1

Official Army Records

1865-2

HEADQUARTERS NORTHWEST INDIAN EXPEDITION,

Sioux City, Iowa, June 6, 1865.

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, DEPT. OF THE NORTHWEST:

SIR: I have just received a very important communication, dated May 22, from Fort Rice,

which I report. The general will recollect I reported that there were some 3,000 lodges of Sioux

Indians on the Heart River, and sent word they would come into Fort Rice. Some of them have

come in and report that the Platte Valley Indians, Cheyennes and others, have joined this camp.

They have learned that troops are after them and they are trying to get all the Sioux to join them.

Large numbers have; how many is not known. Several of the friendly ones have come and

encamped near Fort Rice. The intention of the Platte Indians and other hostile ones is to abandon

the country south of the Big Cheyenne River, but intend to hold the upper country, which is well

filled with buffalo and other game, and in order to do this they are going to commence to clean

out all posts, commencing with Rice. It is also said they are well armed and supplied with

ammunition by the English half-breeds, who urge them to make war. If these Indians would only

remain in the country north of the Cheyenne and let the posts and passing boats alone it would be

a blessing to all, for I do not think a sane white man will ever want to go into that country.

Indians still continue to annoy Fort Rice; they are Cheyennes and others. A sentinel was badly

wounded on the night of the 10th, and on the evening of the 22d a large force drove the men

from the saw-mill into the block-house. The saw-mill is located on a creek half a mile from the

fort. I caused to be built, on a hill close by a blockhouse to protect this mill and the stables, in

which is stationed a small guard. The block-house is commanded by the guns of the fort. The

communication also states that a Yanktonnais Indian came in from Wadsworth; left there

fourteen days before. This Indian reports about 400 lodges of Santees at the Corn-Stalk Butte.

This is not far from the Maison du Chien Butte. (See Government map.) My troops commence

their march to-morrow. I start them before they are altogether ready, as I know the importance of

getting up the country as soon as possible, and I will do the best I can with the means I have. I

have sent a copy of this letter to Major-General Pope's headquarters, as I thought he would like

to communicate it to General Dodge.

With much respect, your obedient servant,

ALF. SULLY,

Brevet Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS No.. 134.

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS,

Little Rock Ark., June 7, 1865.

2. Brig. Gen. George F. McGinnis, U.S. Volunteers, having reported to these headquarters in

obedience to orders, is assigned to command of the post of Camden, Ark., and its dependencies,

and will proceed to that place without delay.

4. The Fortieth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Col. John A. Garrett commanding, will proceed

without delay to Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, for duty at that post. The quartermaster's

department will furnish necessary transportation.

5. Paragraph 8, Special Orders, No. 105, dated May 2, ultimo, from these headquarters, is

hereby revoked. The troops in the District of South Kansas will be reported as apart of the Third

Division, Seventh Army Corps, through Brig. Gen. C. Bussey, commanding division,

headquarters at Fort Smith.

By command of Maj. Gen. J. J. Reynolds:

JOHN LEVERING,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

NEW ORLEANS, June 8, 1865.

(Received 1.30 p.m. 9th.)

Bvt. Maj. Gen. J. A. RAWLINS,

Chief of Staff:

I have to request that I be authorized to order the following-named regiments, now serving

near Memphis, Tenn., to Shreveport, La.: Seventh Indiana Cavalry, First Iowa Cavalry, Twelfth

Illinois Cavalry, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, Fifth Illinois Cavalry. My instructions do not

authorize me to give the necessary order in these cases. I need these regiments here and they can

be taken from Memphis and will then have a sufficient cavalry force in the country. Please

answer without delay by telegraph.

P. H. SHERIDAN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN DIVISION OF LOUISIANA,

Shreveport, La., June 8, 1865.

Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS,

Commanding Department of the Gulf:

GENERAL: We reached Grand Ecore on the 5th instant, leaving the Twenty-first Iowa

Infantry and two squadrons of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry as garrison at that place. Maj. Gen. H.

T. Hays made that point the headquarters of his district, and bad with him about 600 men. At

least 2,000 will be paroled there, many of them stragglers from the other commands. Twenty-one

pieces of artillery and 500 stand of small-arms were turned over to the ordnance officer at that

point. Late on the evening of the 6th we reached Shreveport, the troops, however, not getting

here until the evening of the 7th instant. Brigadier-General Dennis has been assigned to

command of the post, the remnant of his division being camped one mile from town. There will

be but little public property turned over aside from artillery and ordnance stores, although

Generals Buckner, Fagan, and the other officers show every disposition and make every effort to

have the property pass into the hands of our officers. When it was known here that

commissioners had gone to New Orleans to negotiate there was a general breaking up of the

organizations, the troops scattering in every direction and carrying with them everything, public

and private, they could lay hands upon. The single exception to this was in the case of the

Missouri troops, who retained entire their organization and protected all the public property we

have received. Their conduct has been very good. They have acted in good faith, and have turned

over everything, and immediately upon receiving their paroles took the oath of allegiance as

provided in Special Orders, No. 215, Headquarters of the Army. At least 5,000 Missouri and

Kentucky troops will take the oath here. Just after reaching Grand Ecore five boats came down

with one brigade of Missouri men that General Fagan had started to Alexandria, he not having

rations to feed them. I directed them to land at Alexandria, procure paroles, and take the oath

(that being their desire), and from that point proceed to Baton Rouge, where transportation will

be furnished them home.

