Samuel R. Curtis to Henry W. Halleck, March 24, 1863

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

GENERAL: Pursuant to your letter marked official, and directed to the late General Sumner, as commander of this department, I have directed a change in the destination of the Fourth Missouri and First Wisconsin Oavalry, from General Grant to General Rosecrans. I have sent the Marine Brigade, under General Ellet, and eight regiments, under General Carr, and three Iowa regiments, parts in Iowa and parts in Benton Barracks, await the union contemplated in their orders to move if transports can be secured. I have only sent infantry and artillery, supposing these arms were most available for General Grant; and transports being insufficient for the whole, I send these forces first. Kvery order or request requiring troops from my command has been filled with all the promptness possible, and to the full extent of your meaning, and whoever ” reports” to the contrary, gives you false and pernicious representations. There is an effort, as you know, to get all the Federal force out of the State (a consummation devoutly desired by me), and those who cater to this idea may make a showing of the sick,

the broken regiments, and paroled prisoners to some effect ; but, in fact, my force has been relieved from battle to press forward through rain and mud and snow, barefooted, to meet your utmost expectations. When you require me to judge of numbers and destination, I use my best judgment. If you interpose yours, l obey. The moving of General Steele’s force is no exception, as I will show you by the papers, although you continually present this as a mistake or insubordination. I have a single purpose in view, from which I will not swerve during this war while I am kept in service, and that is to labor to the utmost of my ability for the success of our arms, regardless of all consequences to myself. If my services here demonstrate the least incompetency or interference with the rights of others, Ishould beremoved. It is no time for me to accept personal favors. I should despise myself if I urged any personal accommodation which might embarrass your general combination for the national success. Since His Excellency has published an order relieving me from this command, I hcpe the untimely death of the gallant Sumner will not prevent him from a consummation of his purpose, and I have taken the liberty to so request him, for the order being published seems to augment the arguments in favor of a change. However he or you may determine my position, I shall promptly obey, and cordially continue to do all in my power to accomplish your purposes.

Just half a year has transpired since I was assigned to this command. You know, from experience, the labors incident to it, and I am conscious of having exerted my utmost efforts to fulfill my duty, which is alla just commander or a generous country will require of frail humanity.

If we can occupy the Arkansas River with a force, the troops needed in Missouri will be less; but it will not do for my successor to rely on civil authority, while the rebels continue to receive promise of some returning wave of rebellion, and the demon of discord continues to reign.

With a reasonable force and prudent successor, I shall confidently rely on the future progressive success of the Department of the Missouri.

I have the honor to remain, general, your obedient servant,