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: 776

                                
LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.

who infest and in fact hold almost undisputed possession of the coun-
try from the La Fourche to Grand Lake. If we pursue them with cav-
alry they take to their canoes and small boats. If we undertake to cut
them off with a gun-boat they run into a chain of smaller bayous where
a gun-boat cannot follow them. The only plan left by which we can
insure success is to gather together what small boats we can at Bayou
Boeuf and build enough more to carry, if need be, a force of 125 picked
men, and then pursue and fight them in their own way. In this they
may at first have the advantage of experience, but we would at once
have the advantage in situation; for if we overpowered them in num-
bers they would be obliged to retreat by the way of Grand River,
where we could have a gun-boat stationed at Micheltre's place, which
would cut them off; or should they try Grand Lake as a line of retreat
they would be at the mercy of the navy there. I have looked at this
plan for weeks from every standpoint, and if it strikes General Sherman
as favorably as it does myself I would like to carry it into execution.
I think the construction of the boats would involve but little expense,
as we captured at Offutt's Mills lumber sawed by the rebels on purpose
for the construction of just such boats as they use and such as we would
use. To make this armada still more efficient the telegraph office at
Tigerville should be moved to Bayou Bonuf, so as to give us the more
rapid communication.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. A. CAMERON,
Brigadier- General of Volunteers.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS,
Little Rock, Ark., February 8, 1865-2 p. m.
Major-General HALLECK, Chi ef of Staff:
In answer to your telegram of January 21 I recommend that the
following posts be occupied in this department. The minimum force
of all arms necessary for the defense of the posts is about as stated
below: Little Rock, 9,000; Pine Bluff, 2,000; Saint Charles, 600;
Brownsville and railroad, 1,500; Devall's Bluff, 2,000; Lewisburg,
1,500; mouth of White River, 600; total, in round numbers, 17,000.
Helena at present has no military importance, but I would leave there
one colored regiment and a battery to protect colored laborers on plan-
tations, and would transfer the remainder of the garrison, say 2,000, to
Gaines' Landing, and establish a post there. Gaines' Landing has been
a crossing place for the rebels, and is the most convenient place for
a cavalry depot, if the 5,000 dismounted cavalry in this department
are furnished with horses. Also, transfer the garrison of Fort Smith
and its dependencies to Gaines' Landing, where they can be conven-
iently subsisted and held ready for service at any point. These
dispositions would give, with the present force in the department, a
movable column of about 8,000, which might act out of the department,
and for movements that would themselves protect the posts. The
movable column might be increased to about 12,000. We suppose the
cavalry mounted. By reducing the garrisons below the proper limit
a movable force of 3,000 has been formed, which is now en route to the
Department of the Gulf, under orders from General Canby, Military
Division of West Mississippi. Detailed statements are forwarded by
mail.
J. J. REYNOLDS,
Major- General.

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