FORT LEAVENWORTH, March 6, 1865-2. 30 p. m.

General DODGE:

Nine squadrons of the Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry reached Fort Kearny this morning. Companies C and E were detailed at Fort Laramie and Company G is on duty at this post.

JOHN WILLANS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

FORT LEAVENWORTH, March 6, 1865.

Major-General DODGE,

Saint Louis:

Captain Joseph McCarty, from Topeka, has reported. He says he can raise a company of eighty or ninety Pottawatomies and whites (about fifteen of the latter); proposes one Pottawatomie for first lieutenant and a white men for second lieutenant. The company can be raised in three weeks. About half of Pottawatomies can furnish their own horses. He wants the authority from you to raise the company, and would prefer that the Government would furnish all the horses and arms. Captain McC[arty] is waiting your reply.

JOHN WILLANS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, March 6, 1865.

Captain WILLANS,

Fort Leavenworth:

The company must be raised from Indians. I can finish horses, if necessary. I want part Delaware and part Pottawatomie. Captain McCarty better go down and see the Delawares, as they proposed to raise fifty men. I have no authority to take white men.

G. M. DODGE,

Major-General.

FORT KEARNY, March 6, 1865.

Major-General DODGE:

A large number of friendly Indians at Fort Laramie are in a starving condition. What shall I do with them? They say they dare not leave their camps to hunt or provide for themselves in consequence of the threats of hostile Indians.

ROBT. B. MITCHELL,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, March 6, 1865.

Brigadier General ROBERT B. MITCHELL,

Fort Kearny:

Feed those Indians condemned and damaged rations. Form them into companies and use them as scouts, or any way, against the hostile Indians, but under no promise of pay or anything else. Merely get what we can out of them for the trouble they are to us. Has the Six-