Abstract from Return of the Army of the Southwest, Major General Samuel R. Curtis commanding, for May, 1862.

PRESENT FOR DUTY

Troops Officers Men Aggregat Aggregat

e e

present present

and

absent

In the field:

Infantry 243 5,786 7,106 8,795

Cavalry 152 2,872 3,655 4,749

Artillery* 36 1,009 1,158 1,427

Total 431 9,667 11,919 14,971

Rolla, Mo 11 226 335 429

Salem, Houston, and 14 410 478 577

West Plains

Houston 22 546 695 856

Pilot Knob and 26 385 496 545

Reeves' Station

Pocahontas, Ark 37 647 761 857

Total garrisons 110 2,214 2,765 3,264

Grand total 541 11,881 14,684 18,235

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*Number of guns not stated on original.

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HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST,
Batesville, Ark., JUNE 1, 1862.

Brigadier General W. SCOTT KETCHUM, Saint Louis:

GENERAL: I have reliable news from Little Rock and from Texas. Great efforts are making to collect an army at Little Rock. Galveston and Houston forces and those which started for New Mexico are ordered up, and ten Texan regiments have arrived with artillery. Hindman was to start from Corinth on the 28th and all the Arkansas and Missouri troops were to come with him.

If the Corinth hive sends a swarm this way I must concentrate on this side of White River and be re-enforced immediately. The news of the blockade of these rivers is not confirmed,and the reported re-enforcements of Fort Pillow and the arrival of the rebel gunboats, which remain at Little Rock and Des Are, is evidence of a design to fall back upon.

Has the occupation of Corinth or the efforts of our gunboats frustrated this design? The enemy is moving; we must be on the alert. I have spread my force to hold my lines of communication, which have been cut off for ten days, and to keep down rebel bands. If an enemy in great force appears my strategy must be changed.

SAML. R. CURTIS,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Saint Louis, June 1, 1862.

Colonel J. C. KELTON,

ASSISTANT Adjutant- General, Corinth, Miss.:

General Curtis' cavalry expeditions have scattered rebels in front