State Militia, numbering forty-five men, twenty-five men of the Second Missouri Artillery, and twenty men of the Seventy-ninth Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, was turned over to me January 4, 1865, at Bloomfield, Mo., by Major Robbins, as you directed, and I proceeded to Poplar Bluff, as ordered. Captain Cochran did not join me there as you directed in your instructions to me, the distance he had to march being too great for the short time given him to march it in. I waited for him thirty-six hours and then marched without him for Cherokee Bay. Finding the swamps impassable for teams, I left my team and ambulance at Poplar Bluff with a guard to protect them till Captain Cochran could come up, when he could move by another route into the head of Cherokee Bay and by a better road, and bring the teams, if he desired to do so, and where I could join him. The command I took with me numbered seventy men. I crossed the swamp between Cane Creek and Current River and then divided my small force into two parties. I directed one party to strike the bay near the lower end at the rebel Colonel Reves', while with the other party I struck it at the upper end, directing the party I sent in the lower end of the bay to join me at Patterson's, on the bay. By these directions I succeeded in surprising the rebels, killing 19, wounding 3 severely, and capturing 5. I had 1 man killed, and no other casualty to any of the men of my command during the expedition. Among the rebels killed were 3 officers-Lieutenant Copeland, Lieutenant Sooter, and Lieutenant Moore. The two latter belonged to the notorious Captain Bowles' company. The killed and prisoners all belonged to Reves' command. We found no considerable force together. They were scattered over the country in small bands from five to ten, not expecting a Federal force so near at hand. Captain Cochran joined me on the bay, bringing up my team and ambulance. I reported to him for orders, when he instructed me, after having done all that I could in the bay, to return with my command to the Cape by the same route in which I had entered the bay, while he would take a different route, this being necessary, as forage could not be procured for the whole command at any one place. In crossing from the bay to Poplar Bluff I lost my wagon and ambulance, drowned two mules and five horses. It was impossible to get the wagon or ambulance out of the swamp. Cane Creek was very high, overflowing its banks and covering the whole face of the country for eight miles with water from two to three feet deep, through which the command had to march and break their road through ice from one and a half to two inches thick. Our next trouble was in crossing the Sain Francis River, which we had to swim, but which was effected without loss or accident. From there to the Cape we had an uninterrupted march, where I arrived with the command on the 16th instant, having marched about 300 miles through swamps, ice, and water. The command suffered much from cold by often being compelled to swim their horses and to assist them when mired out of the mud and water. The result of the expedition was 19 rebels killed, 3 severely wounded, and 5 captured; 50 horses and mules were captured, 35 of which have been turned over to the provost-marshal at Cape Girardeau, Mo.; 5 head drowned in the swamp, 4 head claimed by citizens and given up, and 6 head stolen from the corral at Bloomfield, Mo.

With much respect, I am, colonel, your obedient servant, WILLIAM RINNE, First Lieutenant, Second Missouri Artillery, Comdg. Detachment. Col. J. B. ROGERS.

JANUARY 4-27, 1865.-Expedition from Brownsville to Augusta, Ark.

Report of Col. Washington F. Geiger, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, command

ing expedition.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE,

CAVALRY DIVISION, SEVENTH ARMY CORPS,

Brownsville, Ark., January 29, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to report, for the information of the general commanding, that, in obedience to orders received from Brig. Gen. E. A. Carr, U. S. Volunteers, at the time of their issue commanding the District of Little Rock, dated December 29, 1864, I started from Brownsville on Wednesday, the 4th instant, with a force composed of detachments of the Eighth and Eleventh Missouri and Ninth Iowa Cavalry; in all 1,050 effective men. The command commenced moving at 8 a. m. on the Brownsville and Austin road; reached Austin at 1.30 p. m., when a short halt was made. The day's march was continued on the Searcy road to a point about four miles from the former place, where I camped for the night, halting at 4 p. m. The whole distance traveled was fourteen miles and a half. The roads were generally in good condition, no difficulty being had in crossing wagons, except in the wood near the outer edge of the prairie near Brownsville. The weather was pleasant. The next morning I commenced moving at 7.30 o'clock, at which time it commenced raining, and continued to rain without cessation all day. The route traveled was rough and toward the latter part of the day's march exceedingly bad, the roads being entirely covered with water to the depth of from six to eighteen inches, with bogs and miry ground. Owing to the fact that the bridge over Bull Bayou on the main road was destroyed I was obliged to make a detour to the right of about three miles and to cross the bayou at a point by Davis' house, which was reached at 12 m. Much difficulty was experienced in crossing on account of the steep bank, muddy in high stage of water, and roughness of the bridge. The command reached Quarles' Bridge at 3 p. m., near which point the Searcy road was left, and a road leading in an east-southeasterly direction was taken and followed till 5 p. m., when the command encamped for the night on Gooderidge's plantation. Owing to the unprecedented state of the roads the train could not be brought through to camp, but was forced to remain at Watkins', four miles from Gooderidge's. It rained and snowed incessantly all day and night, and the roads were in an almost impassable condition-entirely so, in fact, for the train. The distance traveled was seventeen miles. On the 6th of January, the third day out, the train, owing to the almost impassable state of the roads, was sent back to Searcy, and thence to West Point, at which point I arrived safely on the morning of the 7th instant. My advance left camp for West Point at 8 a. m., where it arrived at 10 a. m., at which hour also the steamer Ella, which had been sent to ferry the command across the Red River, arrived. The main column reached West Point at 3.30 p. m., having left Gooderidge's at 12 m. The distance from this point to West Point is six miles and a half. The road was entirely submerged and the ground low, boggy, and swampy. Immediately on my arrival I made arrangements to cross the command the next day, which was successfully accomplished by 2 p. m. of the 8th instant. I then moved up the river road to Hitcher's place, two miles and a half from West Point, where I encamped for the night. The road was in good order and the weather excellent. On the 9th instant the march was resumed

