The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 8. Page: 732

                                
OPERATIONS IN MO., ARK., KANS., AND IND. T. [CHAP. XVIII.

unanimous in their fondness for me; but officers who cannot be re-
elected, aspiring men who cannot get commands, and disaffected sol-
diers are all hunting excuses to cover up their own defeat, and many
of them make me their stumbling block. If I can have but little en-
couragement in the way of outfit-tents and arms-I can have 2,500
men in the field by the 1st of February, and they will be picked men
and enlisted "' for the war."
The good people of New Orleans have been sending us many pres-
ents, and I understand that there is $10,000 in bank there now to
be expended as I may desire for my men. If this is continued, which
by honest efforts to deserve I hope it will be, we will require from the
Confederacy but tents and arms, and then by putting my headquarters
again at Bloomfield I can protect all Southeastern Missouri and again
keep 10,000 men watching me.
I may probably start down to New Orleans on Monday, to return
with Governor Jackson and the commissioners who will come to pay
my troops, as the business which now engages my attention is but a
little wearisome (letail settlement, which I had probably better let the
quartermasters and commissaries do, as it will learn them to keep their
accounts straighter hereafter, and as long as I am about all and every-
thing, down to feeding a courier, is laid before me.
Should I start I will telegraph to you from Memphis, and if you
disapprove the trip I will immediately return.
Yours, most respectfully,
M. JEFF. THOMPSON,
Brigadier-General, Mo. S. G.
HEADQUARTERS DIVISION,
Fort Smith, Ark., January 4, 1862.
General S. COOPER,
Adjutant-General C. S. Army, Richmond, Va.:
GENERAL: The night I arrived in Fort Gibson, C. N., John Ross,
the Chief of the Cherokees, held a council, and in the most emphatic
language expressed his determination to stand firm to the Government
of the Confederate States. He stated that lie had made treaties with
them and he would live and (lie by them. A day or two before my
arrival serious fears were entertained that all was not right, and what
gave grounds for this fear was that the flag of the Confederacy which
tloated over Fort Gibson had been reversed.
I think the march of our force into the nation has had a niost happy
effect. It has shown them that we are able and willing to act in their
behalf, and the result of our short camnlpaign has intimidated many
who probably meditated mischief. I think John Ross is sincere and
is too far committed now to recede. Colonel Cooper has a force of
nearly 3,000 Indlians. He is sufficiently strong to I)rotect the Territory
against any combination of Indians hostile to us. Trouble may arise
in the Cherokee Nation between the full-bloods and half-breeds, but
with a little determination this can be nipped in the bud. Mr. Frank
C. Armstrong will inform you fully upon the state of affairs here and
in the Indian Territory.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
JAMES McINTOSH,
Colonel, Commanding.

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