The War of the Rebellion: Army Records (2024)

Reset Brightness 0

Reset Contrast 0

Reset Saturation 0

Reset Sharpness 0

Reset Exposure 0

Reset Hue 0

Reset Gama 0

Applying filters

 
CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-CONFEDERATE.
HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN SUB-DISTRICT,
Bonham, Tex., February 5, 1864.
Lieut. Gen. E. KIRBY SMITH:
MY DEAR GENERAL: Circ*mstances go far to satisfy me and the
thinking, seeing men of this section that disloyalty is widespread,
that my brush men are deep in it, and the troops not entirely free from
it, and I repeat again that some good troops must be sent here or this
section of country goes up. I shall order the brush men down into
Bowie County, so as to have them near General Maxey's troops and
get them that much farther from this section, and- have the new men
between them and the Yankees. A Dr. Penwell left here two days
ago for Fort Smith with a party of men to join the Federals, and
there is a constant stream of them going with the view of coming
back in the spring, and nothing will save this country but some
strokes of bold, rigorous policy. Establish- a court here, try and
execute some of these fellows for desertion, and send some of these
disloyal men who harbor deserters and spout treason to some safe
place in heavy irons, to wear them during the war.
General Maxey's command are deserting by the score, and they
will fall in with the brush men and resist or go to the Federals, and
every man that goes to them benefits us, it is true, because these men
do us more harm here than there, but it would be much better if we
could catch and kill them after they start, or identify and punish
them before they go. Quantrill has not moved a peg, and I have
ordered him and his command arrested; got General Maxey to let
Col. Stand Watie help Colonel Bourland do it; do not know how
they will succeed, nor do I know what effect it will have on the
country abroad. Here it will do good for the present, but cannot tell
whether it will do good in the future if the war lasts long, because
they-will desert, steal horses, and come back for revenge if they are
put in the army, but something must be done with them. They will
not obey orders and I don't know what else to do. What shall I do
with them after arresting them ? My brush men must be treated
the same way, and so will the company of returned deserters that I
have here. They will do very nice here, but will not go to their
commands. All want to go to the coast, where I shall send them, in
order to place them where they can be safely arrested and sent to
their commands, unless otherwise directed by you. To order them to
their commands without arresting them is to turn them loose in the
brush, and I have not the force to spare now to do it; and besides,
they have done such good service here that they ought not to be ar-
rested at this point, as it would be hard to explain the necessity for
it. I have over 30 prisoners in the guard-house to be sent off, and
have nearly all my cavalry out after deserters, so that I can scarcely
furnish a guard to send with them, and the brush men are so thick
through the country that I am compelled to send a strong guard
every time. I would be gratified to hear from you very early.
Most respectfully and truly,
HENRY E. McCULLOCH.
CHOCTAW ACADEMY, February 5, 1864.
General MAXEY, Commanding Indian Territory :
GENERAL: Col. Stand Watie requests me to say to you that he
wishes to take a scout, say, of 1,000 men, in Southwest Kansas as soon
60 R R-VOL XXXIV, PT II
C AP. XLVI.]
945
 

Permanent URL (This Page)

Univesal Viewer

International Image Interoperability Framework (This Page)