CHAP. XXV.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-- CONFEDERATE. 965

any government in the world. I wish that we only had the guns, ammunition, and camp equipage they are keeping idle that we might use it to drive those infamous Federals from our border. Here are plenty of men, and brave ones, that are ready and willing to aid in the defense of their country, and only ask for means to do it with, while we know that some 3,000 or 4,000 stand of fine arms, and plenty of ammunition, are uselessly had and destroyed by these no-account Indian commands. Stand Watie's is the only one worth a cent, and they are mostly white men.

I have written you a long letter, as I would talk to you, hoping to put you ill possession of the facts in regard to the condition of this part of the district. I am doing my best to make my departments efficient, and hope you will grant me an assistant. All well. Let me hear from you any Eastern news.

Your true friend,

N. B. PEARCE.

CANTONMENT DAVIS, July 7, 1862.

Major PEARCE:

MAJOR: 1 arrived here yesterday at noon, and, as soon as the requirements of the command now here are ascertained, may forward requisitions to you. All quiet here at present. The enemy are not known to have been lower down than Grand Sabine. General Pike will probably arrive soon.

Respectfully, DOUGLAS H. COOPER,

Colonel, Commanding.

P. S.-We are greatly in need of ammunition, especially percussion caps. Please forward as many as you can without delay. They will be covered by proper receipts. There will be, within a few days, say, 5,000 men here, mostly Indian troops.

FORT SMITH, ARK.,

July 8, 1862.

Major General T. C. HINDMAN,

Commanding District:

SIR: I have the honor to inclose certain correspondence from General Albert Pike and his staff officers. I did not come here to be upbraided and railed at by such men for simply obeying your orders. I send you copies of the letters addressed by me to Majors Lanigan and Quesenbury and to the ordnance officer. In your Orders. No. 17, herewith in-closed, you required all officers in the Indian country and certain counties of Arkansas, of the several staff departments over which I was placed, to report to me.

I inclosed with my letters copies of your order placing me on duty. I now inclose you the reply of two of them. You positively and pointedly required me to have the funds in the hands of all disbursing officers turned over to me immediately. The order says, "All public funds of either department within the limits specified, &c., will be turned over to him immediately." No exemption of any officer is made. And, again, the order says, "No other officer or person within said limits will, after this date, be authorized to contract any debt for either of said depart-