All of the Missouri and Northern Arkansas troops I will send to Baton Rouge, where they can

be cared for until boats are sent up. Owing to the great scarcity of provisions, I have been

compelled to send them away from here as rapidly as possible. There will be paroled at this point

about 15,000 in all. The artillery and ordnance stores will be sent to New Orleans without delay.

The Treasury agents sent up by Mr. Flanders have arrived and are collecting the Government

cotton. We will get quite a large amount on the Red and Washita Rivers, but much has been run

off by the soldiers and other persons, so that it will require a little time to collect it. With the

approval of the Treasury agent I have passed several boats loaded with private cotton out of Red

River and to New Orleans. There is an immense amount of private property, cotton, &c., along

this river waiting an opportunity to get down, and I believe it should be pushed through while the

river is up. The country is badly off for supplies, and I hope all parties will be permitted to bring

them up. It will do much toward restoring good feeling. Captain Fitzhugh, of the Navy,

accompanied me to this point, and leaves to-day for the Mississippi. He received from the rebel

naval officer the iron-clad gun-boat Missouri and a supply steamer, the Cotton. We found in the

quartermaster's department but two boats, the Champion and Beauregard. As soon as supplies

arrive I will send a regiment of infantry to Marshall, where there is a large amount of

ammunition and other property. A messenger reached me to-day from Col. W. H. Dickey,

announcing his arrival at Monroe, and also the arrival of the garrison at Camden. The stage

routes are mostly operating, and in a few days the telegraph will be at work to Galveston,

Camden, and other points. I have written Colonel Beckwith about supplies, and would specially

request that a good quartermaster be sent here. The work is too great for a green hand. Will

report by every mail.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. J. HERRON,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS,

South Loup Fork, Nebr. Ter., June 8, 1865.

Lieut. F. A. McDONALD.

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Fort Kearny, Nebr. Ter.:

LIEUTENANT: I immediately started in pursuit of the Indians who killed one of my men,

according to instructions I received from you. Struck their trail due west, followed them to Cedar

Creek, and found they had left suddenly. One of their party lay there dead, and I think killed by

one of my men. Found portion of mail matter, Grubb's horse, belonging to the soldier they killed,

stabbed and left. Most of their provisions left on the ground. They then took due course north.

We followed on and found ourselves within two miles of my camp, west. Here we captured a

pony and saddle. They still kept due north. Camped for night and pursued them early. Rained

quite hard during night. We could not trace them beyond the stream north of my camp, about

fifteen miles, should judge. I was obliged to abandon the trip and returned to camp. Their course

was directly northwest from my camp. Some of the men belonging to the command think them

Yanktonnais Sioux. Party consisted of about thirty. They took a course through the most

unbroken country I ever traveled.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

JAS. B. DAVID,

Captain Company E, Seventh Iowa Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS NORTHWEST INDIAN EXPEDITION,

Sioux City, Iowa, June 8, 1865.

ASST. ADJT. GEN. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI:

SIR: I have received the letter of the agent for the Blackfeet which the general directed to be

sent to me. I agree with the writer that the movements of troops will have the tendency to drive

the hostile Indians to the vicinity of friendly tribes. It has already done so. I, however, don't think

there is much danger for the Blackfeet yet. There is much more for the Crows, who are also

friendly. The section of country now occupied by Cheyennes and other hostile Indians is of such

a nature it will take a long time and some trouble to completely drive them out. It is, besides, a

good country for game, berries, and wild fruit. Eventually it will be well to have troops stationed

at Fort Benton, or near there, but it will be next to an impossibility to get the necessary supplies

there this year, for they already report the river falling above.

With much respect, your obedient servant,

ALF. SULLY,

Brevet Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SOUTHERN DIVISION OF LOUISIANA,

New Orleans, June 9, 1865.

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt this day of General Orders Nos. 81 and 81 from

your headquarters. The troops of this command now west the Mississippi River are as follows:

First Louisiana Infantry, at Donaldsonville and on La Fourche; Seventy-eighth Colored

Infantry, at Donaldsonville and on La Fourche; Fourth Iowa Light Battery, on La Fourche;

Sixteenth Indiana (mounted) Infantry, on La Fourche and Plaquemine; Third Rhode Island

Cavalry, on La Fourche; Ninety-eighth Colored Infantry, Brashear and New Iberia; Seventy-fifth

Colored Infantry, on railroad and at Washington, La.; one company Louisiana cavalry, at

Washington, La.; Twenty-fifth New York Battery, at Brashear; one company Wisconsin heavy

artillery, at Brashear; one company Missouri light artillery (dismounted), at Brashear; one

battalion (four companies), Eleventh Colored Heavy Artillery, at Brashear; one battalion (four

companies), Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteers, at Algiers; one battalion (four companies), Eleventh

Colored Heavy Artillery, at Plaquemine. I propose that the battalion of the Eleventh Colored

Heavy Artillery, the company of First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and the company of Tenth

Colored Heavy Artillery, now at Brashear, remain there in charge of the defenses. That six

companies of the First Louisiana Infantry remain in charge of the defenses at Donaldsonville;

four companies of the same regiment, the Fourth Iowa Light Battery, and four companies

Sixteenth Indiana (mounted) Infantry be stationed for the present at Thibodeaux. That the four

companies Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteers remain at Algiers. That the battalion of Eleventh U.S.

