say they intend to hold the State. This man also judged from a remark which one of them dropped that there was a rebel force on the north side of the river. Todd was expected into Lexington yesterday. I have received no further news of importance. Captain West has just returned. He traveled fifteen miles on the Lexington road, but could learn nothing. I shall send out to-night a large scout, which will probably go to or near Lexington, if it meets with the approval of the major-general commanding. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. R. S. ROE, Colonel Second Colorado Cavalry, Commanding. INDEPENDENCE, MO., October 16, 1864. Adjutant Second Colorado Cavalry: LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report for the information of the colonel commanding that, in obedience to his order, I left this station this morning at 2 o'clock with fifty non-commissioned officers and privates, of Companies I and L, moving eastward on the Lexington road to a point about fifteen miles from this place; thence moved south to Fire Prairie; thence east to the Little Blue about three miles above the Lexington road; thence scouted in a southwesterly direction, striking the Spring Branch road about five miles east of this place; thence on said road to Independence. Distance traveled, thirty-five miles. I saw no enemy and no signs of any force having been on the ground scouted by me since the last rain. I found the telegraph in repair for the whole distance traveled on the Lexington road. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. WEST, Captain, Second Colorado Cavalry, Commanding Company F. WYANDOTTE, October 16, 1864. Colonel DRAKE, Paola: The General Blunt informed me you wanted guns. The troops that are coming on better come forward and get guns here. Let me know how many need guns. If you want guns for troops remaining at Paola send to Fort Leavenworth and they will be sent from there immediately. enemy seem divided-some on north side of river; some entered Lexington day before yesterday, and about 5,000 were fighting our troops at Sedalia yesterday. I was at Independence and Hickman Mills yesterday and during the night. The Fort Scott troops have arrived. The militia are closing in from all quarters. Press forward all you can toward Hickman Mills. Major-General CURTIS: S. R. CURTIS, PAOLA, October 16, 1864. Am sending every mounted man to the front via Aubrey, whether armed or not. As the militia have no transportation I send them from post to post for forage and subsistence. Have forwarded about 600 within last two days, partially armed, pursuant to instructions already received. This number is exclusive of those with Colonels Jennison, Moonlight, and Blair. Five hundred from Linn County will be here to-day. The entire male population is arriving here. No arms, but need them for dismounted men kept here. The fort here is nearly completed. S. A. DRAKE, Lieutenant-Colonel Seventeenth Kansas Volunteer Infantry. General DEITZLER, Shawneetown: WYANDOTTE, KANS., October 16, 1864. After my note which I sent to you from Independence yesterday I went to Hickman Mills. While there a dispatch arrived from Pleasant Hill containing telegraphic news direct from Sedalia. The rebels, about 5,000 strong, had reached that place and fighting was going on, so you see the enemy must be very much divided if they are not retreating south. My information of yesterday satisfied me a few had crossed the river; some were in Lexington day before yesterday and some were in Sedalia. I wish you to send forward as many cavalry and artillery as are pretty well ready, with a brigadier, to Independence to-day to take command at that point as an advance post. General Blunt, or a part of his force, will, in like manner, move forward to Pleasant Hill to-day. If possible we must make the enemy feel us to-morrow. The Fort Scott troops arrived last night at Hickman Mills, and Blunt has about 4,000 in that camp. There are also a large number of new men on the river bottom at the mouth of the Kansas, which came last night, I suppose, from Atchison. The weather is fine, but nights cold for troops, and if possible we should keep them moving to keep them warm. Write or come over. I will remain here until 12 m. Truly, yours, S. R. CURTIS, HEADQUARTERS KANSAS STATE MILITIA, General W. H. M. FISHBACK, Kansas State Militia, Hickman Mills, Mo.: . GENERAL: The order of General Blunt, with your indorsement, is received. I am directed by General Deitzler to say that while you are expected to obey all lawful orders issued by General Blunt, you are not required to report yourself to an officer of inferior rank for duty. The utmost harmony among the forces which this exigency has thrown together is especially desirable. You cannot, however, be expected to obey an order which has neither the sanction of law nor usage. You will, therefore, retain your command until superseded by a ranking officer. I have not the slightest doubt General Curtis will take the same view of the matter, and if General Blunt persists in the order a state ment of the facts to General Curtis will set all right. The order and indorsement as received will be forwarded to General Curtis. