ninth - Infantry, Missouri Volunteers, who had that day arrived and Eaken command of the place. By his orders I started to return to amp at Hannibal, scouting through the Salt River Hills between Santa Fé and Florida in Monroe County, to the neighborhood of NewDort, Ralls County, thence down Salt River to Cincinnati, thence by way of Sidney to camp Kutzner, where I arrived on the evening of the 16th instant, with my command all safe and sound. During the whole route I found the country in a state of turmoil and Cerror, and that it is utterly impossible for a Union man to remain at home with any sense of security. I have the honor to be, lieutenant, your obedient servant, JNO. D. MEREDITH, Captain Company D, Thirty-ninth Missouri Regiment. Lieut. T. C. TRIPLER, Adjutant Thirty-ninth Infantry, Missouri Volunteers. SEPTEMBER 11-18, 1864. - Scouts in Moniteau and Morgan Counties, Mo. Report of Lieut. Albert Muntzel, Fifth Missouri State Militia Cavalry. CAMP AT BIG PINEY, MO., September 18, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of a scout made by twelve men of this company during the last week: It being reported by two men of the company that a squad of guerrillas was seen three or four miles from this camp on the 11th of this month, I ordered fifteen men out after them. Three of them came back to camp the following morning. The remaining twelve returned to eamp last night. They give the following history of the scout: They got on the trail of these guerrillas near the place where they were seen and pursued them to Tuscumbia, the guerrillas reaching this place at night and the scout the following morning. Captain Brown, commanding a company at Tuscumbia, informed them that he killed 2 of these guerrillas when they came up to the river, and 4 horses. The gang then scattered in all directions. The scout, learning at Tuscumbia that the rebels had just killed 7 of our men near Mount Pleasant, went on to that place. Not finding the rebels there they moved on in the direction of Tipton, in Moniteau County. When seven miles from High Point, between High Point and Tipton, they suddenly came on a small squad of guerrillas, killed 2, and captured 1 horse, which they brought into camp. They then scouted thoroughly through Moniteau and Morgan Counties, but, meeting with no further success, they returned to camp. They found the country in an awful state of excitement. Union men dare not stay at home, and none sleeping in their houses at night except rebels and their sympathizers, and unless something is done soon Union men must leave the State or be murdered. Our troops are chiefly kept in the smaller towns, while the rebels are roaming at large and devastating the country. I have the honor to remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ALBERT MUNTZEL, First Lieut., Comdg. Co. F, Fifth Cav, Missouri State Militia. Lieut. Col. JOSEPH A. EPPSTEIN, Comdg. Fifth Cav. Mo. State Mil., Rolla, Mo. SEPTEMBER 11-25, 1864. - Operations in the Cherokee Nation, Ind. Ter., with actions at Hay Station, near Fort Gibson (16th), and at Cabin Creek and Pryor's Creek, Ind. Ter. (19th). REPORTS. No. 1. Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, U. S. Army, commanding Department of Kansas. No. 2.-Maj. Gen. George Sykes, U. S. Army, commanding District of South Kansas. No. 3. Col. James M. Williams, Seventy-ninth U. S. Colored Troops. No. 4.-Capt. James H. Bruce, Second Indian Home Guard. No. 5. Maj. John A. Foreman, Third Indian Home Guard. No. 6. Maj. Henry Hopkins, Second Kansas Cavalry. No. 7.-Capt. Edgar A. Barker, Second Kansas Cavalry. No. 8. Col. Charles R. Jennison, Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry. No. 9. Capt. Curtis Johnson, Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry. No. 10. Maj. Gen. Samuel B. Maxey, C. S. Army, commanding District of Indian Ter ritory. No. 11.-Brig. Gen. Douglas H. Cooper, C. S. Army, commanding Indian Division. No. 1. Report of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, U. S. Army, commanding De partment of Kansas. FORT LEAVENWORTH, September 20, 1864. The further advance of rebels toward our department is attested by the taking of a train by 1,500 of Stand Watie's men at Cabin Creek. sixty miles this side of Fort Gibson. Two hundred and two wagons, five ambulances, forty artillery horses, and 1,253 mules were captured. General Thayer, commanding that district, recently informed me his communication with his commander (General Steele) was cut off, which corroborates the report that forces had also crossed between Little Rock and Fort Smith. Major-General ROSECRANS, Commanding Department of the Missouri. S. R. CURTIS, Major-General. No. 2. Report of Maj. Gen. George Sykes, U. S. Army, commanding District of South Kansas. