Francis J. Herron to Francis J. Herron, April 10, 1863

Maj. Gen. F. J. HERRON, Commanding, Rolla, Mo. : Your dispatch of the 9th instant is received. My scouting party from Yellville has returned this evening. They were under Captain Derry, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, and have done excellent service, killing and capturing another party under Major Schroeling. Same regiment has also returned, coming up White River, by way of Dubuque. They have done similar execution. This morning I started a party of 10 men from the First Iowa Cavalry down north side of White River, to Talbot’s zations, has commenced. I have a lot of prisoners, among them one who left Marmaduke’s command the 1st of April. I have also letters taken from bodies of killed. I canonly give you my conclusioi. It is, that Price intends to invade Missouri. He and Kirby Smith are at Little Rock with 20,000 and sixty pieces of artillery. Marmaduke’s command moved from Batesville last Sunday, but for a short distance. He has Shelby’s and Shallen’s rage ?] brigades and Elliott’s battalion, with six pieces of artillery, all iron save one, which is a brass piece they claim to have captured from Springfield. His men are in fine sp:rits; were 14 RB R—VOL XXII, PT paid to last December, and have unbounded faith in “old Pap.” He has received supplies from below by two steamboats, Blue Wing and Tom Suggs. The river is getting low, and his late move was simply to place himself at the head of navigation. He can easily be captured if you will move toward his front, and let me go between him and Little Rock. I can see no escape. White River is a humbug; it can be crossed anywhere. Unless a movement is made offensive, my opinion is that he will fall back to Little Rock and escape us. A splendid foraging region is below us. To-morrow I will commence arranging defenses for my artillery; but in all candor I must say to you that I feel that my place is nearer the enemy than where I am. You may have better information than my own, but I feel it a duty to say to you that an army is organizing in our front; that we can destroy that army by detail. In the mean time I shall faithfully obey your instructions. W. M. WEER, Colonel, Commanding Post. Fort LEAVENWORTH, KANS., April 11, 1863. You are directed not to cross the Arkansas River with the view of holding a position there until further orders. But these instructions are not to be construed to prevent you from making a dash upon the enemy upon the other side of the river, when it can be done with advantage and safety. But any arrangements to occupy a position there permanently must be deferred for the present. Keep your forces within supporting distance, and do not suffer the enemy to mass their forces and attack you in detail. JAS. G. BLUNT, Major-General, Com ROLLA, Mo., April 11, 1863. I have 3,000 cavalry here, but poorly mounted; probably one-half that number fit for service. If my requisitions for horses were promptly filled, I could have the whole force ready for duty. They will all be needed soon, and the horses should be sent me without delay. Urge the matter, for I desire to follow Marmaduke in his proposed movements.

F. J. HERRON,