Colored Heavy Artillery now at Plaquemine remain in charge of those defenses until evacuated.

That the post of Plaquemine be evacuated at once, its armament removed, and the fortifications

razed. That the Sixteenth Indiana (mounted) Infantry remain on duty between the Mississippi and

Grand Rivers until its term expires, at which time the probability is that no mounted troops will

be longer required. This arrangement will render available for immediate duty in the front or

elsewhere the Seventy-eighth Colored Infantry, the balance of the Seventy-fifth and Ninetyeighth

Colored Infantry, the Third Rhode Island Cavalry, the Twenty-fifth New York Light

Battery, the Missouri Light Battery (dismounted), and after the evacuation of Plaque-mine one

battalion of the Eleventh Colored Heavy Artillery.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. W. SHERMAN,

Brevet Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS,

Little Rock, Ark., June 9, 1865.

Brig. Gen. ALEXANDER SHALER,

Commanding Second Division:

The major-general commanding directs that you send one company, or if your judgment

directs, two companies, of the Ninth Kansas Cavalry to Brownsville, Ark., to relieve the

detachment of the Ninth Iowa Cavalry now stationed at that post. Please dispatch immediately.

By command of Maj. Gen. J. J. Reynolds:

JOHN LEVERING,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 105.

HDQRS. 1ST DIV., 7TH ARMY CORPS,

AND POST OF LITTLE ROCK,

Little Rock, Ark., June 9, 1865.

Col. L. Gregg, Fourth Arkansas Cavalry, is hereby appointed to command the post Cavalry

Brigade, and will relieve Col. M. M. Trumbull, Ninth Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, immediately.

By order of Bvt. Maj. Gen. F. Salomon:

A. S. KENDRICK,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

NEW ORLEANS, LA., June 10, 1865.

Bvt. Maj. Gen. JOHN A. RAWLINS,

Chief of Staff:

I have not received an answer to my dispatch of the 8th instant asking to have the following

regiments of cavalry placed under my orders, viz: Seventh Indiana Cavalry, First Iowa Cavalry,

Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, Fifth Illinois Cavalry, Second Wisconsin Cavalry. I am anxious to hear

from you, as the regiments are now scattered and will have to be concentrated.

P. H. SHERIDAN,

Major-general.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS,

Little Rock, Ark., June 10, 1865.

Brig. Gen. C. BUSSEY,

Fort Smith:

Fort Gibson will be held. The Fortieth Iowa is designed to replace the Second and Fourteenth

Kansas until troops can be sent to relieve them in time.

By command of Major-General Reynolds:

JOHN LEVERING,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS No. 15.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SECOND DIV.,

SEVENTH ARMY CORPS,

Devall's Bluff, Ark., June 11, 1865.

The undersigned hereby assumes command of the First Brigade, Second Division, Seventh

Army Corps. Existing orders will remain in force as heretofore. Lieut. J. M. Thompson, Thirtysixth

Iowa Infantry, is announced as acting assistant adjutant-general at these headquarters, and

will report at once.

F. M. DRAKE,

Lieut. Col. Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, Bvt. Brig. Gen., Comdg

SIOUX CITY, June 14, 1865.

Major-General POPE,

Saint Louis:

GENERAL: I have received your telegram and your letter in regard to the transfer of the

Winnebagoes to Crow Creek, one among the hundred swindles the poor red devils have been

subjected to. I have no officer I can send to give testimony in this business, except my old staff,

Captain King, Captain Pell, and Lieutenant Levering. I can trust them, and they know. The

officers on my staff at present are willing, but know little. General, you know an officer who

attends to his duties strictly has to depend on himself. You are old soldier enough to know what I

mean. There are plenty of officers in the command who are my friends, would like to serve me,

but could not testify to any facts in the case. They have not held positions high enough to know.

Major Brackett's Minnesota battalion I would place on that duty, but he cannot be spared. Capt.

M. Norton, assistant adjutant-general, is the only member of my personal staff, and of course he

knows nothing about it. I expected to take with me Major Cram, acting assistant adjutantgeneral,

now at Dubuque. Two officers were detailed at headquarters army to relieve Cram, and

these two were relieved again by orders from headquarters army. I suppose they did not like

living on alkali and hard tack. King, lieutenant-colonel Second U.S. Volunteers, is now at Fort

Riley, and knows all about it, but so does Representative Hubbard, of Iowa. Levering is dead,

and Pell a lawyer in New York. The surveyor arrived here to-night, and wants a company of

cavalry to take care of him while he finds the meridian, twenty miles south of Fort Randall, but

of course he won't get any such force. I am not in fear of traveling with my servants, a driver,

and my quartermaster to Fort Pierre, but he says General Connor told him it would not be safe. I

don't believe this. Several bands of Sioux have sent word to me they want to see me and talk.

