Samuel R. Curtis to Major-General Curtis, January 21, 1863

Major-General CurRTIS, Saint Louis:

By direction of the President, Major-General Grant will assume the command of all troops in Arkansas which may be within reach of his orders. The portion of Arkansas occupied by such troops will be temporarily attached to the Department of the Tennessee.

H. W. HALLEOK, General-in-Chief (Same to Major-General Grant.)

66 M. O., ARK., KANS., IND. T., AND DEPT. N. W. (CHar. XXXIV.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri, Saint Louis, January 21, 1863.

Major-Gen:ral MCCLERNAND, Commanding Army of the Mississippi:

GENERAL: Arkadelphia, at the head of navigation on the Washita River, 70 or 80 miles southwest from Little Rock, and 65 miles north of Monroe, Ark., is the great store-house and arsenal of the rebels in the west. They have there manufactories for guns, ammunition, and clothing, besides large supplies of various sorts. It generally has but a small garrison. That point, it is said, can be reached by a good road’from Gaines’ Landing, on the Mississippi, in 87 miles, a point 21 miles below Napoleon. If a dash could be made on Arkadelphia, it would terribly disconcert and cripple the rebels of the Trans-Mississippi. If you should have time, I recommend the matter to your favorable consideration. A strong force, to prevent flank movements, should go out 40 or 50 miles, and a ferce of cavalry and light artillery should do the rest in about eight days. I fear the swamps in the eastern part of the route may embarrass this undertaking. As I have ordered General Gorman, so I recommend to you: We must defer everything to the opening of the Mississippi.

Iam, general, very truly,

your obedient servant,