Abstract from Return of the Department of the Northwest, Major General John Pope, U. S. Army, commanding, for October, 1862.

Present for duty.

Command. Offic Men. Aggreg Aggreg Remarks on

ers. ate ate original return.

presen presen

t. t and

absent

.

Fort 30 1.062 1.153 1.283

Snelling,

Colonel B.

F. Smith.

Fort 11 277 315 381

Ripley,

Major F.

Hall.

Glencoe, 3 85 88 88 Imperfect return

Lieutenant received.

J.

Weinmann.

Saint 3 57 60 86 Do.

Cloud,

Captain

George G.

McCoy.

Fort 6 179 269 343

Ridgely,

Captain E.

A. Folsom.

Camp near 15 470 515 547

Fort

Ridgely,

Lieutenant-

Colonel

Marshall.

Forrest ... ... ... 140 This number

City, reported "about."

Captain -

Petit.

New Ulm, 35 ... ... 800 Estimated. No

Colonel return received.

Montgomery.

Sioux ... ... ... 1.600 Do.

Expedition,

Colonel

Sibley.

Fort 4 71 96 101

Kearny,

Colonel

Alexander.

Sioux City, 3 29 33 96 Imperfect return

Captain received.

Millard.

Saint 5 175 187 199

Peter,

Captain

Skaro.

En route to ... ... ... 600 Estimated. No

Crow Wing, return received.

Colonel

Gilbert.

Total. 115 2.405 2.740 6.264

Organizations reported: 27th Iowa; 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Minnesota; 1st Minnesota Cavalry; 10th U. S. (two companies); 25th Wisconsin, and 4th Wisconsin Battery.

No returns received from any other troops in Wisconsin or Iowa.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, November 1, 1862.

Major-General POPE, Saint Paul, Minn.:

Cannot the three companies of the Fifth Minnesota Regiment, now in your department be sent to join their regiment at Corinth, Miss.? They are much needed there. Please push forward the troops for the Mississippi River. We are hard pushed there for re-enforcements.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, November 1, 1862.

Brigadier General BEN. LOAN,

Central District, Lexington, Mo.:

GENERAL: The crisis of the fall elections is upon us, and some embarrassment perhaps may be expected. I would not at such a time be so exact in relation to words spoken in debate or in canvas. Excitement runs high, and men are apt to be swayed by temporary feeling.

I would under such circumstances an early opportunity to parole such men as you have considered it necessary to arrest.

You need not fear my answer soon for acts I may deem exceptions when I am convinced they grow out of earnest zeal for the Government.

In regard to the negro question, I perceive it will complicate your duties; but it should be treated with firm consideration of law. The negroes of loyal Union men should be encouraged to stay at home and