at 7.30 a. m. I moved north to a point seven miles from West Point, and northeast, and to the right of Prospect Bluff, by Prince's house, where the road was in an easterly direction, leading to a point on White River three miles from and north of Hatcher's Ferry.

Following the road, we marched six miles and a half and camped in the woods. The entire route from Prince's to camp was an almost impassable swamp, the water in three or four places being so deep as to force the command to swim their horses. After a vast deal of trouble the camping place was reached at 3 p. m. It rained constantly all day and during the night, rendering the march exceedingly difficult and fatiguing. Resuming the march the next day, the 10th instant, we reached a point two miles from Hatcher's Ferry, on the west bank of White River, at 3 p. m., when we encamped for the night, marching nearly the entire distance, nine miles, in water from six inches to four feet deep, at times swimming our horses, and through a low, miry, swampy country, in a very severe snow-storm, accompanied by a cold north wind, and enduring and surmounting hardships and difficulties caused by the inclemency of the weather and the almost impassable condition of the surrounding country and its roads rarely experienced by troops in any country. The next day, the 11th instant, the steamers Ella and Belle Peoria being in readiness, I crossed the command to the east side of White River, landing at a point two miles north of Augusta. The town was occupied at 12 m., the command encamping in the grove adjoining the town, on Hough's place. The order to "consume forage" and "gather beeves" we carried out to the letter during the entire time the command remained at Augusta. Small bodies of troops were daily sent out in every direction, and succeeded in capturing a large number of beeves and bringing in or consuming great quantities of forage. We remained at Augusta from the 11th to the 24th instant, on which day, at 8.30 a. m., in obedience to orders received at Brownsville [from] the general commanding on the evening of the 22d instant, I commenced moving south to a point opposite Nigger Hill, nineteen miles south of Augusta, where I intended to cross the column in order to avoid the trouble and delay of crossing both the White and Red Rivers. I sent the train from Augusta to Nigger Hill by boat, knowing that it would be well-nigh impossible to cross it over Bayou Cache, eight miles from Augusta, on account of the high stage of water, which was so deep that it could only be crossed by swimming horses. Having seen the column safely across this bayou, the march was resumed, most of the way on the levee, until the point opposite Nigger Hill was reached at 6 p. m. Failing to communicate with the steamer Ella, which left Augusta in the morning, I camped on the river-bank, and commenced crossing the command the next morning, the 25th instant, which was successfully finished at 9 a. m. on the 26th instant. Leaving Nigger Hill at that time, I moved the command in a northwesterly direction till the south bank of Red River was reached, where the levee road was followed for seven miles to West Point, which place was reached at 1.30 p.m. Moving on, I camped for the night on Burrows' plantation, five miles and a half from West Point and four from Searcy. The next day the march was resumed at 8 a. m., and the command, with the exception of the train and its guard, safely reached Brownsville, via Searcy, Stony Point, and Austin, at 11.45 p. m., having marched forty-seven miles in one day. The train and its guard encamped near Cypress Bayou, and the next day came into Brownsville at 1 p. m. No form of the enemy was seen or heard of except two or three small bodies on Crowley's Ridge and below Clarendon. We

captured 7 prisoners, one of them a lieutenant, all of whom we sent to Devall's Bluff by boat. We also captured 407 head of cattle, 330 of which number were sent by boat to Devall's Bluff, and the balance consumed or brought into Brownsville. We also captured and brought in horses and mules. The conduct of the officers and men of the command was, with some exceptions, generally good.

