James O. Gower to C. W. MarsH, January 25, 1863

Col. C. W. MarsH, Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that we are succeeding very well in crossing the river, and will have everything over by to-morrow night. Both of the batteries are now safely over. On yesterday morning I sent a scout of 100 men, under Major Anderson, to Carrollton, which will return to-morrow evening. I started Grayson’s train (60 wagons) to Springfield yesterday, also a train of 80 wagons, which reached us here on the evening of the 23d instant. You are probably aware that General Herron took with him his entire staff, except Captain Littleton, commissary of subsistence, and Lieutenant Pettit, acting assistant quartermaster. Captain Littleton asked to be relieved on the 21st, saying that he had orders to report to General Herron in Springfield. I accordingly detailed Capt. H. Jordan, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry, to relieve him, and he has also gone, making a transfer of his subsistence stores to Captain Jordan. Lieutenant Pettit desires also to be relieved and join his regiment, the Thirty-eighth Iowa Infantry. I have, of course, given no leave of absence, and very much doubt the propriety of their leaving. I shall, however, be able to detail competent officers to take charge of these departments for the present. We are suffering much for the want of horseshoes and nails. The quartermaster assures me that his requisition is in for a sufficient supply, but is unable to get them. I report it to you because I think the service is suffering and the Government losing vastly by not furnishing a supply of these articles. I have called upon Lieutenant-Colonel Baldwin, provost-marshal of the division, to furnish a written statement of what disposition was made of the 9 prisoners of war (referred to in Col. Dan. Huston’s letter) supposed to have been murdered at Huntsville, Ark., on the 10th instant, and will report as soon as the matter can be investigated. I have no doubt but that some officer of this division ordered these men shot, and regard it myself as a great outrage.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,