Samuel R. Curtis to James G. Blunt, April 10, 1863

Maj. Gen. JAMES G. BLUNT, Leavenworth, Kans. : GENERAL: Yours of the 6th was duly received. I have directed Weer to be arrested. Send on your charges. General Ewing’s report corroborates your statements. Efforts are made to confound the “Red Legs” with our Federal troops, and prejudice your command of a part of Missouri. I therefore sent the telegram to which you refer. I told everybody you would be better able to put down the “Red Legs.” As to moving the Thirteenth, that must be delayed until we get back some of the troops sent away by Weer. I have also news of a movement by Marmaduke, and we cannot tell where he may turn up. He gave out that he was moving against Pilot Knob, but he may be going quite a different way. It is pretty certain he has moved over to this side of White River and moved north. It is also pretty certain that Price is trying to muster forces for a movement northward. Our troops must be completely fitted for a fight, and you must get all the new recruits you can. [am trying to get a complete outfit for a battery which has been mustered at Fayetteville. Harrison informs me that Johnson’s regiment is full, and they have com- menced raising another. It is time to increase our infantry, as cavalry will soon be almost useless, for the want of forage in the country where we will have to operate. Grass will rot do for moving armies iv the South; there is not enough on the ground. I do not see how Price can equip and feed an army in the Arkansas Valley. I hope we will be able to drive him down into Texas, but even there grass grows very thin on the ground. The great fight at Charleston is now the absorbing topic. I have no doubt our troops will make great efforts to beat down those terrible batteries, but they have a work of giants before them. Keep Ine posted, general. I remain, very truly, yours,

SAML. R. CURTIS,