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTH KANSAS, September 25, 1864. SIR: I forward for the information of the major-general commanding reports of the recent disaster at Cabin Creek: From the letters of Major Foreman and Colonel Williams it appears that the rebels have retired toward Arkansas, probably hastened by the force under the latter officer. In view of these facts I do not apprehend an immediate attack on Fort Scott, and from the accounts of Major Ross, district inspector, just from that post, it is doubtful whether Price is at Cane Hill. Unless the general has given instructions about the train which is to leave Fort Scott on Wednesday next, I think it san reach the supporting force from Fort Gibson without molestation,. and had therefore better be permitted to start. Ten companies, 300 stragglers, and a section of artillery will accompany it. I desire a telegraphic reply in order that I may give such instructions by to-morrow's mail to Colonel Jennison as may seem proper. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. SYKES, Major-General, Commanding. Major CHARLOT, No. 3. Report of Col. James M. Williams, Seventy-ninth U. S. Colored Troops. HEADQUARTERS TROOPS IN THE FIELD, Pryor's Creek, September 20, 1864. I arrived here at 11 a. m. yesterday, and met the advance of Gano and Stand Watie's command, consisting of 2,300 men with six pieces. The enemy had captured the train and post at Cabin Creek in the morning, and were returning with their booty (this information is from a prisoner). My command (all infantry and artillery) was completely exhausted, having marched eighty-two miles in the last forty-six hours, carrying their knapsacks. I immediately formed my line and prepared to give battle. Skirmishing was kept up until 4.30 p. m., when the enemy's line came within range of my Parrott guns, and I soon drove them back and continued skirmishing until dusk, and bivouacked in line of battle on the field. This morning the enemy has disappeared, it is supposed across the Verdigris. Had my troops been fresh I think I could have recaptured the train; as it was, I was unable to move without rest. Major Foreman will come on to Neosho to guard the other train, which please forward at once as we need it very much. I shall fall back to Flat Rock to-day, unless I get further information of the enemy. Very respectfully, Col. C. W. BLAIR. J. M. WILLIAMS, Colonel, Commanding Troops in the Field. No. 4. 1 Report of Capt. James H. Bruce, Second Indian Home Guard. MACKEY'S LICK, C. N., September 14, 1864. SIR: This morning about 7 a. m. a large body of rebels, number not known, came within seven miles of this place and killed 1 nigger and ran one of Company F into camp. The rebels came from the west on the 13th. Yesterday my scouts were over the Arkansas River and discovered a rebel force at John Drew's Lick. My men crossed a fresh trail of about forty men made on the 12th near Drew's Lick. As quick as I can get my horses up I will try and find out about this party above me. The same party, I think, killed an Indian on the 12th twenty miles above me on this river. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. BRUCE, Captain, Commanding at Mackey's Salt-Works, C. N. Col. S. H. WATTLES, Commanding Indian Brigade, Fort Gibson, C. N. P. S.-I wish that the provost-marshal would send to this place or put in the guard-house every one of my soldiers found in Gibson without proper authority. Good many sick here. J. HARVEY BRUCE. No. 5. Report of Maj. John A. Foreman, Third Indian Home Guard. CABIN CREEK, September 20, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report: The train has been captured on the 19th instant, one-half burned and the balance carried away. The destruction is complete. Colonel Williams, with his brigade, came upon them at Pryor's Creek, and after an artillery duel, the enemy retreated southwest. They crossed the Arkansas River, strewing the road with quartermaster and commissary stores. On reaching this point I found Doctor Ritchie at his post, and only for his remaining the wounded would have been murdered and the hospital sacked, all of which has been saved by his prompt and efficient conduct. I will finish burying the dead to-morrow, and collect such Government property that I find scattered, of which I will report to-morrow. I will move on the 22d to the Neosho Crossing. There I will await orders, expecting such from Fort Scott, to escorting the next train down. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. C. W. BLAIR, Fort Scott, Kans. JOHN A. FOREMAN, Major Third Indian Home Guard. No. 6. Reports of Maj. Henry Hopkins, Second Kansas Cavalry. FORT GIBSON, C. N., September 22, 1864. I would respectfully make and forward the following report: The supply train under my command having been repaired and loaded at Fort Scott, Kans., I moved on the 12th of September with as much dispatch as the condition of the animals would permit for this place On leaving Fort Scott I sent orders to the commanding officers of staions on the road between that post and this to thoroughly scout the country in their vicmity and notify me if the enemy be there and their novements, and also to re-enforce me with as many troops as they could pare, being fully convinced that the enemy intended an attack on the rain at some point on the route between Scott and Gibson. The escort ander my command numbered 260 men, composed of the following roops: Fifty men mounted and thirty dismounted of the Second Kansas Javalry; sixty mounted and seventy dismounted men of the Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry, under command of Captain Stevenson, and ten mounted men and forty dismounted of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, under command of Captain Ledger. The entire train numbered 300 wagons-205 Government wagons, four Government ambulances, and ninety sutler vagons, &c. On arriving at Baxter Springs, this force was increased to 360 men by the arrival of 100 Cherokee Indians, under command of one white officer, First Lieutenant Waterhouse, Second Indian Reginent, and one Indian officer, Captain Ta-la-lah, Third Indian Regiment. At this place I received a dispatch from Col. C. W. Blair, commanding at Fort Scott, to the effect that General Price had crossed the Arkansas River at Dardanelle and was moving north. I forwarded this to Colonel Wattles at Fort Gibson and urgently requested him to forward without delay all the troops he could spare to re-enforce me, as I anticipated an attack from a heavier force than my present force could contend with successfully. Arriving at Hudson's Crossing of the Neosho River I ordered Lieutenant Waterhouse with his command to remain at that station, and moved with the rest of my command and train to Horse Creek, fifteen miles south. On the night of the 18th [17th], at 12 o'clock, while camped at this place, fifteen miles north of Cabin Creek, I received a dispatch from the commanding officer at Gibson stating that the enemy were in force, numbering 1,200 or 1,500, with infantry, and moving in the direction of Cabin Creek, and embodied in the dispatch was an order for me to move with all possible dispatch to Cabin Creek, and there await further orders to move the train. I immediately moved the train in double column and arrived at Cabin Creek at 9 a. m. on the 18th instant. Lieut. B. H.Whitlow, Third Indian, with 140 Cherokees, re-enforced me at this point, together with 170 Cherokees stationed at that point under command of Lieutenant Palmer, Second Indian Regiment. My entire force at this point numbered 120 mounted cavalry (white), 140 dismounted cavalry (white), and thirty mounted Cherokees and 330 dismounted; the entire force under my command numbering 610 white men and Indians. On arriving at Cabin Creek, in the afternoon of the same day, I moved out to the south of that point with twenty-five men of the Second Kansas Cavalry, under command of Captain Cosgrove, Second Kansas Cavalry, for the purpose of ascertaining the position and force of the enemy. Moving south from the station at Cabin Creek three miles, I found the enemy strongly posted in a hollow on the prairie. Pickets were re-enforced and the train formed in a quarter circle, preparatory to an attack. At 12 o'clock on the night of the 19th [18th] my pickets were driven in and the enemy reported advancing in force. My lines were formed and the train was ordered to be parked in close order in rear of the stockade. At 1 o'clock [19th] the enemy opened with artillery and small-arms and moved upon my lines with a yell. At that time information was received that the enemy numbered from 600 to 800 men, and was not informed that they had any artillery until |