The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 48, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports, Correspondence, etc. Page: 457
xvi, 1658 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.
for protection on the military force here. The refugees here were
brought in hired transportation and left here, and cannot move as they
are. An order to move my force elsewhere would leave them at the
mercy of the rebels, if, indeed, it would be possible at all to move these
soldiers away, to leave their women, children, old and sick people.
Under the orders received it was necessary, since my return, for the
Fifty-fourth U. S. Colored and the First Arkansas Infantry to march
below. This leaves me simply the Indian command. My tri-monthly
of the 31st ultimo shows that to be an aggregate of 2,112; 1,463 are
present for duty; 382 escorting train. The evacuation of Fort Smith
will leave this place rather weak, but I think I can hold my own until
you determine what is to be t ;he future of this command. The orders
I have received so instruct me. For the future I make no recommenda-
tion, being ignorant of the policy determined about the Indian Nation.
With the present Indian force, a good infantry regiment and good bat-
tery, and mounting half of the Indians, I think the country north of
the Arkansas River, in the Indian Nation, could be held by making a
vigorous use of the force. Unless the country north of the river be held
it is doubtful about our holding any foothold in the Indian Nation, and
the probabilities are that it would be organized against us. Efforts
have been made, and are made by the enemy, to get these civilized and
half-civilized Indians into a sort of neutrality league, which would,
of course, eventually operate to their benefit. Of the present condition
of affairs and the approaching period of " muster out," I thus advise you.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. A. PHILLIPS,
Colonel, Commanding.
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF NATCHEZ, DEPT. OF MISSISSIPPI,
Natchez, January 8, 1865.
Lieut. Col. T. H. HARRIS,
Assistant Adjutant- General:
COLONEL: I have the honor to report my arrival here and assump-
tion of the command of this district, as per accompanying order from the
headquarters of the Military Division of West Mississippi. I inclose also
copies of all general and special orders issued by me up to date. General
Canby directed me to designate a permanent garrison for Fort McPher-
son, and to organize and refit those troops in excess of this garrison of
1,000 men for the field. I designated the Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery
as the garrison, and placed its colonel, B. G. Farrar, in command of
Fort McPherson. Special Orders, No. 2, paragraphs III and IV, are
issued in conformity with those instructions. I was also directed to
leave the troops on the Vidalia side of the river the same numerically.
I found a Mr. C. D. Townsend, appointed by General Braymian, acting
as mayor of the city, without any responsibility, by commission, to the
Government, and collecting large revenues for this place. In con-
formity with General Canby's views expressed to me in a conversation
with him that the city should be governed as under martial law, I
relieved Mr. Townsend and appointed a provost-marshal. Paragraph
VII, of Special Orders, No. 2, was therefore issued. Mr. Townsend
has turned over $7,000 of funds collected, and I ask of the command-
ing general what disposition shall be made of them. I have placed
General Brayman in command of that portion of the district west of
the Mississippi, with his headquarters at Vidalia. General Canby
informed me that about 6,000 troops would be stationed in the district,457
CHAP. LX.]
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View 25 pages within this book that match your search.Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 48. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 48.
Relationship to this item: (Is Referenced By)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 48, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports, Correspondence, etc., book, 1896; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth139842/m1/473/?q=fifty-fourth: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.