DENVER, COLO. TER., June 18, 1864.

Colonel J. M. CHIVINGTON,

Commanding Dist. of Colorado, Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter.:

COLONEL: The high water on Cache la Poundre has prevented my arrival here until the present time, and upon examination find my ordnance department in the worst disorder. Captain Robbins on arrival will inform you, if you have not already hear, of the panic and excitement created by the report of Indians advancing on Denver, the mob breaking for the ordnance store-room in a body, demanding the issue of arms, ammunition, &c., which Morgan would not do until ordered by Captain Wanless to open and issued to them; the mob at the same time threatening to tear down the building if not supplied. So soon as the doer was opened they crowded in, and quite a number helped themselves. Of some of the issued I find memorandum receipts. i will endeavor to have returned all ordnance taken or issued as soon as possible. The Governor, as near as I can find out, will probably become responsible for the missing property. In this state of things it will be impossible for me to report at Fort Lyon at present, uncles you desire it so. As soon as I can straighten matters here I will leave and join you, if then required.

I remain, colonel, very respectfully,

CHARLES C. HAWLEY,

First Lieutenant, Ordnance Officer, Dist. of Colorado.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST, Milwaukee, June 18, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel W. L. DUFF:

COLONEL: In compliance with your request, and for the information of Lieutenant-General Grant, I inclose the following statement of the force in this department:

Aggregate of enlisted men for duty...................... 3,404

Distributed as follows:

With Indian expedition under General Sally:

Cavalry and mounted rangers.............................. 1,272

Infantry................................................. 728

Artillery (mountain howitzers)........................... 127

Total.................................................... 2,127

(Total force marched on the 1st of June form the frontier settlements of Dakota Territory, against the combined bands of Sioux assembled near Fort Berthold, on the Missouri River, and is far out on the plains.)

At the frontier posts of Minnesota and engaged in establishing post on James River:

Cavalry................................................. 672

Infantry................................................ 252

At post along the frontier of Iowa and Dakota

(infantry).............................................. 353

Of these troops, one mount regiment and one independent battalion, lately raised, are mounted rangers raised for service in the Indian country. The infantry has never been in the field and only about eighteen months is the service. It is impossible, for the present, to spare any part of this small force without exposing the

29 R R-VOL XXXIV, PT IV