Governor Edmunds, who I suppose has heard this, wants to go with me. I'll try to eucher him, for

I don't want him to get the credit of our work. I wish I had 500 more good cavalry. I think I could

head off the Platte Indians. I don't think the troops marching up the Platte will be able to overtake

them. I don't know this to be so. I have only Indian reports--unreliable, as you know. I will only

have 800 or 900 men with me. I don't include about 100 teamsters and quartermasters and

commissary of subsistence men, but they are men who have been with me two years. I can

depend on them; and although I may not be able to make a big fight and accomplish all, as I have

heretofore, yet I can hold my own against any number of Indians.

With respect, your obedient servant,

ALF. SULLY,

Brevet Major-General.

JULESBURG, June 15, 1865.

(Received 9.50 p.m.)

Major-General DODGE:

I ordered the Indians who surrendered at Laramie to be sent to Kearny. Colonel Moonlight

sent them without first dismounting them, under charge of two companies of Seventh Iowa

Cavalry. They revolted sixty miles this side of Laramie, killing Captain Fouts, who was in

command, and four soldiers, and wounding seven; also killed four of their own chiefs who

refused to join them; fifteen Indians were killed. Indians fled north with their ponies, women,

and children, leaving all their camp equipage. Troops are in pursuit. Mail stages have stopped

west of Camp Collins. Everything appears to work unfavorably owing to failure of corn

contractors and incompetency of some of my subordinates. I will overcome all obstacles,

however, in a short time. Have you sent me any cavalry yet? J. D. Doty, Governor of Utah, was

buried at Camp Douglas Cemetery this morning. Died of heart disease.

P. E. CONNOR,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,

Milwaukee, June 15, 1865.

Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE, Commanding Division, Saint Louis, Mo.:

GENERAL: Dispatches of the 6th, 7th, and 9th are received from General Sully. He had

commenced the movement of his troops toward Fort Rice, which place he expects to reach in

about one month. He takes about 1,000 men and four pieces of light artillery. In response to an

inquiry made pursuant to telegraph orders received by me from Washington, asking the number

of troops that would be mustered out under the order directing muster out of all troops whose

term of service expires on the 31st of September next, General Sully reported "approximately

400," which number as directed and reported to Washington as ordered on the 3d instant with a

further statement, "but they are under orders to move against hostile Indians, and I respectfully

request that this order be suspended as to this Northwest Department." This request has not been

granted, so that General Sully's forces, as he thinks, will be much reduced in the course of his fall

campaign by reason of this muster out, and the expiration of the term of service of the Sixth Iowa

in December, and the term of many of the Seventh Iowa expiring this year. I desire the attention

of the general to be called to these facts at this early period so that troops campaigning elsewhere

during the summer may be sent to the Iowa District in time to supply these probable and

inevitable depletions. The general also expresses some apprehensions that grasshoppers will

annoy his troops and possibly destroy vegetation, as they seem to devour even tents and wagon

covers and attack the men's persons when sleeping. It seems, also, a fourth steam-boat loaded

with supplies has been lost. This, he thinks, is owing to the employment of boats not suited to the

river and officers who do not understand it. Such a multitude of disasters seem to render the cost

of supplies on the Upper Missouri almost too great to justify operations on that line. I

respectfully request that the quartermaster's special attention be called to this matter of expense;

and if, as I fear, it is too great by boats on the Missouri, some more economical arrangement of

transportation must be adopted. The Third Illinois Cavalry will as soon as possible after it arrives

at Saint Paul move in two separate columns, one up the Mississippi and the other up the

Minnesota, uniting at some convenient point between these streams as circumstances may seem

to require. These movements being thus fairly projected, and probably needing no direction for

some time, I respectfully desire that the general's memory be refreshed in relation to my request

to avail myself of any apparent leisure for ten days to go and meet my wife somewhere east and

accompany her to my headquarters. It is not likely I should now desire to go farther than Ohio.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

S. R. CURTIS,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF LA FOURCHE,

Brashear City, La., June 16, 1865.

Capt. C. H. DYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Gulf:

SIR: Pursuant to orders in paragraph III, General Orders, No. 81, current series, from your

headquarters, I have the honor to report that there are at this time at Washington five companies

of the Seventy-fifth U.S. Colored Infantry, aggregate 225; Company K, First Louisiana Cavalry,

aggregate 61. At New Iberia five companies Ninety-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, aggregate 299.

At Brashear five companies Ninety-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, aggregate 305; First Battalion,

Eleventh U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery (four companies), aggregate 438; Battery D, First

Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, aggregate 163; Battery G, Tenth U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery,

aggregate 136; Battery A, Second Illinois Light Artillery, aggregate 182, no guns or horses;

Twenty-fifth New York Light Battery, aggregate 146, six guns, fifty-tone horses. At Bayou

Boeuf one company Seventy-fifth U.S. Colored Infantry, aggregate 51. At Tigerville one

company Seventy-fifth U.S. Colored Infantry, aggregate 55. At Terre Bonne one company

Seventy-fifth U.S. Colored Infantry, aggregate 59. At Boutte one company Seventy-fifth U.S.

