W. A. Phillips to James G. Blunt, April 24, 1863

Major-General BLUNT: Srz: Lhave just received your dispatches of the 20th instant; also General Ourtis’ dispatches of same date. Your dispatches direct me to do just precisely what I have done. General Curtis seems to intimate that I should not have left Arkansas, which I had to do under your orders. His orders in this dispatch are to move back to Arkansas, or move Harrison toward me. As I cannot go toward Fayetteville without disobeying your orders and injuring the Indian command, and prejudicing the Government interests in the Nation vitally, I ordered Colonel Harrison to proceed toward the Nation, to the prairie near Hildebrand’s Mill, where there will be grass for his stock, and where I can support him. I design keeping this post, where there is a strong fortification that will be in good shape in a few days. I will also keep a command at Park, Hill to watch toward Evansville. We have so far driven them back both in Western Arkansas and the Indian Territory. Colonel Harrison has no horses; ponies are run down and grass-fed. AsI have orders from two sources, and as Colonel Harrison seems to get orders occasionally from other quarters, and his supplies and position have been placed beyond my control, my situation has been very emharrassing. I ordered him to move once before, but failed. If I am to be accountable for it, I must control its movements. The enemy are making terrible efforts to reorganize their force. Had I not been here, this country would have been overrun, as the grass maintains stock. If I leave it, it will be overrun again, and the families sent in here by the Government plundered and ruined. In order to save Fayetteville, I ordered Colonel Harrison to join me in an attack on the enemy on the river, that lately attacked him. He refuséd to, or could not move his command. If I had insisted on moving him, he would merely have furnished me a handful. I feel delighted that. he has repulsed Cabell. It was well done. My first report was he was taken in. I had ordered him to throw up earthworks, so as to guard against a cavalry raid, and fall back on me if a solid force threatened him. Ido not see what else I could have done with him. If I get him off in the field, and uway from Fayetteville, I think that command will be in better shape. Steele is at Fort Smith with Colonel Watie’s men, Bryan’s and Cooper’s. Cooper in person is at Scullyville. The enemy have a force at Webber’s Falls again, south side. The rebel Creeks and some Texans are at North Fork, but it is reported that all the rebel force under Cooper and Steele, with some Texans they have, will be caucentrated over the river. IfI get Colonel Harrison’s command with mine, we can take care of Cabell, Steele, Cooper, and all, unless Price re-enforces them. He must bring a heavier force than I think he can bring for a month to come, to drive us back. I do notknow what the condition of Colonel Harrison’s supplies are. When I order him to move, I will direct that his commissary trains be sent from Springfield (from which their supplies, I have been informed, are to come), via Newtonia, Maysville, Hildebrand’s, &c.; a little farther than Fayetteville, but not very much. I want to know whether their transportatic n will warrant mein moving them this way. I would rather concentrate our forces at a point near the line, about Evansville, for instance, leaving a garrison in the fort here when I complete it. The Creeks urge that they have been promised to get back to their Nation. Lieutenant-Colonel Dole thinks moving them from here would have a bad effect. I have no doubt but taking them to Arkansas would be very difficult. This Indian command and the Government’s interests here involve many delicate questions, as you are well aware, requiring prudent management. I do not fear keeping it in shape, but I beg of you to consider the pressing embarrassments that surround it, and the difficulty or impossibility of my keeping this command in Arkansas, until I have secured some degree of safety for the people brought in here. I am, with respect,

W. A. PHILLIPS,