To the officers of my staff, Capt. F. F. Burlock, Fourth Arkansas Cavalry, acting assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. J.J. See, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, acting aide-de-camp; Lieut. M. Santee, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, acting assistant quartermaster, and Lieut. T. B. Horn, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, acting commissary of subsistence, I am greatly indebted for the zeal and ability with which they discharged their respective duties at all times during the scout, which in every respect was the most fatiguing and harassing one I ever made.

I have the honor, lieutenant, to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
W. F. GEIGER,
Colonel Eighth Missouri Cavalry,

Comdg. Third Brigade, Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps.
Lieut. W. A. MARTIN,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps.

JANUARY 7, 1865.—Skirmishes with Indians at Valley Station and Julesburg, Colo. Ter.

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, U. S. Army, commanding Department of
Kansas.

No. 2.-Col. Thomas Moonlight, Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, commanding District
of Colorado.

No. 1.

Report of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, U. S. Army, commanding Depart ment of Kansas.

FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANS., January 9, 1865—6.10 p. m. A large Indian force, estimated from 500 to 1,500, attacked stages on Platte route on the 7th, and a severe fight ensued; Colonel Summers and Major O'Brien in command. Indians finally repulsed. Our loss, 15; enemy, 30, including chief commanding.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,

S. R. CURTIS,

Major-General.

Chief of Staff.

No. 2.

Report of Col. Thomas Moonlight, Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, commanding
District of Colorado.

DENVER, January 7, 1865.

Indians attacked train at Valley Station; burned. Killed some 12
Attacked train at Julesburg. Were driven off. Two killed

men.

each side. Operators have left stations since. Unless troops are hurried out from Kearny, Lyon, or some point, people must starve. Immense excitement. I have no body to re-enforce with. T. MOONLIGHT,

Major-General CURTIS,

Fort Leavenworth, Kans.

Colonel.

JANUARY 7–9, 1865.-Expedition from Pine Bluff, Ark, and skirmish (9th).

Report of Capt. John W. Toppass, Seventh Missouri Cavalry.

CAMP SEVENTH CAVALRY MISSOURI VOLUNTEERS,

Pine Bluff, Ark., January 11, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to transmit the following report, viz: On the evening of the 7th instant I received orders from post headquarters to take charge of 150 men, consisting of 50 men of the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, under Lieutenant Kennedy, and 100 men of the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, with Lieutenants Williams, Sanders, and Slingerland, and proceed in an easterly direction in search of a force of rebels reported to have a considerable quantity of stock collected some twenty-five miles from this place. We marched at 7 p. m., found the roads very bad, and halted at 12 o'clock and fed our horses, after having marched about fifteen miles, obtaining forage from Doctor Jones, for which I receipted. We resumed the march at daylight on the morning of the 8th, and crossed Bayou Wabbaseca on a bridge, but before getting to the bridge we captured a rebel by the name of Colvin Jenkins, who is either a rebel soldier or a member of Vaugine's guerrilla band. Í ascertained that the stock (which was principally mules) had been moved across the Arkansas River, and there had also been a Federal scout from Brownsville in that vicinity a few days previous, which had scattered the rebel Major Watkins' command in every direction. Finding that I could accomplish nothing by going farther, I recrossed the bayou, crossing the men and equipments on a raft, swimming the horses. We camped for the night at the plantation of Mrs. Lindsay, where we obtained forage, for which I receipted. We marched at 8 o'clock on the morning of the 9th, taking the direct road for Pine Bluff, and when within twelve miles of this place I detached Lieut. J. W. Sanders, with twenty-three men, besides fourteen men of the militia with Summerville, to make a detour to left of the road. When I had marched about three miles and crossed Plum Bayou at the bridge near Mrs. Davidson's, I heard firing in the direction that Lieutenant Sanders had taken. I halted the command, and sent Lieutenant Slingerland back with thirty men to ascertain the cause of the firing. I waited an hour, and hearing no more firing came on into camp, where I arrived at 3 p. m., without any other incident worthy of note. Lieutenant Sanders arrived in camp about an hour later, and made the following report:

After being detached from your command on the morning of the 9th I proceeded about two miles, when I fell in with a party of bushwhackers (of Vaugine's command) at house of Mrs. Milans. I attacked them and drove them back about forty rods to where Vaugine and his principal force was, at which place they made a charge on my lines, but we succeeded in repulsing them and driving them back about one-quarter of a mile, when he was re-enforced by eighteen or twenty men