.-Scouts from Big Piney, Mo. Report of Capt. Henry B. Brown, Fifth Missouri State Militia Cavalry CAMP BIG PINEY, MO., July 8, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of a scoutin party sent in the direction of Houston from this place, Corporal Calver in command, with orders to capture, if possible, a noted bushwhacke by the name of Pruitt, whom we have tried to capture several time while at this place. Pruitt was also reported by Mr. Wayman as bein the individual who robbed him (Wayman) a short time ago. The scou succeeded in capturing him, and while returning with him by wa of Mr. Wayman's, and when within three miles of there, learning tha he was to be taken before Mr. Wayman, he tried to make his escap by running, whereupon the guard shot him after chasing him severa hundred yards, killing him instantly. This scout was made on the 5tl of July. Also on the 6th of July I sent out another scout under com mand of Lieutenant Muntzel, in the direction of Johnson's Mill, on the Big Piney. The lieutenant succeeded in capturing one U. S. horse and one U. S. mule; also got reports of rebels being quite numerous betwee the head of Spring Creek Hollow and Houston. Twelve rebels crossed the Rolla and Springfield road half a mile east of my camp July 6 I sent out a scout after them, who chased them six miles in the direc tion of Richwoods, and they here lost their trail, it becoming dark, and returned to camp. I hear also reports of there being twenty or thirty rebels in Matthews' Prairie, twelve miles northeast of this camp. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. B. BROWN, Col. A. SIGEL, Commanding Fifth Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Captain. JULY 5–7, 1864.-Expedition from Morganza to Simsport, La. CAPTAIN: I have to report that in obedience to instructions from headquarters of the forces at this place, I started on the morning of the 5th instant for Simsport, on the Atchafalaya, taking with me 400 men. The object of the expedition was to ascertain the truth of a report coming from the gun-boats at the mouth of Red River, that the rebels were crossing artillery at Simsport. I soon ascertained that there was no truth in this statement. I found that the rebels had sent away their troops from the neighborhood of the Atchafalaya. Some of them have crossed Red River and others gone toward Alexandria and Shreveport. We only encountered a small picket of seven men and a lieutenant, of whom 3 were captured. These belonged to Gould's (Texas) regiment (Twenty-third Texas). At Simsport two men belonging to same regiment and detailed as ferrymen were captured, with the flat-boat and yawl used at the ferry, and the boats destroyed. There was a small picket seen on the other bank of the Atchafalaya, which was driven away by a few shots from our men. I think there is no donbt that the most of the enemy's force has gone up and across Red River. On last Saturday (2d instant) the rebel General Wharton with one brigade was at Trinity, on the west bank of Black River about thirty or forty miles west of Natchez. I could hear of no other troops or any artillery in his neighborhood, though I presume there must be some, as Wharton ranks as a major-general. We captured 7 prisoners in all, of whom one made his escape. Respectfully, EDMD. J. DAVIS, Colonel, Commanding Cavalry, Nineteenth Army Corps. Capt. F. SPEED, Assistant Adjutant-General. JULY 5-10, 1864.-Expedition from New Madrid to Caruthersville, Mo., with skirmishes. Reports of Lieut. Col. John T. Burris, Tenth Kansas Infantry. WEAVERSVILLE, July 9, 1864. (Via New Madrid.) GENERAL: Have been scouting four days through the swamps of this region with detachments of the First Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, under Captains Preuitt, Edwards, and Vincent. Have killed 13 bush whackers and captured some arms, a few horses and mules. No cas ualties on our part except 1 man wounded. Expect to be at New Madrid in a few days, when I will furnish a detailed report. JOHN T. BURRIS, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Brigadier-General EWING. HEADQUARTERS SECOND SUB-DISTRICT, SIR: I have the honor to report that on the 5th instant I moved from New Madrid with detachments of the First Cavalry Missouri Volun teers, and Second Cavalry Missouri State Militia, commanded, respect ively, by Captains Preuitt, Edwards, and Vincent, numbering in all about 200 men. At Weaversville, twenty miles west of New Madrid, we killed James Fields, a noted guerrilla of that vicinity, and near tha place wounded a guerrilla captain, who, however, escaped in a swamp. but has, as I am informed, since died. From Weaversville we moved west across Little River, and over what is known as the plank road, a distance of twelve miles, to Clarkton, in Dunklin County. On the morn ing of the 6th we moved from Clarkton in a southwesterly direction across the swamps and bayous extending out from the Saint Francis River. We surprised and routed several small parties of guerrillas during the day, and killed in all 8 of their number. Crossing the Saint Francis we halted for the night on Blue Cane Island. On the morning of the 7th we marched on Scatterville, Greene County, Ark., where we came upon Bolin's band and a party of Kitchen's men; we killed 4, the rest scattered. No loss on our part except 1 man wounded. We then moved in a northeasterly direction eighteen miles to Brown's Ferry. where we halted for the night. On the following morning we swam our horses across the Saint Francis River and marched by way of Clarkton and over the plank road to Weaversville. On the 9th I sent about one-half of the command back to New Madrid under Lieutenant Burnett, and proceeded with the remainder to Gayoso and Caruthersville. in Pemiscot County, to co-operate with an infantry force under Captain Kelling, which I had previously ordered into that region. At Caruth ersville we came upon Bush Powell with a very small party of men: we killed 1, the others escaped. The command of Captain Kelling. consisting of forty men of Company E, First Infantry Missouri State Militia, and thirty-five men of Company B, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, African descent, embarked on board the gun-boat Huntress, No. 58, at New Madrid on the 6th and at Quigley's, near the Arkansas line, on the morning of the 7th. From there it marched west into Cowskin Settlement; found a camp that had just been evacuated, and had a skir mish with a small party of bushwhackers, but could find no consider able force. On the 8th they moved northeast, and camped that night near Caruthersville. During the day and night they had several skir mishes with the guerrillas, killing in all, as Captain Kelling learned from the citizens the following day, 8 of their number. On the 9th instant, the day on which my cavalry arrived at Caruthersville, Captain Kelling, with his command, moved from that place per steamer Graham to New Madrid, and on the following day I marched with the cavalry to the same point. Result of the combined movement is 23 bushwhackers killed, several muskets, rifles, and revolvers captured |