Colored Infantry, aggregate 49. At La Fourche Crossing and Bayou Des Allemands, each half of

a company of the Seventy-fifth U.S. Colored Infantry, with headquarters at La Fourche Crossing,

aggregate 53. At Thibodeaux six companies Seventy-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, aggregate

361; Fourth Iowa Battery, aggregate 132. At Napoleonville the Third Rhode Island Cavalry

(twelve companies), aggregate 679, ordered to be ready to take the field. At Donaldsonville four

companies Seventy-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, aggregate 220; the First Louisiana Infantry,

aggregate 557, whose time expires in August, and who I learn, though not officially, have been

ordered to New Orleans to be mustered out. At Plaquemine Second Battalion, Eleventh U.S.

Colored Heavy Artillery (four companies), aggregate 525, ordered to New Orleans. There is a

line of telegraph running from New Orleans to Brashear, and a branch line running from Terre

Bonne Station, on the railroad, through Thibodeaux and Napoleonville to Donaldsonville. The

poles are old, and from Terre Bonne to Donaldsonville very rotten, breaking often by the force of

the wind. Otherwise the line is in good condition. The railroad from New Orleans to Terre Bonne

is in fine condition, but from Terre Bonne to Brashear it has been under water, which is now

receding, leaving the road for this part of the route, twenty-eight miles, useless without repairs.

In my humble opinion there are more troops in this district than are needed. I would respectfully

recommend a distribution of forces as follows, and that the remaining forces be held in reserve,

subject to the orders of the brevet major-general commanding the District of Louisiana: At

Washington, three companies Ninety-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry; at Opelousas, two companies

Ninety-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry and Company K, First Louisiana Cavalry, who can be

supplied from New Orleans via the Atchafalaya and Bayou Courtableau for six weeks, when the

water will fall and the only communication will be by land for some six months, consequently

for these posts a six-months' supply is recommended; at Vermillionville, one company Third

Rhode Island Cavalry and one of the Ninety-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, who would be

supplied from New Iberia; at New Iberia, one company Third Rhode Island Cavalry and two

companies Ninety-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, which can be supplied by the Teche at all

seasons of the year; at Franklin, two companies Ninety-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry; at

Brashear, the First Battalion, Eleventh U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery; at Bayou Boeuf and

Tigerville, to protect the railroad, one company Seventy-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, divided; at

Bayou Des Allemands and Boutte, on the railroad, one company of the Seventy-eighth U.S.

Colored Infantry, divided; at Terre Bonne and La Fourche Crossing, on the railroad, one

company Seventy-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, divided; two companies Seventy-eighth U.S.

Colored Infantry and one company Third Rhode Island Cavalry at Thibodeaux, and the four

remaining companies of the Seventy-eighth not disposed of to be held as a reserve at

Thibodeaux, and the Fourth Iowa Battery, which has more than one year and a half to serve,

reduced to a four-gun battery and held at Thibodeaux as a reserve. Thibodeaux is supplied from

Terre Bonne Station, on the railroad. At Donaldsonville, Company G, Tenth U.S. Colored Heavy

Artillery; one company Seventy-eighth U.S. Colored Infantry, and one company Third Rhode

Island Cavalry. Donaldsonville and Plaquemine are supplied by the river. This disposition I

believe is necessary for the quiet of the country, the protection of the well disposed, and the

enforcement of the laws for a time at least, but I do not believe more will be needed. It will leave

for disposal the Seventy-fifth U.S. Colored Infantry, whose time expires in November; the

Twenty-fifth New York Battery, whose time expires in December; Company A, Second Illinois

Light Artillery, Company D, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and eight companies of the Third

Rhode Island Cavalry.

The condition of the country is one of great distress and destitution. The ravages of the

caterpillar upon the cotton crop, the merciless seizing of forage and subsistence by the rebels,

with the present overflow, leaves many without food, and nearly all in circumstances of distress.

The paroled rebel soldiers appear inclined to be quiet, and man) are asking to take the oath. The

only thing I find in any way embarrassing is the prejudice against colored soldiers, and a

lingering hope still manifest among a few of the wealthy and educated, and consequently

influential, for the return of slavery. There are some jayhawkers or guerrillas, but with a proper

disposition of our forces, which I have suggested, and especially of the cavalry companies, we

can soon hunt them down. There are no supplies which can be procured in the country at a less

cost to the Government than from depot, except fresh beef and sugar, both of which I believe can

be procured at Washington or New Iberia much cheaper than at New Orleans. Parties tell me that

they think beef can be contracted for at 7 or 8 cents net. With the railroad repaired to Brashear,

and Washington supplied for six months, all the steam transportation needed would be one or at

most two small steamboats to run from Brashear to New Iberia, from which point

communication can be kept up with Washington via Vermillionville and Opelousas. This boat

can be dispensed with as soon as the regular packet line from Brashear to New Iberia is

established.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. A. CAMERON,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers: Commanding District.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, BENTON'S DIVISION,

Clarksville, Tex., June 16, 1865.

Brig. Gen. J. R. SLACK,

Commanding U.S. Forces:

GENERAL: In obedience to the instructions of the major-general commanding U.S. forces

on the Rio Grande I have the honor to report to you with my command for duty.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOMAS H. BENTON, JR.,

Colonel Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, Comdg. Second Brigade.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 115.

HDQRS. NORTHERN DIV. OF LOUISIANA,

Shreveport, La., June 17, 1865.

