ceed at once to collect these amounts, in accordance with orders hereto fore given.

Whole amount to be collected in district, $300,000; of which will be collected in-

County. Amount. County. Amount.

Adair $3,000 Montgomery $5,700

Audrain 21,600 Marion 19,800

Boone 32,000 Macon 7,800

Callaway 37,000 Pike 10,800

Chariton 24,600 Putnam 2,100

Clarke 6,000 Randolph 11,700

Howard 22,200 Ralls 7,200

Knox 3,300 Shelby 5,400

Lewis 7,500 Scotland 3,300

Livingston 7,500 Schuyler 2,700

Linn 3,300 Saint Charles 6,000

Lincoln 5,700 Sullivan 2,100

Monroe 38,700 Warren 3,300

By command of Brigadier-General Merrill:

GEO. M. HOUSTON,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS,
Saint Louis, Mo., January 16, 1863.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief:

Telegraphed and wrote yesterday, in reply to Secretary of War, asking time to communicate by letter on a change so radical as to provost-marshals. The system began with the revolution. It is wide and deeply rooted; substitution, not eradication, may be necessary. Property,police, and public peace require caution. There are no troops where provost-marshals are most useful. The system is no offspring of mine, but I see no need of hasty change of quiet measures, and ask time for explanations and instructions by letter.

SAML. R. CURTIS,

Major-General.

HDQRS. THIRD BRIGADE, ARMY OF THE FRONTIER,
Camp Curtis, Maysville, January 16, 1863.

Colonel N. P. CHIPMAN, Chief of Staff:

MY DEAR COLONEL: You will see by the date of this that my letter of the 7th instant* is yet in my hands. I send it, as it contains all the facts of which I wished to write. The cartridges have come to hand all safe and very opportune, as my last loads were in the guns. Many thanks for your trouble and kindness. I will use them well.

I preceded the advance of our brigade from Elm Springs to this place in command of 500 mounted men. The distance of 25 miles I made during the night, and surprised a party of Livingston's gang. I killed 9 and captured 13 of the gentry. We have sent the prisoners on to Fort Scott. The country is full of these marauding devils, but we are clearing them out rapidly. This light snow for the past two days enables us to track them to a charm. They have turned their heads south,

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*Not found.

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