mber 26, when we dropped down to her moorings and made fast to anchor. At precisely 12 o'clock midnight we left moorings; arrived Pigeon Bayou at 5 a. m. 27th and anchored, it being so dark we were able to cross the bar at the mouth of bayou. At daylight weighed chor and crossed the bar into Bayou Pigeon ten minutes before 12 on. The country between the mouth of Bayou Pigeon and the juncon of Grand River is one continuous wilderness. Until within one le of the junction there is not a house or sign of any habitation, though on either side of the bayou the land is dry and might be cultited. It is covered with a heavy growth of live oak and thick cluster

growth of underwood. There are numerous paths running through in all directions, none of which show signs of recent travel. I landed arties of men under competent officers at several different points along e bayou and explored some distance back on either side, but could scover no trace of the enemy. Pigeon Bayou is very narrow and -ooked, with large trees hanging over on either side, rendering it very fficult of navigation with as large craft as the gun-boat, although it as great depth, ranging from ten to twenty feet. Not finding the avalry at the junction when I arrived, I sent two armed boats up Frand River about three-fourths of a mile, where I learned a large barge f cotton was hidden in a small cove, with instructions to run the barge own to the gun-boat if found. I then landed and went to the house f Mr. Micheltre, directly opposite the mouth of Grand River. Here found two men who were in charge of the cotton and whom I arrested. also found a large quantity of cotton stored in the sugar-house on Micheltre's plantation, which I seized. The party sent in boats up Grand River found the barge loaded with cotton hidden in a small cove about three-fourths of a mile from the mouth, the underwood and Large trees nearly hiding it from view. No one being found at the Darge they immediately took possession of it and brought it safely to the junction. I then sent a detachment under Captain Park down the south side of Grand River as far as the plantation of Charles Palfrey, occupied by one Mr. Brown, distant four miles. He had learned that a Confederate captain and four Confederate soldiers passed down in the direction of Lake Natchez on the morning of the 26th. In the meantime I had the gun-boat turned around, backed down opposite the sugarhouse, and all the available men I had, after placing a picket on each side of the river, set to loading the cotton stored in the sugar-house onto the gun-boat. At 6 p. m. the advance guard of the cavalry arrived, the main body at 7.30. I had an interview with Major Clybourn, commanding the cavalry; remained at this place all night. Started the barge down Bayou Pigeon at daylight with one company of men under command of Captain Park. Cavalry started at 9 a. m. and at 10 a. m. I started down the bayou with the gun-boat, passed the barge and crossed the bar, came alongside at 4 o'clock, when we took her in tow and arrived at Brashear City at 11.30 p. m. September 28, with 3 prisoners, 220 bales of cotton, and 1 large barge. We destroyed two large flat-boats and several skiffs.

Very respectfully,

J. S. MILLER,

Major Eleventh Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers.

Capt. B. B. CAMPBELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 3.

Report of Capt. Dudley C. Wyman, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

BRASHEAR CITY, October 1, 1864.

SIR: In pursuance of orders I went on board Gun-boat 43, with m command, at 4 o'clock on the evening of the 26th of September. Mr command consisted of a detachment of the left wing of the Eleventh Wisconsin, in all seventy-five men. We lay at anchor in the bay until 3 o'clock on the morning of the 27th, when we steamed up to Flat Lake. From Flat Lake we entered Bayou Long and proceeded without inci dent to its junction with Belle River. We found no difficulty in navi gating Belle River, and reached Bayou Gotvellé in safety. Entering Bayou Gotvellé great eat difficulty was experienced from the short bends and narrowness of the bayou. I succeeded in penetrating to within three miles of Lake Natchez, where the bayou, becoming very narto, I lay to and proceeded with eight men, in a small boat, to the lake. I found the bayou narrow, the bends short, and the bayou overhung with trees; so much so that navigation was impossible for a boat over 100 feet long. As it was past 12 o'clock, and knowing I could not form a junction, as ordered, I concluded to return. Returning several miles. we lay over all night and started for Brashear on the morning of the 28th, where we arrived at 8.30 a. m., when I dismissed my command. Bayou Long and Belle River are large, wide streams, navigable for gunboats.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. C. WYMAN,

Captain Company G, Eleventh Wisconsin.

SEPTEMBER 29-NOVEMBER 30, 1864. - Operations against Indians in Nebraska and Colorado.

SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

Sept. 29, 1864.-Affair near Plum Creek, Nebr.

Oct. 7, 1864.-Skirmish on Elk Creek, Nebr.

12, 1864.-Attack on Overland Stage at Freeman's Ranch, near Plum Creek,

Nebr.

13, 1864.-Skirmish near Mullahla's Station, Nebr.

20, 1864.-Attack on settlements in the Platte Valley, near Alkali Station, Nebr.