I. The Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry and the Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry Volunteers,

coming within the provisions of General Orders, No. 64, headquarters Military Division of West

Mississippi, will be mustered out of the service at this place and put en route for their respective

States. Brigadier-General Dennis, commanding First Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, to which

these regiments are attached, will be charged with the execution of this order.

II. The Forty-sixth Illinois Veteran Infantry will be forwarded without delay to Natchitoches,

La., and relieve the Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, now doing duty at that point. The Twenty-first

Iowa Infantry, on being relieved, will proceed to Baton Rouge, La., for the purpose of being

mustered out of the service in accordance with General Orders, No. 64, headquarters Military

Division of West Mississippi. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary

transportation.

By command of Major-General Herron:

WM. H. CLAPP,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 13.

HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE SOUTHWEST,

New Orleans, La., June 18, 1865.

2. Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, U.S. Volunteers, will assume command of the followingnamed

regiments, and the commanding officers of said regiments will report their respective

commands to him on their arrival at Alexandria, La.: Seventh Indiana Cavalry, First Iowa

Cavalry, Fifth Illinois Cavalry, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, Second Wisconsin Cavalry.

3. The commanding officer of the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry will at once report with his

command to Major-General Merritt, chief of cavalry of this division, at Shreveport, La.

4. So much of Special Orders, No. 8, current series, from these headquarters, as directs the

Second New Jersey Cavalry, to report to Major-General Merritt, chief of cavalry, is hereby

revoked.

By command of Major-General Sheridan:

E. B. PARSONS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

e for the reason that the assistant commissary of musters of the First Division, Thirteenth

Corps, could not be spared to muster them out at the posts where stationed. In addition to this the

Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry and the Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry have been directed to

prepare their rolls, and will be mustered out here in a few days. Each of the four regiments above

named comes under the provisions of General Orders, No. 64, current series, from headquarters

Military Division of West Mississippi. I have sent the Eighth Illinois Infantry to Marshall, Tex.,

to garrison that place. These dispositions leave me the Forty-seventh Indiana Veteran Infantry at

this post, besides the cavalry. The country, however, is quiet, and small garrisons, especially of

infantry, are preferable to large. Col. W. H. Dickey, Eighty-fourth U.S. Colored Infantry,

stationed at Monroe, La., reports the arrival of a regiment from Major-General Reynolds'

command at Camden, Ark., and I have directed him to withdraw the detachment of his regiment

stationed at the latter place to Monroe. This will give a stronger garrison at that point and will

enable Colonel Dickey to keep the country in his vicinity quiet. I am using the cavalry through

the country to quiet the negroes and disperse guerrillas. The people are generally disposed to be

peaceable and to submit quietly to the new order of things.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

F. J. HERRON,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF TEXAS,

Galveston, Tex., June 19, 1865.

Col. F. W. MOORE,

Commanding Third Brigade, Second Division:

Colonel; By direction of the major-general commanding, you will have the One hundred and

fourteenth Ohio Volunteers and Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteers, under command of the senior

officer, sent to Houston to-morrow. It is desirable that the troops leave as early as 6 o'clock tomorrow

morning. Captain Atwood, assistant quartermaster, will place at your disposal the

steamer Island City for transportation of wagons, animals, forage, the rations the men cannot

carry on their persons, and such troops as she can carry in addition. He will also place at your

disposal a railroad train capable of taking the required number of troops properly. Ten days'

subsistence for men and animals, six wagons and teams, and forty rounds of ammunition to the

man will be carried. The officers to command the expedition will report at these headquarters for

further instructions.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. W. EMERY,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS,

Little Rock, Ark., June 19, 1865.

Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE

Commanding Military Division of the Missouri, Saint Louis:

I have no mounted force at Gibson or Smith. Second and Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry

(dismounted)are being mustered out Ninth Kansas Cavalry, now at Devall's Bluff, will be fully

mounted and the Sixth consolidated with it. Fourteenth Iowa Infantry is at Gibson as garrison,

but will also be mustered out as soon as relieved by troops en route to this department. The force

reported in yours of 15th as en route will, I think, be sufficient, with what will remain in service.

I have no intimation of any movement of Indians.

J. J. REYNOLDS,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI,

Saint Louis, Mo., June 21, 1865.

Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. SULLY,

Sioux City, Iowa:

GENERAL: Your two letters of June 10 are received. In relation to Colonel Dimon you can

act as you think best. Peace should, if possible, be made with the Cheyennes and Sioux. I have

several times urged this upon you. Make what arrangements with them as seem judicious to you

(except the payment of money or goods), and I will see that your terms are approved. If all the

Sioux and Cheyennes would agree to remain in the region of country north of the Platte, I am

sure the Government would sanction the arrangement and adopt measures to keep whites entirely

out of their country. We want peace with the Indians, if we can get a peace which has any

element of permanency. You know very well that such treaties as are made by Indian agents,

giving the Indians money and goods, only lead surely to more hostilities, in the hope of getting

more treaties and more money and goods. Such treaties are not to be thought of. Use all your

energy to settle matters satisfactorily with the Indians as speedily as possible. No troops

stationed at frontier posts or engaged in Indian campaign are to be mustered out. Act on this.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. POPE,

Major-General, Commanding.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 2.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF TEXAS,

Galveston, Tex., June 22, 1865.

