ported that the rebel Colonel Scott had returned to Clinton with his command. Arrived back at Baton Rouge at 6 p. m. 24th instant. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier-General BENTON, JOHN H. CLYBOURN, Major, Commanding. Comdg. District of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson. DECEMBER 24-25, 1864. - Scout from Pine Bluff to Richland, Ark., with skirmish (24th) near Richland. Report of Lieut. Thomas Stevenson, Fifth Kansas Cavalry. PINE BLUFF, ARK., December 25, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that I took command of the escort to beef contractor as per your order, and started from post commissary at 5 a. m. 24th. The escort consisted of nineteen men from Fifth Kansas Cavalry and twenty men from Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry. Pro ceeded by the river road to the bayou at Doctor Waters' plantation and found it too deep to ford. Constructing a temporary floating bridge, crossed the bayou and drove the enemy's pickets from Richland. At the distance of nearly one mile below Richland we saw a column of the enemy (about 100 men) moving down the river. On seeing us they halted. I returned and recrossed the bayou with the intention of getting what cattle we could on this side. Halting a few minutes at Doctor Waters' to feed, drove a few head of cattle, from the vicinity of Doctor Waters'. Near Mrs. Atkins' the advance guard was fired on by a party of the enemy posted in a gin-house and behind some fallen timber. We returned the fire and soon drove the enemy across a narrow field to the timber beyond, capturing 1 prisoner belonging to the Twenty-first Texas Cavalry. Fearing they would throw a force above the bridge at Mrs. Atkins' to cut us off from town, I moved up above the bridge. The enemy did not pursue us farther. I reached camp at 6 p. m. Our loss was 1 man killed, Private Thomas King, Company B, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry. THOS STEVENSON, Second Lieut., Fifth Kansas Cavalry, Comdg. Escort. Lieut. S. MONTE CAMBERN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. DECEMBER 26, 1864-JANUARY 1, 1865. - Expedition against Indians in Central Arizona, with skirmish (January 1) at Sycamore Springs, Ariz. Ter. Report of Licut. Samuel L. Barr, Fifth U. S. Infantry. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTHERN ARIZONA, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Department of New Mexico, Santa Fé, N. Мех.: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to inclose herewith the report of First Lieut. Samuel L. Barr, Fifth U. S. Infantry, of a scout after Indians. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. L. ANDERSON, Captain, Fifth U. S. Infantry, Commanding Post. [Inclosure.] Report of scout against Apache Indians, Company F, Fifth U. S. Infantry, and detachment of First New Mexico Cavalry Volunteers, commanded by First Lieut. Samuel L. Barr, Fifth U. S. Infantry, from Fort Whipple, Ariz. Ter., pursuant to Special Orders, No. 68, Decem ber 25, 1864: December 26, 11 o'clock, left Fort Whipple, Ariz. Ter.; camped at Bed Rock; distance, six miles. Wood, water, and grass in abundance. Fine day. Roads muddy; 1.30 o'clock. December 27, 7.30 o'clock, traveled twelve miles on Woolsey's road. Camped in a dry creek. Wood scarce. Plenty of snow on the banks. Grass good. Fine day. Weather moderate. Road very muddy; 12 o'clock. December 28, 7 o'clock, left the road at Woolsey's ranch; took an old Indian trail directly east of the ranch and considerably to the right of Chaves Cut-Off. Crossed the mountains; followed the trail on until we struck the Agua Fria. Here we camped by some cottonwoods; distance, thirteen miles. Wood, water, and grass in abundance; 12 o'clock. No signs of Indians. December 29, 7 o'clock, continued on the trail along the same stream. Camped near a very high bluff on the right of the trail. This peak, as near as I can judge, is from 150 to 200 feet high; quite easy to ascend from either the west or north sides. Upon the highest point of this peak I found where there had been many years ago quite a large fortification. Evidently quite a number have inhabited this place. The walls are built of rock, and some of them are in still good order; others have been torn down, perhaps by Indians. From the top of this you can see for hundreds of miles around. I named this Aztec Peak. Dis tance, twelve miles. Wood, water, and grass in abundance. No signs. Weather still fine; 12 o'clock. December 30, 6.45 o'clock, left the Agua Fria to our right. Continued upon trail until it became so dim that we were unable to keep it any longer. Traveled considerably south of east over rolling prairie. Sent out a few men in advance to look out for signs; 8 o'clock reported Indian signs some two days old. Followed them down a dry creek for about three miles, where they then struck off to the left and in the direction of the San Francisco River. Having no one along that was at all acquainted with the country, I concluded it was best (as our mules were very tired and thirsty) to go on a few miles farther down this creek to find water; 10 o'clock we first struck the cattle tracks, together with two mule tracks. Followed upon their trail until we struck a place under a high bluff of rocks, where they have made a camp and roasted a mule. The creek runs about fifty yards from the point of these rocks and to the west. They left nothing of the mule but the hoofs. Their trail then took a straight course toward the head of Ash Creek. The country from there being so open I concluded I would keep down in this creek until I found water. Six miles from the point of rocks I struck a large grove of cotton woods and camped. Wood, water, and grass in abundance. In many places the grass was very green; the buds on the trees were also swelling. Distance, fifteen miles; 12 o'clock. Weather uncomfortably warm. December 31, 3 p. m., traveled in a northeast direction. Crossed down in quite a large cañon, through which a stream had once flowed, called by the guide as Willow Creek. Followed up this for about three miles, then took across in a southeast direction until we came to a fine stream of water, distance four miles, and at this water we found where the Indians had crossed the cattle. 