HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,

Saint Louis, Mo., March 10, 1862.

Major-General CURTIS,

Commanding Army of the Southwest:

I congratulate you and your command on the glorious victory just gained. You have proved yourselves as brave in battle as enduring of fatigued and hardship.

A grateful country will honor you for both.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General.

This victory, so decisive and thus commenced, by no means insures you repose. You must expect to bear further trials of your endurance and valor. The general will confide in you as in veterans and will rely upon your discipline, devotion, and well-tried bravery to give tone and effect to our further movements, supported, as we shall be, by gallant forces now joining our standard. While we rejoice we should not forget to contribute kindness to our wounded comrades and a tear to the memory of those who lie buried on the field, and reverently to ascribe thanks to the God of Battles, who giveth us the victory.

A grateful people will provide for and comfort the bereaved, and the rocky cliffs of the Ozark Mountains will remain monuments to the memory of those who fought and fell for their country at the battle of Pea Ridge.

By command of Major-General Curtis:

H. Z. CURTIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Abstract from return of the Department of the Mississippi, Major General Henry W. Halleck, commanding, for March, 1862.

Commanders. Districts. Offic Men. Aggrega Aggrega

ers. te te

present present

. and

absent.

Major General West 2,093 44,277 56,336 68,175

U. S. Grant Tennessee

Major General The 901 19,509 24,519 28,351

John Pope Mississippi

Major General Southwest 578 12,480 15,038 20,554

S. R. Curtis Missouri

Brigadier Cairo 221 4,425 5,918 8,066

General W. K.

Strong

Brigadier Saint Louis 507 10,540 12,741 14,179

General J. M.

Schofield

Brigadier Southeast 286 5,983 7,043 7,716

General Fred. Missouri

Steele

Brigadier Central 116 3,045 3,582 4,228

General James Missouri

Totten

Brigadier Northwest 4 137 226 277

General Ben. Missouri

Loan

Colonel J. M. Northeast 37 893 1,277 1,746

Glover Missouri

(In Illinois 81 1,668 2,132 2,548

and

Minnesota)

Total* ..... 4,824 102,957 128,810 155,840

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* The district of Kansas and of the Ohio not reported in the original return, but see Halleck to Secretary of War, March 30, p. 649.

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UNITED STATES FLAG-SHIP BENTON,

Near Island Numbers 10, April 1, 1862. (Received April 3, 1862.

General M. C. MEIGS:

GENERAL: On examination it is found that on account of the vessel not being in as good condition as was supposed, and a ram being