3. The Twenty-third Iowa Volunteers will proceed as early to-morrow morning as practicable

by boat or rail to Houston; thence by first train to Alleyton; from Alleyton the regiment will

march to Columbus and there take post, preserve order, and protect public and private property.

Major Avery, aide-de-camp to the major-general commanding, will give the commanding officer

special instructions.

4. The One hundred and fourteenth Ohio Volunteers will be moved to Millican by railroad as

soon as possible, there to take post, preserve order, and protect public and private property.

Major Avery, aide-de-camp to the major-general commanding, will give the commanding officer

special instructions.

By order of Major-General Granger:

F. W. EMERY,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE PLAINS,

Julesburg, Colo. Ter., June 22, 1865.

Col. R. R. LIVINGSTON,

Commanding East Sub-District, Port Kearny, Nebr. Ter.:

COLONEL: The general commanding directs me to inform you that a small party of Sioux

Indians will arrive at your post in a few days, under charge of Capt. John Wilcox, Seventh Iowa

Cavalry, or such other escort as he may in his judgment detail. You will receive the Indians,

continue them disarmed, feed them as cheaply as possible, treat them kindly, and hang any who

try to escape; and until otherwise ordered you will not permit them to leave the limits of your

post. The males of the party will be required to work for their subsistence.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. F. PRICE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF EAST LOUISIANA,

Baton Rouge, La., June 23, 1865.

Lieut. Col. C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General, New Orleans:

The Eleventh Illinois Infantry Volunteers and Twenty-first Iowa Infantry Volunteers arrived

here this morning from Shreveport with orders from General Herron to remain here and wait

muster out.

Very respectfully,

M. K. LAWLER,

Brevet Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS,

Brazos Santiago, Tex., June 23, 1865.

Capt. J. F. LACEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

SIR: The First Division of my corps will commence moving to White's Ranch at 4 o'clock

this p.m. There will be four brigades to encamp there, and there being a scarcity of room I would

respectfully request that the Twenty-ninth Iowa and Seventh United States be moved to some

other point.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. WEITZEL,

Major-General of Volunteers.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DIST. OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI,

No. 42. Springfield, Mo., June 23, 1865.

In compliance with Special Orders, No. 164, current series, from headquarters Department of

the Missouri, the undersigned hereby assumes command of the District of Southwest Missouri.

The district staff will remain as at present constituted, with the addition of First Lieut. G. G.

Bennett, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteers, aide-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant-general.

THOMAS J. McKEAN,

Brigadier-General, U.S. Volunteers.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 22.

HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE SOUTHWEST,

New Orleans, La., June 30, 1865.

3. Col. William McE. Dye, Twentieth Iowa Volunteers, having reported to these

headquarters in compliance with orders from the headquarters of the Department of the Gulf,

will report in person without delay to the major-general commanding for instructions.

By command of Major-General Sheridan:

E. B. PARSONS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE UPPER ARKANSAS,

Fort Riley, July 3, 1865.

Maj. Gen. G. M. DODGE,

Commanding Department of the Missouri:

I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding the following as

regards the state of my district: The Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry,

Second Colorado Cavalry, two companies of Third Wisconsin Cavalry, one company of Seventh

Iowa Cavalry, and the greater portion of the Second and Fifth Regiments U.S. Volunteer Infantry

are stationed along the Santa Fe road from Little Arkansas River on the east to Fort Dodge and

Cimarron Crossing on the west. I can at any time send one or two expeditions south of the river

(500 or 600 men each), but do not deem it best to send any south until Colonel Leavenworth can

be heard again. He writes from the mouth of the Little Arkansas on the 27th ultimo that the

hostile Indians held a great council near Fort Cobb, at which a Texan officer was present, who

told them that the whites had made peace among themselves, and advised them to make peace

with the whites. The Southern Indians, Kiowas, Comanches, and Apaches, all gave in at once,

and said they would send out no more war parties north. The Cheyennes and Arapahoes,

however, did not decide. He further reports that most of the Indians have gone to the Wichita

Mountains and Red River, which corresponds with what I can learn from my scouts. Colonel

Leavenworth expects to meet the Indians by the 15th instant about eighty miles below the mouth

of the Little Arkansas, and will inform me of the result of his council immediately. The Indians

had all heard of the Senatorial committee and their desire to make peace with them, and know

that there has been a large increase of the troops along the roads, making it impossible for them

to make anything by continued hostilities, as trains and coaches are too well guarded for them to

capture them. I therefore think that Colonel Leavenworth will succeed in making peace with the

Indians. All trains, coaches, &c., are now passing safely through the district. Five hundred teams

left Fort Larned on the 1st instant for Fort Lyon and New Mexico, escorted by one company of

New Mexico cavalry and one company Second U.S. Volunteer Infantry, under command of

Captain Cowgill, Second U.S. [Volunteer] Infantry. The troops are now so stationed along the

entire Santa Fe route that it will be impossible to capture any trains or coaches unless it be from

the carelessness of post or escort commanders.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAS. H. FORD,

Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 28.

HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE SOUTHWEST,

New Orleans, La., July 6, 1865.

