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799 Series I Volume XLI-II Serial 84 - Price's Missouri Expedition Part II

Page 799 Chapter LIII. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.


HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,
New Orleans, La., August 22, 1864.

Major General E. R. S. CANBY,

Commanding Mil. Div. of West Mississippi, New Orleans, La.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit to your consideration a statement of the information received at this office this 22nd day of August, 1864, from the following sources: A report from Captain Andrew G. Fitz, Port Hudson, La., August 18, 1864; a report from Captain Thomas B. Reed, Rolla, Mo., August 10, 1864. Deserters report the enemy from 3,000 to 5,000 strong at and near Clinton, La. The force stationed at Clinton is only 350; the rest are divided into squads, scouting through the country, conscripting and obtaining supplies. Much of the scouting is in the direction of Baton Rouge. July 30, Freeman, at Hookram, Ark., issued rations for 2,200 poorly-mounted, half-armed men. Shelby had left Jacksonport with 5,000 men going in the direction of Little Rock. Intercepted letters show that Shelby had largely re-enforced his command by conscripts. One letter states that General Price has everything satisfactorily arranged for the invasion of Missouri before winter. Nearly all reports from Missouri and Arkansas indicate that such a movement is likely.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRANK W. MARSTON,

Major and Chief Signal Officer.


SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, Numbers 105.
New Orleans, La., August 22, 1864.

1. Colonel Guppey, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteers, will proceed with his regiment and the One hundred and sixty-first New York Volunteers, by the steamer Catawba, to Mobile Point, reporting upon his arrival there to Major General Gordon Granger, commanding U. S. forces.

* * * * * *

By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby:

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

OFFICE CHIEF OF CAVALRY, DEPT. OF THE GULF,

New Orleans, August 22, 1864.

Major GEORGE B. DRAKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Hdqrs. Dept. of the Gulf:

MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following schedule of the cavalry regiments of this department, with remarks upon the disposition of the same:

Lee's division, commanded by Brigadier General A. L. Lee: First Brigade-One hundred and eighteenth Illinois Mounted Infantry, Eighth [Sixth] Missouri Cavalry, Second Louisiana Cavalry, Fourteenth New York Cavalry. Second Brigade-Eleventh New York Cavalry, Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, Second Illinois Cavalry. To this division is attached the First Wisconsin Battery. All of this cavalry is at Baton Rouge, excepting the Eleventh New York Cavalry, which is on the east bank of the river opposite Donaldsonville. Third Brigade-First Texas Cavalry, Second New York Veteran Cavalry, Eighty-seventh Illinois Mounted Infantry, First Louisiana Cavalry, Nineteenth Army Corps,


Page 799 Chapter LIII. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.