Henry H. Sibley to John Pope, September 6, 1864

Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE, Milwaukee :

GENERAL: I have the honor to state that your dispatches by telegraph of 5th instant were received last evening. The orders to Colonel Thomas and Major Clowney (sealed) directed the march of the companies of Wisconsin volunteers to this point as soon as relieved, The error occurred in my dispatch to you of 2d instant, which I wrote, having before my mind the previous orders from you that these companies would march overland to the Missouri. The company of Wisconsin volunteers from Fort Ridgely had to be dispatched as escort to the large and valuable train of public stores destined for Fort Wadsworth, as I had no other disposable force. Orders will be sent to-day, which will overtake the train, that Company G shall return if, peradventure, it should meet the other companies of Wisconsin volunteers on their way down, which is, however, not at all probable, as nothing had been heard at Wadsworth from Thomas’ command as late as 25th ultimo. It would not have been necessary to detail Company G, Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteers, for the escort duty referred to if the cavalry force escorting Fisk’s train to the Missouri had not been unaccountably delayed. I am, general,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,