little more than to hold the matter before the people, as I am urged to do by your most discreet and loyal friends. I claim that the success of my commands, the popular demonstrations at the ballot-box, the peace of Missouri, the public demonstration, all demonstrate the propriety of such a policy. I earnestly try to prevent the gathering into my lines of any, especially the negroes of loyal citizens, and especially because they encumber my camps. There is no occasion for orders to exclude, because the encumbrance prevents any considerable amount of such fugitives, except in Arkansas, where thousands do come within our lines, and I have tried to protect and use them for various purposes. I have no trouble with the soldiers, the people, or the negroes, but a few officers, a few slaveholders, and a few butternut politicians are constantly trying to make a mountain out of a mole-hill, and procuring a false impression somewhere.

Missouri can only be successful in her efforts to settle down quietly in the Union by allowing the Union leaders, and not the Union doubters,to hold the sway and direct public opinion. The slave power will be respected, but it cannot lead in this department. The people have resolved to carry out your war policy, and I rejoice in their determination.

I am, Mr. President, your obedient servant,

SAML. R. CURTIS,

Major-General.

Abstract from returns of the troops in the Department of the Missouri* for January 31, 1863.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate

present.

District of Saint Louis, 399 6,591 9,674

Brigadier General Eugene A.

Carr.

District of Southwestern

Missouri, Brigadier General

Egbert B. Brown:

Staff 5 --- 5

Volunteers force 32 356 752

Cavalry force, Missouri State 113 1,889 2,510

Militia

Total District of Southwestern 150 2,245 3,276

Missouri.

Army of the Frontier,

Brigadier General John M.

Schofield:

Staff 11 --- 11

First Division, Colonel 139 3,016 3,890

William Weer

Second Division, Colonel 101 2,101 2,740

J. G. Clark

Third Division, Colonel James 130 3,087 3,946

O. Gower

Troops in the field, Captain 9 230 320

Albert P. Peabody

Total Army of the Frontier 390 8,434 10,907

District of Kansas, Brigadier 66 1,333 1,966

General James G. Blunt

District of Colorado, Colonel 55 1,189 1,680

John M. Chivington

Pieces of artillery.

Command. Aggregate Heavy. Field. Headquarters

present

and

absent.

District of Saint Saint Louis,

Louis, Brigadier 12,358 --- --- Mo.

General Eugene A.

Carr.

District of Springfield,

Southwestern Mo.

Missouri, Brigadier

General Egbert B.

Brown:

Staff 6 --- ---

Volunteers force 378 --- ---

Cavalry force, 3,417 --- ---

Missouri State

Militia

Total District of 4,301 --- ---

Southwestern

Missouri.

Army of the Springfield,

Frontier, Brigadier Mo.

General John

M. Schofield:

Staff 11 --- ---

First Division, 5,223 --- 22

Colonel William Weer

Second Division, 4,145 --- ---

Colonel J. G. Clark

Third Division, 5,644 --- 12

Colonel James O.

Gower

Troops in the field, 357 --- ---

Captain Albert

P. Peabody

Total Army of the 15,380 --- 34

Frontier

District of Kansas, 2,425 7 8

Brigadier General

James G. Blunt

District of 2,058 --- 9 Denver City,

Colorado, Colonel Colo.

John M. Chivington

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*Compiled from district and other subordinate returns, and incomplete. No department returns on file.

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