John Pope to Henry W. Halleck, March 17, 1863

Milwaukee; Wis., March 17, 1863. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Ohieft, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I transmit inelosed a letter which General Ourtis has forwarded to me,* and invite your attention to it. The statements contained in it are, I have no doubt, true, as they came to me through other reliable sources. The condition of things set forth as obtaining in the southern counties of Lowa is to be found in less, but increasin,, degree both in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The same reports are also sent to me from Dakota, but the presence of a military force in the Territory will be sufficient to prevent any serious consequences. I think that the state of affairs in the Northwest, in the particulars referred to in the accompanying letter, is grave enough to engage the serious attention of the Government. It is, doubtless, impolitic to take any present action on the subject, but matters should be so arranged that the necessary steps can be taken as soon as the emergency arises. Some wellconsidered system to meet the condition of things which is likely to obtain in this department as soon as it is attempted to execute the late conscription act should be determived on in advance, and the necessary means be placed in readiness to carry it out. I am not prepared to say how much or how extensive the danger is from these sources, but that organizations are being made in various parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota to resist, by force, the execution of the conscript law, I do not doubt, and I therefore consider it proper to invite the attention of the Government to the subject in time to provide tor any contingency.

respectfully, your obedient servant,