HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.: Chief of Staff, U. S. Army, GENERAL: I transmit inclosed letters* from Major-General Dodge, commanding Department of the Missouri, in relation to the position and strength of the forces under Price in Southwest Arkansas and the Indian country, and the supposed destination of these forces in the spring. This information corresponds in all respects with that given me by the commanding officer at Fort Smith and by spíes and scouts from Southern Kansas. There is little doubt that as soon as spring opens and grass is sufficiently advanced for stock these forces under Price will attempt a raid northward. Southern Kansas is most easily accessible, and as it is full of stock and possesses many valuable farms it offers a tempting prize. It is possible, however, that the raid may be made into Missouri. Nearly the whole force under Price is cavalry, and it is altogether probable that in such a raid cavalry alone will be used. The second letter of General Dodge sets forth the entire force at his command, both in Missouri and Kansas, to defeat such a movement. It is unnecessary to point out to you how insufficient it is for the purpose. It is also needless to tell you, as you are entirely familiar with this region of country, that the proper position of troops to cover Missouri and Kansas and to intercept any invading force is some point on the Arkansas River, and at such a point all or nearly all the troops in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas intended for the purpose ought to be concentrated. From the direction of Arkansas two routes of invasion of Missouri only are practicable; first, the route through Southeast Missouri, pursued last year by Price; second, the route through Southwest Mis souri. These two routes are a long distance apart, and are separated from each other by rugged and difficult country. Of course, the common point of departure of these routes on the Arkansas River is the proper position for troops to intercept a movement of the enemy north; first, because the invading force would be met at the outset, and sec ond, because the force which then would be sufficient to deal with them need be only one half as strong as would be required to defend these two routes, if posted in Missouri or Northern Kansas I do not know what force remains in the Department of Arkansas, how it is disposed, nor what resistance, if any, it would make to any movements of the enemy toward Missouri or Kansas. If Arkansas belonged to this division I would at once send all the troops possible from this State and Kansas to the Arkansas River and concentrate them with the troops serving in Arkansas. This combined force, properly disposed, ought to be able to cover all the country north of the Arkansas River. Under present circumstances there can be no co-operation between troops in this division and the Department of Arkansas, and I do not at all know what to expect in the way of assistance from that department. I think your experience in command here has made it clear to you that in a military view Arkansas properly belongs to the same command with Missouri, and that a separation simply weakens the defense of both by preventing a concentration of forces for a common object under a single commander. I have written to General Reynolds on this subject, but as I cannot control the disposition nor movements of the troops under his command I must adopt every precaution that would be necessary if he were not in Arkansas at all. It is not probable that any movement north will be made by Price before April 1, but shortly after that time it will be necessary to increase considerably the force in this depart* See Blunt to Dodge, February 14, and Dodge to Pope, March 1, pp. 851, 1053. ment. I would consider it altogether advisable to anticipate such a movement on his part by sending all the troops that could possibly be spared from this department, uniting them with all troops that could be taken from posts in Arkansas and moving against him. He is only about 120 miles southwest of Fort Smith and could easily be driven from there across Red River into Texas. Until this is done there will be a constant danger of raids into Missouri and Kansas. So long as Price remains where he is the people of Missouri and Kansas will be in a constant state of uneasiness and alarm, and so long will the demand and the clamor for troops at every small village in either State be kept up. I submit these views for your consideration. If Arkansas belonged to this command it is probable that with the force there, re-enforced by what could be sent from here, we should be strong enough to defeat any northward movement of Price. While that department remains separated from this command it will be necessary to keep my troops here and to ask for others in time to anticipate a raid. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Saint Louis, Mo., March 6, 1865. Chief of Staff, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit inclosed a letter* from General Sanborn, commanding in Southwest Missouri, containing a report made to him by scouts whom he sent to Southern Arkansas. He vouches for the reliability of their report. As all the troops except those absolutely needed to defend the posts occupied in Arkansas have been taken by General Canby for his operations farther south, and, as is supposed, east of the Mississippi, all the rebels west of the river are released from the necessity of any defensive attitude, and will no doubt make a movement northward early in the spring. In this department there will not by June 1 be more than 3,000 or 4,000 men left, as all the rest of the troops will have been disbanded by expiration of their terms of service. A considerable force will be needed to secure Missouri and Kansas against such a movement. If any operations had been undertaken by us west of the Mississippi the troops of the rebel Trans-Mississippi Department would have been kept occupied and thus prevented from attempting such a movement; but as it is I think we may rely confidently upon such an attempt as soon as grass is sufficient for stock. By the middle of April at farthest more troops should be sent here to defeat such a movement, and I trust that by that time a sufficient number can be spared from other fields. As you know, general, I am very loath to make any application for troops under present circumstances, and should certainly not do so unless I considered it my duty. As recruiting has been and is going on so rapidly and so many new regiments have been organized, I thought it likely that eight or ten of the new regiments might be sent here and drilled and brigaded. Their presence here while being fitted for service would likely have a good effect. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. POPE, Major-General, Commanding. See February 24, p. 969. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, * * * ** 9. The resignation of Bvt. Brig. Gen. Roy Stone having been accepted by the Secretary of War, Col. Cyrus Hall, One hundred and forty-fourth Illinois, will assume command of the military station of Alton, Ill., till other orders. General Stone will turn over all ordnance and ordnance stores for which he is responsible to Capt. John D. Moore, One hundred and forty-fourth Illinois. SPECIAL ORDERS, } HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT, 1. Company I, Seventh Kansas Cavalry, will march from Hermann to Franklin and relieve Company D, of the same regiment. Company D on being relieved will march to Pilot Knob and report to the commanding officer of the Third Sub-District for further orders. The quartermas ter's department will furnish transportation for the dismounted men of the command to the points named. Major Fiftieth Missouri Vols. and Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT, Lieutenant-Colonel HILLER, Bloomfield, Mo. : Capt. W. J. Morris telegraphs to-day from Patterson that there is a rebel force of 300 menacing that post. Do you know anything of it! Answer at once. By order of Brigadier-General Ewing: H. HANNAHS, Major Fiftieth Missouri Vols. and Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. (Same to Colonel Beveridge, Pilot Knob.) BLOOMFIELD, Mo., March 6, 1865. General EWING, Saint Louis, Mo.: I have had late intelligence from Crowley's Ridge and can hear of no rebel force in that direction. I have no knowledge of there being any rebels in the direction of Patterson. H. M. HILLER, Lieutenant-Colonel HILLER, CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., March 6, 1865. Bloomfield, Mo.: Can I send a scout out (in Bollinger County they report some guerrillas about Smithville) and then instruct them to go in below Dallas and look for Bolin in that direction? Captain Diehl being out from below, they will not expect any one from the north. I can send twenty men. J. C. THOMSON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Colonel BEVERIDGE, Pilot Knob, Mo.: HEADQUARTERS POST, SIR: I received information this morning from reliable men that a force is now marching upon this place. I place no confidence in the report, but have sent scouting parties to the various fords upon Black River. Should they see fit to call they will meet a warm reception. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES SMITH, Captain, Seventh Kansas Cavalry, Commanding Post. Brigadier General SANBORN: FAYETTEVILLE, ARK., March 6, 1865. Citizens report Major Cooper in Benton County with 150 men and Buck Brown on Spavinaw with 50. I have sent fifty men to Bentonville to re-enforce the colony at that place. M. LA RUE HARRISON, Colonel, Commanding. FAYETTEVILLE, ARK., March 6, 1865. Brigadier-General SANBORN: Scouts report 100 rebels in King's River. My forage train was attacked there twice day before yesterday. One man killed three bushwhackers and took two prisoners, and lost none. M. LA RUE HARRISON, Colonel, Commanding. GLASGOW, March 6, 1865. Brigadier-General FISK: My men came in Thursday evening last, after a very fatiguing march in pursuit of Jackson, going through six counties and very bad roads. The militia company at Franklin I ordered to push after him. Please order me to Macon with Colonel Lewis Tuesday. E. A. KUTZNER, Colonel, &c. General DODGE: FORT LEAVENWORTH, March 6, 1865—2.30 p. m. Nine squadrons of the Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry reached Fort Kearny this morning. Companies C and E were detailed at Fort Laramie and Company G is on duty at this post. Major-General DODGE, Saint Louis: JOHN WILLANS, Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT LEAVENWORTH, March 6, 1865. Capt. Joseph McCarty, from Topeka, has reported. He says he can raise a company of eighty or ninety Pottawatomies and whites (about fifteen of the latter); proposes one Pottawatomie for first lieutenant and a white man for second lieutenant. The company can be raised in three weeks. About half of Pottawatomies can furnish their own horses. He wants the authority from you to raise the company, and would prefer that the Government would furnish all the horses and arms. Captain McC[arty] is waiting your reply. JOHN WILLANS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, Captain WILLANS, Fort Leavenworth: Saint Louis, March 6, 1865. The company must be raised from Indians. I can furnish horses, if necessary. I want part Delaware and part Pottawatomie. Captain McCarty better go down and see the Delawares, as they proposed to raise fifty men. I have no authority to take white men. Major-General DODGE: G. M. DODGE, FORT KEARNY, March 6, 1865. A large number of friendly Indians at Fort Laramie are in a starving condition. What shall I do with them? They say they dare not leave their camps to hunt or provide for themselves in consequence of the threats of hostile Indians. ROBT. B. MITCHELL, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, Brig. Gen. ROBERT B. MITCHELL, Fort Kearny: Saint Louis, March 6, 1865. Feed those Indians condemned and damaged rations. Form them into companies and use them as scouts, or any way, against the hostile Indians, but under no promise of pay or anything else.__Merely get what we can out of them for the trouble they are to us. Has the Six |