on the way,to reach you, unless you have information which indicates the necessity of immediate movement. The train now on the way to join you will not be returned to this post, but will remain with your division until further orders. Please have the animals as well cared for as possible.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. M. SCHOFIELD,

Major- General.

MILWAUKEE, WIS., February 27, 1863-12 m.

Major- General HALLECK, General-in Chief:

Will you please answer my letter in relation to disposing of condemned and other prisoners in Minnesota! Unless disposed of by sending out of State, large force will be required to guard and protect them from the citizens, and that force is absolutely needed for spring campaign. General Sibley writes my ungently on the subject, and no time should be lost, as military operations will be delayed.

JNO. POPE,

Major- General.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, February 28, 1863.

Major- General POPE, Milwaukee, Wis.:

Your letter in regard to Indian prisoners has been submitted for the action of the Cabinet. No answer has yet been returned. I cannot yet answer in regard to the Nebraska cavalry.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in- Chief.

Abstract from return of the Department of the Missouri, Major General Samuel R. Curtis commanding, for the month of February, 1863; headquarters Saint Louis, Mo.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate

present

Department staff 15 ..... 15

Saint Louis District, 427 7,589 10,999

Brigadier General

Eugene A. Carr

[Brigadier- General

Davidson].

Rolla District, Colonel 156 2,941 4,642

John M. Glover

Southwestern District 150 2,245 3,267

of Missouri, Brigadier

General

Egbert B. Brown [Colonel

Cloud].

Army of Southwestern 372 8,474 10,507

Missouri [Army of the

Frontier], Major

General John M.

Schofield.

Central District of 80 1,523 2,181

Missouri, Brigadier

General Ben. Loan.

Northeastern District 26 635 953

of Missouri, Brigadier

General Thomas J.

McKean.

District of Kansas, 85 1,449 2,207

Brigadier General

James G. Blunt

District of Colorado, 63 1,198 1,719

Colonel John M.

Chivington

Alton,ill. Colonel 27 313 523

Jesse Hildebrand

Army of Southeastern 346 6,439 8,656

Missouri, Brigadier

General John W.

Davidson.

District of 90 2,480 3,250

Northwestern Arkansas,

Colonel William .

Phillips.

District of Nebraska, 26 296 634

Brigadier General

James Craig.

Total. 1,863 35 582 49,553

Pieces of artillery.

Command Aggregate Aggregate Heavy. Field.

present last

and return.

absent.

Department 16 16 ...... ......

staff

Saint Louis 14,399 13,440 ....... ......

District,

Brigadier

General Eugene

A. Carr

[Brigadier-

General

Davidson].

Rolla District, 5,393 5,294 4 2

Colonel John

M. Glover

Southwestern 4,301 4,301 ....... ......

District of

Missouri,

Brigadier

General

Egbert B. Brown

[Colonel

Cloud].

Army of 14,903 15,379 ...... 22

Southwestern

Missouri [Army

of the

Frontier],

Major General

John M.

Schofield.

Central 2,760 3,082 ....... 9

District of

Missouri,

Brigadier

General Ben.

Loan.

Northeastern 1,020 1,027 ...... 2

District of

Missouri,

Brigadier

General Thomas

J. McKean.

District of 2,546 2,546 7 10

Kansas,

Brigadier

General James

G. Blunt

District of 2,050 2,058 ...... 9

Colorado,

Colonel John

M. Chivington

Alton,ill. 568 1,154 ....... ......

Colonel Jesse

Hildebrand

Army of 12,551 12,551 ....... 16

Southeastern

Missouri,

Brigadier

General John

W. Davidson.

District of 4,949 5,109 ....... ......

Northwestern

Arkansas,

Colonel

William .

Phillips.

District of 705 705 ....... .......

Nebraska,

Brigadier

General James

Craig.

Total. 66,161 66,662 11 70