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from an old gin-house in the field. I rode up to the house and questioned the lady. She professed to know nothing of any men being concealed there or about her premises. I passed on to the head of the column and had but just reached it when my rear guard were fired upon by five men they discovered in the same direction of those seen by the advance and doubtless the same to whom the signal was made. The rear guard returned a few shots and the party fled back into the brush. Fortunately no one was injured of my men. I could learn of but one company (under a Captain Willis) of about forty men having been in that region of country lately. I think all reports of a large force fictitious.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. W. DAVIS, Captain, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry.

Lieut. S. MONTE CAMBERN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

No. 4.

Report of Maj. Gilbert J. Hudson, Third Michigan Cavalry.

CAMP THIRD MICHIGAN CAVALRY,

Brownsville, Ark., December 14, 1864. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to represent that, in pursuance of instructions received from your headquarters, I left camp on the morning of the 7th instant with Companies A, L, M, H, and K, and proceeded to a point four miles northeast of Jones' Island, where I remained during the night. From thence on the following day I proceeded by way of the upper Arkansas Post road to George's farm, twelve miles from Arkansas Post. Here I found that a sort of bayou or slough, extending east and from Bayou Metoe, was impassable, and on the 9th instant I proceeded to a point on the lower Arkansas Post road, fifteen miles distant from my destination, and encamped. On the following day, 10th instant, I proceeded to Arkansas Post with my command and remained in that vicinity during the 11th instant, sending parties along the river above and below, and scouting the country thoroughly in all directions. I ascertained that a Confederate force, 300 strong, mostly recruits from Missouri, under command of a Major Majors, had crossed White River at Crockett's Bluff, during the week previous, and had succeeded in reaching the opposite side of the Arkansas River without opposition near the mouth of Bayou Metoe on the 6th instant. I learned nothing of further interest in relation to the enemy, except that it was rumored that there were 700 or 800 recruits and conscripts for Price's army, of whom the 300 above referred to were said to be a part, in the northern portion of the State, awaiting a favorable opportunity to reach the south side of the Arkansas River. I captured 5 prisoners as follows: Private James A. Henderson, Third Missouri Infantry (Hood's army); Private William Gregory (recruit from Missouri to report to Shelby); Private A. P. Crowder, First Arkansas Cavalry (Price's army); Private G. W. Thompson, Second Arkansas Cavalry (Price's army); Dr. J. C. Miller. The latter claims not to belong to the service, but was taken under suspicious circumstances. The former claims to be a deserter from Hood's army. I also collected 400 head of cattle, and reached camp on the night of the 13th instant without loss or accident.

I experienced the greatest difficulty in procuring forage for my stock, and was forced at times to depend upon the dry grass of the prairie for sustenance for them.

G. J. HUDSON,

Major Third Michigan Cavalry, Commanding Detachment.

First Lieut. JACKSON ELMER,

Adjutant Third Michigan Cavalry.

No. 5.

Report of Capt. James G. Butler, Third Michigan Cavalry.

HDQRS. COMPANY F, THIRD MICHIGAN CAVALRY,

Brownsville, Ark., December 19, 1864.

SIR: Pursuant to instructions from regimental headquarters I started south on the evening of the 15th instant with a detachment of seventyfive men from Companies F, E, and G, crossed Bayou Metoe at Eagle's Ford without difficulty, and camped at Smith's Mill, sixteen miles distant. In this neighborhood are from 3,000 to 5,000 bushels corn, principally in the field. On the 16th detached my command on three different roads leading south, concentrating before reaching Flyn's farm, near Dudley Lake, where I encountered a party of the enemy. Mortally wounded 1 and captured 3, together with the horses, arms, and equipments of the entire party. Camped on the premises, and on the 17th sent a patrol of ten men toward Dudley Lake, leaving Lieutenant Callender and twenty men with the prisoners and led horses to await its return and then move back to Smith's Mill. With Fand E, forty-five men, I proceeded to Sommers' farm, five miles west, where I came upon another party; took 1 prisoner, with a rebel mail going south; also 4 horses, arms, and equipments, including those of a rebel lieutenant, who escaped to the swamp. Returned by a circuitous route and camped with the balance of my command at Smith's Mill. On the 18th sent ten men five miles west on Little Rock road, who joined me before reaching the bayou, over which I had to swim the horses and raft my wagon, it having risen some four feet in consequence of heavy rains. Returned to camp without a casualty. Distance traveled, eighty miles. I destroyed large quantities of forage at points known as the haunts of guerrillas, about forty miles distant and inaccessible to wagons from our line. The country is a low flat bottom land, heavily timbered, and frequently covered with water for miles in extent, with an occasiona farm affording an abundance of forage.

