Samuel R. Curtis to Salomon, April 20, 1863

Colonel SALOMON: DEAR Sie: General Herron consents that the infantry be moved to Springfield. You will, therefore, start them as soon as possible, including your own regiment and the Nineteenth Iowa. The cavalry will carry out the programme already made known to them by me. They, however, should be paid before you start, and bring with you the paymaster. Let the cavalry go south, and return by way of Hartville, where they will probably find us. Let them inquire for us all along from White River north, as we may be in the south part of Wright County. Captains Shaw and Off should join Lieutenant-Colonel White, if practicable. If they have not arrived before you start, some word should be left with the inhabitants to that effect. Arrangements should also be made with the paymaster to deposit their pay here for them. You will remember there are some one hundred guns and ammunition, intended for arming independent organizations in Arkansas. If any wellknown, loyal, and responsible man, leader of a company, will receipt for them, you may turn them over to him, or any portion of them, taking his receipt and the names of his men; if not, bring them with you. Let the idea be circulated that this class of men can get arms by calling upon me anywhere. If the cavalry do not hear of us at Hartville, they will have to come to Springfield. Bring away the ferry-boat rope, and secure the boats by hiding them, if possible. Yours, truly, W. M. WEER, Colonel, Commanding Division. P. S.—The rebels made a dash at Fayetteville and got whipped. No important news from east. 230 M. O., ARK., KANS., IND. T., AND DEPT. N. W. (CHaP. XXXIV HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo., April 20, 1863. CoLONEL: Yours of the 14th was duly received. I am glad to see you have put the troops to moving about; it is far better for them, and will keep the rebel camps in great fear. Lam glad also to see that General Hall heartily co-operates. I think you are making a favorable impression in the district. There is no law which would give us authority to receive the militia as United States troops, unless the President will so accept them under the conscript law. By that law, all persons between twenty and forty-five are the United States forces; and it may be the President could, under that law, continue the neighborhood organizations, and furnish the forces as United States troops. I have not studied the question. When the proper officers are appointed, this may be considered. In the mean time, when we have a sensible man like General Hall to deal with, I think we can get on very well. I suppose the quartermaster furnishes those who are in the service, and I do not care what they are called, if they will only be ready to fight rebels when they show their hand in Missouri. Very truly, your friend, SAML. R. CURTIS, Major-General. [DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri,] April 20, 1863. Colone! PHILLIPS, In the Field: Colonel Harrison has repulsed the enemy; but the danger was imminent, and the risk should not have been taken. You must be near enough to support him, or he must be near enough to support you. If you had been near enough to co-operate, the enemy could have been pursued, and his artillery taken. Your force is not strong enough to operate in separate commands against formidable force. There is no need of it. You, being the senior officer in that portion of General Blunt’s district, will see that such risks are not repeated.

SAML. R. CURTIS,