William S. Rosecrans to Henry W. Halleck, September 1, 1864

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.: The arms are wanted for organizations under Order 107, of this department, for local defense, consisting of one or more companies of picked men called out and armed as Provisional Enrolled Militia, but acting under the United States authorities, when requisite, against guerrillas. It was my intention to have ordered these local forces armed and paid by the counties, but the Governor thought it best to give them a State militia status and such compensation as was possible by the State. They will prevent the necessity of self-constituted organizations, have the sanction of the State, and are under control of the national authority. I most earnestly request that the arms may be furnished. Most of the arms distributed to militia in North Missouri were got back and placed in the hands of loyal men just before the late outbreak. Perhaps 1,200 were lost. W. S. ROSECRANS,

GENERAL ORDERS, ) HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri, No. 159. Saint Louis, Mo., September 1, 1864.

The general commanding, satisfied that the citizens of the town of Rocheport, in Boone County, Mo., have countenanced, tolerated, and fed, if not encouraged, gangs of bushwhackers and other outlaws, for the last six weeks, and being apprised that a gang of these villains in open daylight shot and murdered Thomas Waterman, the only support of a widowed mother and two sisters, on the steam-boat Buffington, at the landing of said town, orders that the sum of $10,000 be collected from the disloyal citizens of Rocheport and paid to the chief quartermaster of the department for the use of the widow and sisters of said Waterman. The district commander is charged with the execution of this order.

By command of Major-General Rosecrans: