James G. Blunt to Samuel R. Curtis, April 6, 1863

Maj. Gen. SAMUEL R. CURTIS, Commanding Department of the Missouri :

GENERAL: In reply to your telegram of the 3d instant, I have the honor to say that the utmost prudence and caution will be exercised by me i regard to the management of affairs in the border counties of Missouri. Missouri troops will be used as far as available for that purpose. Lf additional troops are needed, I shall send such as are reliable, and the whole, so far as Jackson County, at least, is concerned, will be under the immediate control of Colonel Penick, who I understand is an efficient officer.

Upon reaching here, on my return from Saint Louis, I learned that the Eleventh and Tenth, a part of the Sixth Regiments, and the First Kansas Battery had arrived near Fort Scott, and a part of the men had been sent home for thirty days. This was done by Colonel Weer, and, as I understand, with the approval of General Schofield. Colonel Weer himself went with a part of the Wisconsin Third and the Wisconsin Ninth in the direction of Forsyth. Before leaving the Kansas troops, Weer made an inflammatory speech to them, in which he declared that he (Weer) and General Schofield were their only friends, and that he would take the respuusibility of sending them home. He also denounced me to the troops in the most disrespectful and violent terms. For this and for many other acts of insubordination he should be dishonorably dismissed trom the service. I shall have the matter put in proper shape and forwarded to you for your action. I shall get the troops together again as soon as possible, at least by the time there is sufficient grass to make any movement south, as there is no forage south and east of Fort Scott, but there is plenty of corn in the immediate vicinity of that place.

Phillips has sufficient force below to hold all the country we have occupied unless a larger rebel force is massed in front of him than seems probable at the present time. As soon as there is sufficient grass to subsist animals, I hope to have the stock recruited, which at present is in bad condition; also have the scattered troops together, and be in readiness to move in any direction you may direct; and I would suggest that, in consequence of the condition of the stock and scarcity of forage in Southwestern Missouri, as much time be given them to recruit as possible, unless some demonstration should be made by the rebels in force toward Springfield or Rolla that would require them to be sent in that direction.

Has the Thirteenth Regiment been ordered to report to me, as was talked of when I was in Saint Louis? I am quite anxious that this should be done, for the reasons I then assigned. General Lane is very solicitous about the matter.

I have the honor to be, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,