W. M. A. Phillips to Major-General Curtis, January 19, 1863

If you have been relieved by General Grant, you will report for duty to General Curtis at Saint Louis.

HDQRS. 3D BRIG., 1st DIv., ARMY OF THE FRONTIER, Oamp Ourtis, Ark., January 19, 1863. Major-General OURTIS, Commanding Department of the Missouri :

Sir: I have just received a dispatch from General Schofield, dated

Huntsville, Ark., 19th instant, informing me that, under orders from ou, I am to report directly to you as commander of the Highth and inth Districts.

I have ordered my adjutant, Lieutenant Gallaher, to forward at once a consolidated morning report of date, in addition to the tri-monthly reports that have to be made, so that you may be advised of the condition of my forces at the earliest possible moment. As soon as I receive reports of the condition of affairs at Fayetteville I will report it. I started my supply train to Fort Scott. The supply of commissaries’ stores left with me is inadequate, but I am running two little water mills and thrashing wheat, and expect, by giving part rations of sugar, coffee, salt, &c., to make supplies last until the train gets back. I was directed by written orders from General Schofield to hold the line of Arkansas River and subsist the destitute Cherokees and other destitute citizens. In the Indian Nation there is no forage and little food. Hvery scout I send toward Arkansas River costs just so much hogse-flesh. Still, I shall endeavor, if possible, to keep the enemy over the Arkansas River until I go forward and occupy it in the early spring.

There are several other matters of importance connected with the Indian portion of my command requiring the profound and earnest attention of the Government. I shall send separate communications under the separate heads accompanying this report. I have been informed that a party of Indians, said to be Pawnees (I suspect Osages), are on Grand River. Ihave sent a small scout to watch them and report what they are and what they are really doing. As they are 90 miles off, I sent no force, In fact, I shall not divide my force, unless ordered to do so, until I know what has become of Marmaduke. My forces are barely adequate to take him, even if I keep them together, and I am keeping

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scouts out north and northeast and watching for him, so as to take him in if he comes this way. In watching for Marmaduke I have been prevented from doing several other things I desire to do.

In being ordered to supply the distress of the Indian Nation, a task of no common magnitude isimposed. In spite of the large numbers that have left, of course the larger portion of the Cherokee Nation, estimated at; 2,500, are still in the Nation. Last summer was one of drought and reduced crops. The men were in either army, and few were left to till the soil. The armies of General Cooper, expecting the second attack to be through the Nation or down Grand River, destroyed all crops, as a scheme of military policy. The Army of the Frontier went down within Arkansas, and so far has subsisted; but, owing to the causes enumerated, the Nation is little short of a desert. During my last expedition, when I burned Fort Davis, I had to subsist my horses principally on wheat in sheaf, and sometimes I had to march 40 miles to get that, and I had all the information as to supplies that could be obtained.

I shall keep communication open with General Schofield as long as I can reach him.

Colonel Harrison is at Fayetteville, where there is a hospital. Besides his reports, I have desired him to furnish a report of the condition of the sick and wounded at Fayetteville and other matters of moment. I have urged him not to leave Fayetteville unless positively driven away, and that, if necessary, I would support him until your orders were received; to scout in the direction of the enemy, so as not to be taken by surprise, and to send secret scouts to Clarksville or any point on the Arkansas River where the enemy may have forces, and to ascertain, as I have directed my own scouts to ascertain, where they get their supplies and what transportation they have.

The winter, which so long held off, has set in in earnest; snow three days ago; thermometer four degrees below zero here; for two days it has rained or sleeted, having moderated somewhat, but the country here is saturated with water, and all movements, of course, retarded.

I shall inclose a copy of the orders I have received from General Schofield, affecting my general movements. I shall send the following documents: First, a report of the peculiar features and character of and present condition of the Indian command; second, a report of the condition of the Nation; third, a report in reference to negotiations with rebels now in the Indian country, Colonel McIntosh and others, which is, of course, to some extent secret, and, fourth, a statement of what may be necessary for an early spring movement, or an immediate movement, that would be of greater service, no matter who may have the command.

Awaiting your orders, I remain, with profound respect, W. M. A. PHILLIPS, Colonel, Commanding Third Brigade, Army of the Frontier.

Hpgrs. 3D Bria., lst Div., ARMY OF THE FRONTIER, Oamp Ourtis, January 19, 1863. Major-General CURTIS, Oommanding Department of the Missouri:

Sr: I desire to report the peculiar features, character, and present condition of the three Indian regiments. My close connection with them in active service during the past nine months has given me opportunities to judge, and I submit a report as brief as it can be made, believing it is necessary to give the Government a clear idea of the nature and wants of this branch of the service.

only white officers at first were field officers. The regiment did some service in June and July; it became badly demoralized for want of sufficient and competent officers; partially broke up in August; was collected in October, and had white first lieutenants mustered, under General Blunt’s order. Some 300 or 400 of the regiment, who had gone to Leroy in August, and who had refused to leave it, got down with the train just at the time the Army of the Frontier was rebrigaded. The regiment has drilled very little; are indifferently informed as to their duties.