5. The Thirty-third Iowa Volunteers is hereby transferred from the Thirteenth Army Corps to

the Department of the Gulf. The commanding officer will report without delay to Major-General

Canby for orders.

By command of Major-General Sheridan:

E. B. PARSONS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HOUSTON, July 10, 1865.

Maj. F. W. EMERY.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Galveston:

The Thirtieth Missouri goes to Columbus by rail today, and will relieve Twenty-third Iowa,

which I will send to Galveston. Expect to-morrow to send Twenty-ninth Illinois to Millican to

relieve One hundred and fourteenth Ohio.

C. C. ANDREWS,

Brevet Major-General.

OFFICE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE, DISTRICT OF TEXAS,

Galveston, July 10, 1865.

Maj. F. W. EMERY,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

MAJOR: I have the honor to report that immediately after my arrival (June 25), in

compliance with Special Orders, No. 1, I obtained an interview with the Confederate States

commissioners to ascertain what property, it any, pertaining to my department they were

prepared to turn over. I was informed by Major Von Harten, commissioner, Major Willke, late

chief of ordnance, and other gentlemen connected with the department, that owing to the

desertion of the Confederate troops and the pillage and destruction of Government property by

them just after the surrender, it was impossible for the property to be regularly transferred as

stipulated in the terms of surrender, and that they were unable to collect it or give any

information regarding the present locality of the stores. Of the condition of the department at that

time you are sufficiently well informed. I immediately took steps to have competent officers

appointed at sub-district and post headquarters as acting assistant ordnance officers to facilitate

the collection of the stores, and forwarded to you June 30 a request to that effect; to which you

replied that it was not practicable to make such appointments at present, but that officers would

be appointed at each post to receive all Government property, including ordnance. Owing to the

unsettled condition of the troops and limited means of communication, I have been unable as yet

to obtain reports from these officers except from the post of Houston, and the line of the Texas

Central Railroad as far as Navasota, where every effort is being made to bring in the stores. I

have secured the appointment of an efficient officer, Lieut. R. E. Martin, Thirty-fourth Iowa, as

depot ordnance officer, who has in charge all the defenses of Galveston, and is rapidly collecting

the stores. In addition, he has, under my instructions, made requisitions for such stores as will

probably be needed by the troops during the present quarter. I would respectfully call your

attention to the fact that requisitions on the depot at New Orleans for stores for this district are

revised by some chief of ordnance at that point, whether of Department of the Gulf or Military

Division of the Southwest I am unable to ascertain, and if deemed too extravagant by them are

cut down to much less than the originals, which under my direction have been carefully prepared

in accordance with the probable requirements of the service. Having ascertained that much of the

light artillery and ordnance was in the vicinity of Shreveport, La., although within the limits of

Texas, I forwarded July 7 to the depot ordnance officer at that place a request to render all

assistance in his power to secure the property. No communications have yet been received with

regard to amount or condition of stores on the Gulf coast. The small arms collected up to this

time are mostly in the hands of provost-marshals, and cannot, therefore, be reported on. I

respectfully suggest that the ownership of a large quantity of cannon powder, amounting to about

100 barrels, now in the city magazine at Houston, and claimed by the mayor of that place to

belong to private parties, be investigated by the provost-marshal's department and the legality of

such claim reported on.

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SEYMOUR HOWELL,

Captain and Chief of Ordnance.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,

Milwaukee, Wis., July 12, 1865.

Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. SULLY,

In the Field:

DEAR GENERAL: My last news from you is dated at Fort Sully on the 1st instant. I hardly

know how this will reach you, but will send through by General Sibley's lines. I have nothing

important to say. You seem to be moving all right, and I hope your progress may not be

impeded. I see General Sibley has started the Third Illinois Cavalry to join you if they can, but I

hope you are in advance and may arrive at Devil's Lake before they reach you. They left Saint

Paul about the 6th instant. I do not think the hostile bands will make any stand, and only hope

you may scare them still farther from the settlements; but I especially want you to select a site for

a fort at or near Devil's Lake. General Pope has sent a large force out on the plains from Omaha

and Leavenworth, and I trust he will fill up the void created by muster-out in your rear. The Sixth

and Seventh Iowa will probably go out; also the rebel recruits. Such are recent orders. Colonel

Pollock will, of course, go out with his regiment. I recommend you to release him for the

purpose of mustering out. I cannot send a court to try him; besides, the witnesses must be with

your command. No further troubles have been reported of Indian assaults on the Minnesota

settlements, and I concur with you in the belief that the report from Abercrombie of great

gatherings of all tribes west of the Missouri is a mere marvel, excited by some arrivals from the

west. The buffalo followers cannot take great numbers far away from their game. Small parties

will and may make considerable ventures to steal horses and take scalps, but great Indian

combinations cannot be made and should not be anticipated. It is only small bands that may take

the offensive and annoy the settlements. To prevent this such columns as you are now leading

must press them back, and if possible follow their war parties, so as to prevent their success. I am

recovering from wounded arms received by a fall. It gives me some pain to write, but I am far

better than I was, and will be entirely well in a few days more, so my surgeon thinks. I hope you

will continue to write often, giving me incidents by the way. Nothing of importance is