21, 1864.-Skirmish at Alkali Station, Nebr.

22, 1864.-Skirmish near Midway Station, Nebr.

28, 1864.-Skirmish near Midway Station, Nebr.

Nov. 6, 1864.-Skirmish at Sand Hills Stage Station, Nebr. 19, 1864.-Skirmish near Plum Creek Station, Nebr.

25, 1864.-Affair near Plum Creek Station, Nebr.

26, 1864.-Affair near Plum Creek Station, Nebr.

Skirmish at Spring Creek, Nebr.

REPORTS.

1

No. 1.-Col. Robert R. Livingston, First Nebraska Cavalry, commanding Eastern

Sub-District of Nebraska.

No. 2.-Capt. Thomas J. Majors, First Nebraska Cavalry.

.3.-Capt. William W. Ivory, First Nebraska Cavalry.

3.4.-Capt. John R. Porter, First Nebraska Militia Infantry.

5. 5.-Capt. Thomas B. Stevenson, First Nebraska Militia Infantry.

D. 6.-Capt. Lee P. Gillette, First Nebraska Cavalry.

3. 7.-Lieut. Charles Thompson, First Nebraska Cavalry, Acting Assistant Quar

termaster.

No. 1.

eports of Col. Robert R. Livingston, First Nebraska Cavalry, command

1

ing Eastern Sub-District of Nebraska.

HEADQUARTERS EASTERN SUB-DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA,

Fort Kearny, Nebr. Ter., November 1, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor respectfully to submit the following report f military operations in this sub-district since I assumed command on he 29th September last, in obedience to Special Field Orders, No. 2, ated at Fort Kearny, Nebr. Ter., September 29, 1864:

On the 26th day of September I arrived at this post with the comhand, which moved from here with me on the 28th August, 1864, under rders of Maj. Gen. S. R. Curtis, after marching 800 miles in search of Hostile Indians along the waters of the Republican and Solomon Rivers. On the 29th September, 1864, I was ordered to assume command of the Castern Sub-District of Nebraska, comprising a territory of 400 miles of country from the Missouri River to and including Julesburg, Colo. 「er., through which the several roads from Leavenworth, Atchison, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth, and Omaha, converging at and a little east of this post, continue west, forming the Great Overland Mail Route o Salt Lake, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and California. The troops placed at my disposal consisted of one battalion Seventh Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, one battalion Nebraska Veteran Cavalry, the veteran portion of my own regiment, and four companies of Nebraska militia, together with thirteen pieces of artillery, giving an aggregate of 971 men and thirteen pieces of artillery. After consulting with Brig. Gen. R. B. Mitchell, commanding District of Nebraska, it was decided to station these troops as follows:

At Columbus, on Loup Fork of Platte River, distant eighty-seven miles west of Omaha City, Nebr. Ter., Company E, Seventh Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, Capt. J. B. David commanding, numbering eighty-nine men present.

At Junction City, on north side of Platte River and in the valley of the same, distant forty-two miles east of this post, Capt. Isaac Wiles' company, First Regiment Nebraska Militia (four-months' men), numbering forty-six men present.

At Little Blue Station, on Little Blue River and on the road from Atchison and Leavenworth, distant eighty miles southeast from this post, Capt. A. J. White's company, Nebraska militia, numbering fiftynine men present.

At Pawnee Ranch, on same road and distant fifty-four miles southeast from this post, Capt. T. B. Stevenson's company, Nebraska militia, numbering fifty-five men present.

At Fort Kearny (headquarters Eastern Sub-District of Nebraska), distant 200 miles from Missouri River in due west course and on the south side of Platte River, Capt. Lee P. Gillette, Company A, First Nebraska Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, and four companies First Regiment Nebraska Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, numbering 112 men present and four pieces artillery.

At Plum Creek, Nebr. Ter., thirty-five miles west of this post, Cap T. J. Majors, Company C, First Nebraska Cavalry Veteran Volunteers and three companies First Regiment Nebraska Cavalry Veteran Vo unteers, numbering 105 men present and one piece artillery. At Mullahla's Station, distant fifteen miles west from Plum Creek Capt. H. H. Ribble's company (I), First Regiment Cavalry, Nebrask Veteran Volunteers, numbering twenty-three men present.

M

At Midway Station, distant fifteen miles west from Mullahla's Sta tion, Capt. John R. Porter's company, Nebraska militia, numbering forty-nine men present.

At Gillman's Station, distant fifteen miles west from Midway St. tion, Capt. Charles F. Porter's company (A), Battalion Nebraska Veteran Cavalry, numbering forty men present.

At Fort Cottonwood, Nebr. Ter., distant fifteen miles from Gillman' Station, Col. S. W. Summers, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, commanding, obe company Seventh Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, one company Battalion Nebraska Veteran Cavalry, and six pieces artillery, numbering 1(0)

men present.