These Creeks are about equal in scale of intelligence to the Delawares of Kansas; they are inferior to the Cherokees. They are now in bad shape, get out their details slowly, sometimes desert a post, or a party when sent on duty; yet 1 would be lacking in my duty to them or the Government if [ failed to say that, with one or two good field officers, military men, and two, or even three, company officers, they could be made very effective. No party of them should be sent without a competent officer. Their own officers are, with few exceptions, useless, but there are one or two men of influence amongst the captains, brave fighters in the field, and of infiuence not to be overlooked. This Creek regiment gives me much more concern than either of the others.

2d. The Second Regiment originally consisted of Osages, Quapaws, &c., and, when it got into the Cherokee Nation, finally of Cherokees. The Osages, who were neither more nor less than savages and thieves, who brought the whole Indian command into disgrace, were finally mustered out during one of their periodic desertions, which fortunately happened at pay time. So of the Quapaws and other broken fragments of tribes that were little better. Under General Blunt’s orders, I recruited for the Second Indian Regiment, and its numbers have been brought up to its present status (see reports) from Cherokees, half-breeds, and whites. Last summer the regiment drilled but little; lately it has improved in that respect. It still lacks necessary officers, but is in a fair way to make a useful force.

3d. The Third Indian Regiment, which was my own, rejoined after its organization, was literally taken from the enemy, and was the heaviest blow dealt in the Southwest last summer. Profiting by the experience of the first two regiments, it was organized by General Blunt’s orders, at my suggestion, with first lieutenants and orderly sergeants picked out of the white regiments in the field. 1 endeavored to secure active, intelligent men, conversant with their duties as soldiers, or non-commissioned officers, and just so far as I succeeded in this the result has been favorable. Unless when on actual march, the regiment had dress parade every evening, and drill and officers’ schools every day. The result is that it is as well drilled as many white regiments that have been a longer time in the service. The regiment has done a great deal of active service, besides innumerable scouts and skirmishes. They were for two hours and forty minutes under hot musketry and finally artillery fire at Newtonia. They participated at Fort Wayne, Cane Hill, Dutch Mills, Prairie Grove, and other engagements. This is the only Indian regiment that is really a success so far, although the Second undoubtedly will be, but there are several errors in its organization, and some few of this command and also the Third absent themselves without leave, which is a chronic Indian weakness.

The error in all the Indian regiments has been in not mustering the

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captains or white officers to be fully responsible for property, and to see orders carried out. Itakethe liberty of suggesting that the necessary officers for an Indian company are, the captain (first lieutenant might be an Indian) and second lieutenant white men; or, better yet, the captain a white man, first lieutenant a white man, second lieutenant an Indian, and orderly sergeant a white man. The white men to be selected from the volunteer army, or from men who thoroughly understand military duties, and who will work hard. It is a blunder to put men of poor ability in an Indian regiment. It requires character, so that the Indians will respect him, and a thorough knowledge of military duties. In a white company, if the captain and lieutenants are ignorant, perhaps some privates in the company can run it, but an Indian company improperly officered is in a frightful mess.

The officers in an Indian regiment have to work very hard to get things in shape. The besetting sin of Indians is laziness. They are brave as death, active to fight, but lazy. They ought invariably to be mounted; they make poor infantry, but first-class mounted riflemen.

The Third Regiment, most of the Second, and half of the First entered the service with their own horses; were paid as infantry, but foraged and shod by department order of General Blunt. Their horses have nearly all been used up in the service. At this time the stock is very poor.

The Third Indian Regiment is of twelve companies mounted riflemen, and has two howitzers attached. They are only paid as infantry, but used as mounted men. About 100 of them are on foot, as their horses have died in the service. To be efficient they ought to be mounted on Government horses in the spring. The Third is armed with Mississippi and Prussian rifles. The Second, Prussian rifles and muskets, and the First with hunting rifles, and have to mold their bullets.

Nothing but active steps to supply necessary orders can save the First Indian Regiment from utter demoralization. My orders to drill are disregarded. As I compel the regiments to draw on consolidated provision returns, I have difficulty in getting reports from them. I am much embarrassed, as arresting all the officers of a regiment is not to be thought of, and permitting it to run loose has a bad effect on the rest. I earnestly desire instructions and necessary authority to myself or some others. In the mean time I shall do the best I can.

With great respect,