Prisoners.

Howell B. Watton, private, Company G, First Arkansas Cavalry, dangerously wounded through the body; paroled and left.

C. S. Ray and Ira Sanders, privates, Company G, First Arkansas Cavalry; delivered to provost-marshal.

F. H. Flyn, private, Company F, Carlton's regiment; delivered to provost-marshal.

William C. Edwards, assigned to Messenger's battalion; delivered to provost-marshal.

I am, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES G. BUTLER,

Captain, Third Michigan Cavalry, Commanding Scout.

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DECEMBER 1-31, 1864. - Operations against Indians in Nebraska, with

skirmish (8th) near Plum Creek.

Itinerary of the Eastern Sub-District of Nebraska, Col. Robert R. Living ston, First Nebraska Cavalry, commanding.*

All was quiet on the road until the evening of the 8th, when a smal party of Cheyennes attacked a train with eighteen men six miles east of post (Plum Creek, Nebr.), but were repulsed with a loss of 3 In dians; 1 man wounded, and has since died; the Indians withdrew to the bluffs. Captain Curran, with twenty-five men, was sent to the scene of action, and brought the train and wounded men to the post. December 9.-Captain Ivory, with twenty men, was sent to scout in the vicinity of Lone Tree; found trail of Indians leading south.

December 11.-Six selected men, well armed and mounted, accom panied by a guide, were sent in search of Indian encampments. They traveled south about 100 miles; unable to find Indians; returned to post on the 14th instant.

December 13.-Captain Majors, with thirty mounted men of this com mand and fifty from Fort Kearny, moved southward across the Republican River to Beaver Creek; followed up that stream to point where Curtis' trail crosses; finding no Indians, returned to this station; absent five days; marched 165 miles. Daily escorts furnished overland mail coaches.

DECEMBER 3, 1864. -Skirmish in Perry County, Ark.

Report of Col. Abraham H. Ryan, Third Arkansas Cavalry.

LEWISBURG, December 4, 1864-5.30 р. т.

CAPTAIN: Lieut. Robert W. Wishard has returned from scout through Perry County; killed 1 lieutenant and 4 men of the enemy. Lost 1 man killed (Private McGhee, Company C, Third Arkansas Cavalry) and 1 wounded badly, of Company C, Third Arkansas Cavalry. The lieutenant killed belonged to Conly's company. Have his commission bearing signature of H. Flanagin as Governor and O. H. Oates, Secretary of State. Lieutenant reports many rebel families as moving south. He pursued Franz and Conly's companies twenty-five miles. Last heard of them they were going south fast as possible.

Respectfully,

Capt. C. H. DYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

A. H. RYAN, Colonel, Commanding.

DECEMBER 3, 1864. - Skirmish near New Madrid, Mo. Report of Col. John B. Rogers, Second Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO., December 6, 1864.

GENERAL: On last Saturday a small band of guerrillas passed up between New Madrid and Charleston. Captain Edwards pursued them

* From monthly return.

and killed and captured 2 more, with their arms and horses. There were about fifteen of them; the balance escaped into the swamps badly scattered.

Major-General PLEASONTON,

Commanding.

J. B. ROGERS, Colonel, Commanding.

DECEMBER 4, 1864. - Skirmish on the New Texas road, near Morganza, La. Report of Brig. Gen. Daniel Ullmann, U. S. Army, commanding U. S.

Forces at Morganza.