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, ARMY OF THE BORDER, In the Field, Hickman Mills, October 16, 1864. Brig. Gen. W. H. M. FISHBACK, Commanding Fifth Brigade, Kansas State Militia: GENERAL: The major-general commanding the division directs me to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of your General Orders, No. 3, dated headquarters Fifth Brigade, Kansas State Militia, Hickman Mills, October 15, 1864, and to say that the same is disapproved by him. He directs that you revoke the same immediately and report at once with your entire command to Col. C. W. Blair, Fourteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, commanding Third Brigade, for duty, as directed by General Field Orders, No. 2, from these headquarters.t GEO. S. HAMPTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. WYANDOTTE, October 16, 1864. General DAVIES, Fort Leavenworth: Major Curtis, direct from Glasgow, thinks only very small parties of rebels are on north side of river. ing on north side of river. He says there are no columns mov S. R. CURTIS, Major-General CURTIS, Wyandotte: FORT LEAVENWORTH, October 16, 1864. The Ninth Kansas State Militia, from Doniphan County, are here. Armed the cavalry and issued rations to infantry. Ordered the infantry to proceed to Wyandotte by steamer Emilie and cavalry by land.. They did not go. Said men would not move farther without blankets. They are here now waiting. I am fearful that they will not go. I shall do the best I can to urge them forward. THOS. A. DAVIES, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF COLORADO, Denver, October 16, 1864. Maj. E. W. WYNKOOP, First Cavalry of Colorado, Commanding at Fort Lyon: MAJOR: I have the best of evidence that there are a large number of Indians on the Republican, and design to go after them. Revolvers have not come. The rascal who started with them left them at AtchiSon and took on some mining machinery. This leaves us with nothing but our muskets for the Third [Colorado Cavalry]. Send as quick as possible those Starr carbines. I have moved the Third out sixty miles, and will be after the Indians as soon as we can get those carbines. Would have had an order from General Curtis for them, but he and *See Part III, p. 898. + See Part I, p. 619. Blunt are both away down in Missouri after Price. Had a fight near I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel First Cavalry of Colorado, Commanding District. Brig. Gen. P. E. CONNOR, Salt Lake City, Utah: WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, October 16, 1864. Give all the protection in your power to the overland route between you and Fort Kearny, without regard to department lines. General Curtis' forces have been diverted by rebel raids from Arkansas. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff. Maj. Gen. J. POPE: DAVENPORT, October 16, 1864. Dispatches received that Price has crossed the Missouri and advancing toward Iowa. I do not know how far to credit. Anderson and Jackson's gangs are just below our border, near Davis and Appanoose Counties, of this State. Jackson's gang has been over, and murdered, robbed, and thieved. N. B. BAKER, Maj. Gen. E. R. S. CANBY, HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, New Orleans: GENERAL: Yours of the 5th instant in regard to inspections in Department of Arkansas is just received.* More recent accounts indicate some improvement in the condition of that command, but still there seems to be great neglect and inefficiency there which absolutely require correction. After full reports on the routes, the quartermaster-general ordered that no more trains be sent from Fort Leavenworth to Forts Gibson and Smith, but that those places be supplied by Little Rock. General Grant has decided that if they cannot be so supplied these posts must be evacuated and the troops be drawn in. We have no official information from General Steele and have had none for several weeks. We learn, however, from other sources that he neither opposed the crossing of the Arkansas River by Price and Shelby, nor sent any forces in pursuit of them; that they have passed with little or no opposition through more than half of Missouri, destroying all the great railroads, and are now moving up the Missouri River toward the frontiers * See Part III, p. 629. of Arkansas. Mower and A. J. Smith joined General Rosecrans' command, but thus far their forces have not been sufficiently concentrated to oppose the enemy. As several inspecting officers have been sent into the Department of Kansas, and as that line of supply to Forts Gibson and Smith has been discontinued, it is hardly worth while to send General Herron there. Moreover his services are more needed in Arkansas and Missouri. As soon as General Sherman's plan of a new campaign has been fully decided on instructions will be sent to you in regard to co-operation. Until then General Grant has suspended the sending forward of supplies by sea to meet Sherman's wants. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Stof. NEW ORLEANS, LA., October 17, 1864-11 a. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff: General Steele reports on the 9th that the rebel force that was threatening his line has fallen back across the Saline and is moving in the direction of Camden. Information from Monroe, La., of the 11th states that about 4,000 infantry on their march to join Magruder were suddenly recalled. The demonstration made by our troops across the Atchafalaya, referred to in the rebel dispatches forwarded to you, has probably had something to do with this change. I learn nothing from Fort Smith or the northern frontier of Arkansas. E. R. S. CANBY, Major-General, Commanding. NEW ORLEANS, LA., October 17, 1864-8.30 p.m. (Received 9.30 p. m. 26th.) Intercepted cipher dispatches from Jeff. Davis to Kirby Smith, dated at Montgomery, September 30, renew the orders to cross the Mississippi.. The original has gone on and has no doubt reached Smith. This probably accounts for the movement in Steele's front reported in my dispatch of this morning. E. R. S. CANBY, Major-General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. E. R. S. CANBY, ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, Washington, October 17, 1864. Comdg. Mil. Div. of West Mississippi, New Orleans, La.: GENERAL: Your requisition to be provided with a pontoon bridge train, to be delivered in Mobile Bay, in about thirty days from the date of your letter, has received attention. The train is now about being shipped from New York and this place. The boats, wagons, and tres |