9 o'clock, stopped for lunch. 11 o'clock, packed up. Directly south of east from this water, down in a very deep ravine, we found five wigwams. At this place they had killed the other mule and butchered a steer. Plenty of water in this ravine. We kept upon their trail, which took across the stream and went along under the edge of a hill for about one mile up the stream, then turned sharp to the right and took up over the due south until we struck another small stream. this stream for about four miles until we came to crossed. The tracks were about three days old. stream. Wood, water, and grass in abundance. 4 o'clock, distance, twenty-one miles; weather warm. hill and traveled We traveled up where they had Camped at this January 1, 7.30 o'clock: 10 o'clock halted at some springs which I called Sycamore Springs, twelve miles from last camp. Wood, water, and grass in abundance. 12 o'clock, surprised an Indian camp; killed 4 and recaptured 2 steers, but 1 of the Indians escaped. We would have gotten more had not my guide been mistaken in the smoke. When he first saw it he was under the impression that the smoke came from the top of the hill and that the Indians had seen him and were signaling. Thinking everything was lost, and that perhaps he might get a shot at the Indian making the smoke, he made a rush to the place where he thought the smoke was coming from, and in doing so, a squaw who was on the hills saw him and gave the alarm in their camp. They made a desperate effort to get away, but we were too close upon them. When we came upon them they were evidently making great preparations for a large feast. They had just butchered a fine steer and had just started a mescal pit, which caused so much smoke. After destroying everything they had, took off directly east from there toward a large cañon. Camped 2 o'clock; wood, water, and grass in abundance. The next day we marched six miles, direction north, to Sycamore Creek; camped; found wood, water, and grass. A few miles up this creek we found (in a cañon some 200 feet deep and about 100 feet from top to top) a large cave some thirty or forty feet deep. At this place they had killed three steers. The third they killed, from all appearances, the night before. Something frightened them and they left almost all of it behind. No doubt but that the Indian that escaped the day before gave them the alarm. This place has evidently been a great haunt for the Indians. I am under the impression that if about in two months from this time a party is sent out in that direction they may be able to find them back there. Through the whole country that I passed over on this scout I have never seen anything to equal it as far as grazing is concerned. Well watered, and I'll venture to say almost all the year round. The country is so much cut up, and being so many hiding-places that it will take at least four companies (divided up in parties of twenty men each) to subdue these Indians. It could be arranged in such a manner that the Indians would have no rest, and in six months I will venture to say that they would sue for peace. These are merely suggestions. As it is almost impossible to scout in this section of country at present without proper guides, I would respectfully recommend for your consideration Messrs. Cooler, Rice, and Often. These are reliable, energetic men and take apparent great interest in assisting in all their power to drive these thieving Indians from a country like this, which is so immensely rich in almost every mineral. I would also suggest, in order to facilitate matters more, that the packcovers be painted a dark brown color. They would attract less attention and could be seen from a much less distance than the white. SAML. L. BARR, First Lieutenant, Fifth U. S. Infantry, Commanding Scout. DECEMBER 30, 1864. — Skirmish near Caruthersville, Mo. Report of Col. John B. Rogers, Second Missouri State Militia Cavalry. CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO., December 31, 1864. GENERAL: A party of guerrillas made their appearance some fifteen miles below Caruthersville. They were pursued by a detachment from that place, and 1, named Potter, was killed, 2 horses captured. More would have been killed, but the noise made by horses on frozen ground gave them notice, and they fled. General EWING. J. B. ROGERS, Colonel, Commanding. Adair's (William P.) Indians. See Indian Troops, Confederate, 2d Regiment, Cherokee. Adams' Company. (Official designation not of record.) See Captain Adams. Adams' (R. H.) Cavalry. See Missouri Troops, Confederate, 12th Regiment (Shanks'). Allen's (John D.) Infantry. See Missouri Troops, Union, 7th Regiment, Provisional Allen's (W. Irving) Infantry. See Massachusetts Troops, 31st Regiment. Ballew's (William B.) Cavalry. See Missouri Troops, Union, 7th Regiment, State Militia. Bancroft's (Asa R.) Infantry. See Kansas Troops, 17th Regiment. Bancroft's (Edwin) Artillery. See Union Troops, Colored, 2d Regiment, Battery E. Barker's (Edgar A.) Cavalry. See Kansas Troops, 2d Regiment. Beckman's (Edward) Infantry. See Missouri Troops, Union, 11th Regiment, Enrolled Militia. Behlendorff's (Frederick) Cavalry. See Illinois Troops, 13th Regiment. Benton's (Thomas O.) Artillery. See Louisiana Troops, Confederate. Black's (Thomas G.) Cavalry. See Arkansas Troops, Union, 1st Regiment. Blackwell's (Y. H.) Cavalry. See Missouri Troops, Confederate, 5th Regiment (Gordon's). Blair's (William D.) Cavalry. See Missouri Troops, Union, 4th Regiment, State Militia. Blocher's (William D.) Artillery. See Arkansas Troops, Confederate. * References, unless otherwise indicated, are to index following. Bolin. |