At O'Fallon's Bluffs, Nebr. Ter., distant thirty-five miles west fro Cottonwood, Capt. John Wilcox's company, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, nam bering seventy-nine men present.

At Alkali Station, Nebr. Ter., distant thirty-five miles west from O'Fallon's Bluffs, Capt. E. B. Murphy's company, Seventh Iowa Cavalry. numbering seventy-three men present.

At Beauvais Station, distant twenty-five miles west from Alkali Station, Second Lieut. Merrill S. Tuttle, Company A, Battalion Nebraska Cavalry, numbering twenty-five men present.

At Julesburg, Colo. Ter., distant twenty-five miles west from Bean vais Station, Capt. N. J. O'Brien's company, Seventh Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, and two pieces artillery, numbering sixty-seven men present.

The posts of Fort Kearny and Fort Cottonwood being the only mil itary posts heretofore existing on this long line of communication between the Missouri River and the States and Territories west of it previous to this time, the supplies at these posts having been to a great extent exhausted by the troops composing the expedition which started from here under command of Maj. Gen. S. R. Curtis on the 28th August, a large proportion of which were troops from Kansas, and the season of the year being far advanced at the time I assumed command, I found myself in a great measure thrown on my own resources in sup plying these numerous posts with quarters, defenses, hay, and fuel. The public transportation being altogether inadequate to the wants of the command, fuel and logs for building purposes having to be hauled in some instances seventy-five miles, I instructed my post commandants to press the empty teams of freighters returning from the west to assist them in erecting defenses, hauling fuel, building logs, and hay, andal directed them to press mowing machines into public service, and with out delay put up such amount of hay as would be required for winter consumption.

I would state for the information of the general commanding that the instructions authorizing the pressing of teams and mowing machines were such as would prevent any damage to citizen owners, having directed commandants to exercise sound discretion and prevent as much as possible any injury to citizens of the United States, and in ever instance where owners of teams or mowing machines made it manifes that they would be sufferers by being detained on public work, thet

ams and machines were promptly released. The necessity of adoptg this course was urgent and imperative, and had it not been pursued me command and public animals would have suffered severely. Cónacts to citizens would not be let on account of the imminent peril they ad to risk of being murdered by hostile Indians unless guarded by ir troops, who, having so much other duty to perform, could not be Dared for such purpose. At the close of the last month, being thirtyree days since the organization of this line of posts was commenced, ne work of erecting defenses, quarters for men and officers, stabling r public animals, and providing posts with hay and fuel, resulted as ollows:

At Columbus there has been built a good stable, capacity 100 horses; uarters for men are nearly complete and will be commodious, capacity or 100 men; stockade work has been thrown up across the approaches nd the post made defensible, though this work is not yet completed. lay has been secured for winter supply, and fuel being close at hand o suffering can possibly arise from a deficient supply.

At Junction City stabling for sixty-four horses, and quarters for ixty-four men, has been erected; stockade work has been thrown round quarters, and stabling sufficient to render the post defensible gainst Indians. Hay for four months' supply for sixty-four horses has Deen secured, and fuel abundant close to the post on Grand Island in Platte River, insuring a full supply.

At Little Blue Station a deserted ranch has been occupied, additions nade to it, and the troops at that post are comfortably quartered. Their horses are also sheltered, though the stable is not good. Abunlance of fuel is close to station, and hay enough for the number of horses at the post.

At Pawnee Ranch a result similar to that at Little Blue Station 'has been obtained, with exception of hay, which is issued in half rations. The troops of this station will have fulfilled their term of service on The 10th of December next, and at one time mutinied, forty of their numDer actually marching toward Arkansas City in defiance of the cсарTain's authority. These men have by the influence of Col. O. P. Mason, commanding Second Brigade, Nebraska Militia, been induced to return to duty, but their absence caused serious delay in the progress of the works, essential to the safety and comfort of the men and animals at that post.

At Fort Kearny quarters and stabling for four companies already existed, and the men have been busily engaged in constructing a rectangular redoubt 262 feet by 221 feet, with one demi-lune at each salient flanking the ditches. This work, though not yet complete, is connected with rifle-pits, and covers the eastern and southern flanks of the post. Another redoubt will be erected at the northwest angle of the post covering the northern and western flanks, connected by rifle-pits with the interior works. This being a depot of supplies for posts east of it and west as far as Midway Station, and no citizens being hired by the quartermaster's department, the men have been actively engaged transporting supplies, cutting fuel fifteen miles distant and hauling the same; hay and fuel sufficient for wintering the command has been secured.

At Plum Creek quarters for the men have been erected capable of accommodating 160 men. A rectangular redoubt 332 feet square with bastions at the salients flanking the ditches has been commenced, and though not yet completed will be a perfect defense when it is. A deserted stable has been occupied for the use of the horses at this post.