move as rapidly as consistent. Messrs. Decker and Escudier will report to you for duty as guides. Immediately on return of the expedition a full and complete report will be made out and forwarded to these headquarters. Acknowledge receipt by telegraph. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. SAINT LOUIS, Mo., April 2, 1865-3.20 p.m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.: Following dispatch just received from General Bussey, commanding at Fort Smith, Ark.* General Sanborn, at Springfield, Mo., telegraphs that he had a skirmish with small party near that place, capturing three men, who report that the rebel force in Arkansas would not attempt to cross the Mississippi at present, and that Shelby intends moving into this State by way of Springfield. JNO. POPE, SAINT LOUIS, April 2, 1865. (Received 7.15 p. m.) Major-General HALLECK: General Dodge has telegraphed Colonel Ekin, of the Cavalry Bureau, for authority to purchase 600 horses to mount cavalry in District of South Kansas. His cavalry is nearly all dismounted. While it is much needed to prevent bands from Price's army from moving north, horses can be obtained in Kansas in two weeks at same rates paid as in Saint Louis, and of a better quality. I respectfully request that the purchase be ordered. JNO. POPE, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, Major-General REYNOLDS, Mouth of White River: Reports from Colonel Ryan indicate that the rebel force above Illinois Bayou is not so formidable as represented yesterday. Major Mason was sent out with a small force from Lewisburg to learn their strength and probable purpose. Colonel Ryan does not report his return, but at noon to-day telegraphs that he thinks the river clear. I had stopped steamers at this place and Fort Smith, but have just instructed that they may run. The Randolph will leave here in the morning. Partly Government freight. Boat at owner's risk. Nothing new. All is well. I can't believe the rebels crossed the river. JOHN LEVERING, Assistant Adjutant-General. * See p. 7. Colonel RYAN, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, Commanding, Lewisburg: The steamer Randolph will probably leave here to-night or early to-morrow. She is loaded with private and public freight. The captain will report to you for instruction or advice as to safety of the river above you. By command of Maj. Gen. J. J. Reynolds: JOHN LEVERING, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, Brigadier-General BUSSEY, Commanding Fort Smith: Colonel Ryan reports at noon to-day that he thinks the river perfectly safe for boats. You had as well start one if ready, reporting time of leaving to Colonel Ryan, at Lewisburg, and to these headquarters. By command of Major-General Reynolds: JOHN LEVERING, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, SEVENTH ARMY CORPS, Col. JOHN LEVERING, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of Arkansas: The boats that return to Little Rock should be loaded heavily with commissary stores and returned here on the high water. Sales of subsistence stores were made to over 4,000 persons at Fort Gibson for the ten days ending March 31, and 5,000 more reported by the Indian agent and brigade commander in a starving condition. The suffering of the people is very great. Fort Gibson will require a large amount of stores if those who are starving are fed. Send all the supplies you can and I will relieve the suffering as far as possible. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CYRUS BUSSEY, Brigadier-General, Commanding. [First indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, Little Rock, April 5, 1865. Respectfully forwarded through headquarters Military Division of the Missouri for information of the War Department, inviting attention to inclosed copy of communication from Ū. S. Indian agent at Fort Gibson. J. J. REYNOLDS, Major-General, Commanding. [Second indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, Respectfully transmitted for the information and action of the War Department. [Inclosure.] JNO. POPE, FORT GIBSON, CHEROKEE NATION, March 31, 1865. General BUSSEY, Commanding Fort Smith, Ark.: SIR: There is under Major Cutler (now absent) and my agency some 5,000 or more loyal refugee Indians, embracing Creeks, Seminoles, Choctaws, and Chickasaws, who are absolutely on the verge of starvation, no supplies having been furnished within the last three weeks, owing in a great measure to the difficulty of transportation, teams hauling during the winter having been detained here so long that it is impossible to get them to try the trip again under such circumstances. Would you order that half rations of flour be furnished from the commissary here, to be returned or accounted for by the Indian Department, as you may direct. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major-General DODGE, Saint Louis: ISAAC COLEMAN, FORT LEAVENWORTH, April 2, 1865. General Mitchell has not yet arrived to take command of District of North Kansas. Could not General Davies be considered in command until General Mitchell arrives? It makes confusion, there being no district commander. JOHN WILLANS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, Colonel MORRILL, Rolla: What condition is the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry in? Are they mounted, and how long will it take to concentrate them? G. M. DODGE, Lieutenant CLARKE, HUNTSVILLE, April 2, 1865. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: Say to General Fisk that Bill Stephens and two men robbed Cairo last night. Went south from there. I have ordered some men in pursuit. I sent a dispatch to Lieutenant Hayman notifying him the direction they took. I am waiting to hear from Allen further particulars, and if more men are sent from this post may wait until morning before going to Glasgow. Brigadier-General FISK: A. F. DENNY, WESTON, April 2, 1865. I have not been able to get the particulars as to the shooting of Reynolds at Liberty. The matter is being investigated. I have two more arrested, and shall send them to Liberty to have them identified by Reynolds. Will report as soon as I can procure the particulars. H. M. MATTHEWS, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Lieutenant-Colonel CHRISTENSEN, Assistant Adjutant-General : From dispatches received to-day it appears that Johnston, combined with Bragg, made no material impression on Sherman in the recent battles, and that the rebel loss in their desperate hurling of masses on our lines must have been very heavy. There is nothing of material moment here except that the continued high water has driven all but one regiment at Morganza upon their boats. Stores of all kinds have been placed out of reach by shipping on boats or sending to Port Hudson. Our ordnance supplies are very much reduced at this depot, and if there is a probability of long-continued expenditure by siege they should be amply filled up. Mortar rafts sent down the Mississippi are here. The quartermaster reports that it is impossible to tow them over via river and Gulf, and from my knowledge of them I am inclined to believe his report. The mortars and shell can be taken off and sent in some other way. Your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. S. A. HURLBUT, S. A. HURLBUT, Major-General, Commanding. BRAZOS SANTIAGO, April 3, 1865. Commanding Department of the Gulf: GENERAL: After an absence of nearly a month, I returned to this place two days ago. I have been up the Rio Grande a long distance, and report the following facts for your consideration: The demoraliza tion in the rebel army in Texas is very extensive. In all the counties from San Antonio and Austin up to the mountains the rebel soldiers are coming bome in large numbers, and in two or three places have notified the enrolling officer and provost-marshal that their services were no longer needed. In most parts of the State there has been fine rains, and the grass is consequently abundant. On the Rio Grande the forces under Ford and Benavides do not amount to more than 800 men. 2 B R-VOL XLVIII, PT II Benavides commands about half the number. Ford's men are stationed on the Lower Rio Grande, and Benavides' forces from Ringgold Barracks up to Laredo. It seems that Benavides has come to the conclusion not to fight against the United States Government, but has pledged himself to a certain gentleman that whenever the proper time arrives he will with most if not all of his command cross over into Mexico and help to fight the enemies of the Republic. General Cortina is the gentleman to whom Benavides has pledged his services, and I got the information from the general's brother-in-law. He sent his chief of staff on to Matamoras last week, with instructions to move his (Cortina's) family over to Brownsville as soon as the Federal army should occupy that place. You can judge by that whether he intends to fight for the Empire or not. All the towns east of the mountains are prepared and have measures concerted to rise against the Empire as soon as the Union army returns to Brownsville. Cortina is working hard to make the move successful. If that does not occur soon they may fail, as Mejia has asked for large re-enforcements from the interior, but I don't think he can receive any for at least one month. Everything is quiet on the island, but I regret to hear that Colonel Jones is about to leave here, as he has been an excellent commanding officer and faithful in the discharge of his duties. M. DOLAN. HEADQUARTERS LA FOURCHE DISTRICT, Col. J. HALE SYPHER, The general commanding directs that you send all your available cavalry to The Park on Tuesday, April 4, 1865. The commanding officer will be instructed to take eight days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition. The object of the expedition is to cut off the retreat of Whitaker's gang, should they attempt to leave the La Fourche country by that route. This detachment will remain at The Park six days unless otherwise ordered from these headquarters. Great care must be taken to prevent surprise or disaster. You will call the attention of the officer going in command of this detachment to the provisions of General Orders, No. 45, series of 1864, from headquarters Defenses of New Orleans. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. B. CAMPBELL, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS LA FOURCHE DISTRICT, Captain LEONARD, Commanding Naval Forces, Brashear City: Brigadier-General Cameron, commanding La Fourche District, directs me to present you his compliments and requests you to send a gunboat on Tuesday next to blockade Grand River at the head of Little Bayou Pigeon, for the purpose of co-operating with an infantry force of 100 men to be sent out in small boats from Bayou Bœuf. The commanding officer of this infantry force has been directed to communicate with the commanding officer of your boat at or near Micheltre's |