Egbert B. Brown to Saint Louis, September 8, 1864

Maj. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS,

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that in order to afford some protection to the eastern portion of the district, I have ordered Major Kelly, with five companies of the Fourth Missouri State Militia, to move from La Fayette County to the east, and after scouting the Blackwater and La Mine River and Cooper County to leave two companies of his command in Cooper and rendezvous with the balance at Sedalia. Lieu tenant-Colonel Lazear with ten companies of the First Missouri State Militia are in La Fayette and Saline Counties. The detachments of the Seventh Missouri State Militia and section Company L, Second Missouri Volunteer Artillery, on the Fanny Ogden (now on the way from Kansas City to Glasgow), have been ordered to land at Lexington and move to this post. The boat is ordered to Jefferson City, and on her arrival I intend to relieve her from duty, as but little good has been accomplished by the troops on board of her. Colonel Switzler’s recruits for the Forty-fifth Regiment Missouri Volunteers have been moved to Sedalia. It will be necessary to make a detail for guards at the Osage and Gasconade bridges and for post guard at Jefferson City from the Forty-fifth in place of the One hundred and thirty-fifth [Illinois], whose term of service has about expired. When the movements are completed the Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry and eight pieces of artillery Second Missouri Volunteer Artillery will be concentrated here and guarding the railroad and country in Johnson and Pettis; the Second Colorado in Jackson and Cass; ten companies First Missouri State Militia in La Fayette and Saline, with two companies in Henry and Saint Clair; the Fourth Missouri State Militia recruits, Forty-fifth, and five companies of the Provisional and Enrolled Missouri Militia in the eastern part of the district. I donot think that we have cause to apprehend a concentration of guerrillas in force, and the stories of a large number of Shelby’s men being in the district are not confirmed. The parties who were reported to be in Cooper County ten days since were Todd’s men, having been quiet for a time the better to accomplish their purposes of robbery and murder. They have now escaped to the west, and are by this time in their old haunts in the Sni Hills. I am, very truly,

your obedient servant,