Unknown to Major-General CURTIS, February 17, 1863
Major-General CURTIS, Commanding Department of the Missouri :
Sir: I am again moving my whole command southwest. I have men out to support Colonel Harrison and hold or take the rebel force at Van Buren—nearly all my available mounted force—and I shall leave my trains at or near Bentonville, so as, to be in supporting distance of Fayetteville, in front of Fort Blunt, southwest on the line between the State and Nation, 20 miles distant, where I have a strong station, and also be in way of Elkhorn, by which point, if hard pressed so as to meet them, any re-enforcements must come.
Here there is mud that often makes my wagons sink to the bed; swollen streams that stop or retard my movements, and little forage. Still, I hope to be able to hold at least all we gained in autamn.
Our Arkansas friends are anxious for us to make a forward movement southeast, but I have forbidden any movement of my troops in that direction, unless needed to take the boats or forces that have ventured to Fort Smith.
Our friends in Arkansas are anxious to have us forward, to show their loyalty, but I have deemed it inexpedient to call out demonstrations of loyalty until we can protect them.
I have not taken Fort Smith (however easily done, and gratifying to our pride it might be), until we can hold the line of the river.
I am still without dispatches or orders from you. Colonel Harrison informs me that General Schofield ordered the battalion of the Tenth Illinois away from Fayetteville. I thought it strange that orders to weaken my force should be sent, and not to my headquarters. There are strong reasons why I would urge that those three companies should stay. The Arkansas force is very raw, and ought not, would
respectfully
of white troops I have got are insufficient to aid me in a proper discipline and restraint of the Indian troops, and I am in no condition to spare any. [ have still one party across Arkansas, on the Canadian
River, on animportant expedition. The heavy force I had in the Nation I
have ordered to fall [back] from the west toward the heavy force I had
Scott three days ago. I sent the sick and wounded of the First Division with it, and have thus got Fayetteville clear of a hospital.
As the Cherokee legislature has not yet adjourned, I left at Camp
John Ross 100 men to guard it. I think they will be able to wind up