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,

Morganza, La., December 5, 1864. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that on the 4th instant, at about 1 p. m., my pickets near the new Texas road were fired upon by a small party of the enemy wearing the uniform of the United States. Joseph Crumb, private, Company G, First Louisiana Cavalry, was dangerously wounded. The enemy is seen every day at some point near my lines. I am suffering great inconvenience because of not having effective cavalry. The few horses my cavalry detachments have are broken down. A prisoner escaped from Tyler, Tex., came in last evening. He informs me that he judges that there are about 500 mounted men at Morgan's Ferry, where he crossed the Atchafalaya, and that he met squads of fifteen or more on his road in. Six rebel deserters who came in on Friday state that there is a detachment of some 200 at or near the junction of Red River and the Atchafalaya. A scout informs me that he learned that 1,000 crossed the Atchafalaya at Simsport last week. It is probable that some of these parties consisted of the same men.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

DANIEL ÚLLMANN, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding. Lient. Col. GEORGE B. DRAKE, Assistant Adjutant-General, Dept. of the Gulf, New Orleans.

DECEMBER 4, 1864. Skirmish with Indians on Cow Creek, near Fort Zarah, Kans.

Report of Capt. Theodore Conkey, Third Wisconsin Cavalry.

FORT ZARAH, December 6, 1864.

LIEUTENANT: Ihave the honor to report that on the evening of the 4th instant, just after dark, four men of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, forming an escort to a six-mule team and wagon loaded with ammunition for this post, were attacked by Indians while in camp on Cow Creek, fifteen miles east of this post, and the driver killed and one of the escort wounded in the arm. They had camped within thirty feet of the bank of the creek which at that place is twenty or thirty feet high, and while eating their supper the Indians crept up along the bed of the creek, within fifty feet of them, and fired under cover of the bank. From one of the party who was picked up by the stage which came along about four hours later, I gather this, that upon being fired into the men dispersed, first firing several shots in return; that the teamster fled across the creek, the Indians in pursuit, where his body was found pierced with arrows and 100 yards or more from the wagon. Three of the escort made their escape and returned to Fort Ellsworth on foot, reaching that post at 3 o'clock in the morning. The fourth man com posing the escort hid himself near by and remained concealed until the stage and escort came along, when he was picked up and brought to this post at 1 o'clock in the morning. I immediately dispatched a force of twenty-five mounted men to the place designated and there await the coming of daylight. As soon as it became sufficiently light, the country was patrolled for several miles around in search of the three missing men belonging to the escort, who were supposed at that time to have been killed. An overcoat was found half a mile from the camp, which was the only trace of them to be discovered. At daylight I sent out another party of ten men and a team to bring in whatever might be found by the party first sent out, which returned in the afternoon with the wagon and about half of the ammunition in good condition, and considerable in a damaged state. One horse came in with the stage belonging to the escort slightly wounded with arrows, and one was found dead upon the ground near the camp. The other two were probably captured by the Indians, and also the mules. The harness was cut up and portions abstracted. Last night Lieutenant Hutchings with sixteen men arrived at this post with the intelligence that the three missing men from the escort had arrived safely at Fort Ellsworth. I would respectfully beg leave to suggest that the escort furnished at Fort Ellsworth, for the safe transportation of valuable ordnance stores, over a route known to be swarming with hostile Indians, was entirely inadequate. The loss of the stores may lead to serious results and disasters, while a neglect of proper care to prevent their falling into the hands of an unrelenting savage foe becomes a crime.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THEO. CONKEY,

Captain, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, Commanding Post.

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HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF UPPER ARKANSAS,

Fort Riley, Kans., December 10, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to Maj. C. S. Charlot, assistant adjutantgeneral, Department of Kansas, for the information of the general commanding, and particular attention is called to the report of Captain Conkey, which says:

The loss of ammunition may tend to serious results and disasters, while a neglect of proper care to prevent their falling into the hands of an unrelenting savage foe becomes a crime.

B. S. HENNING,

Major Third Wisconsin Cav. Vols., Commanding District.

[Second indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF KANSAS, Fort Leavenworth, December 15, 1864. Respectfully forwarded to headquarters, Washington, D. C., for information. The apparent inadequacy of the escort furnished by the commander at Fort Ellsworth will be properly investigated, but may be mainly

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