970 MO., ARK., KANS., IND. T., AND DEPT. N. W. [CHAP. XXV.

declarations of Major-General Hindman, in a letter to General Pike, of June 23, show pointedly that you were not warranted in your assumption of power. Inclosed I respectfully submit a copy of General Hindman's letter * for your perusal.

Obedience also dictates another course than the one you thought proper to prescribe for me. General Pike has ordered me to attend to the quartermaster's affairs of this department myself; to make whatever purchases are necessary, and to superintend all business and operations in my province. I cannot, therefore, but resist your interference in the matter of hay contracts in the Indian country. Inclosed I submit an order of General Pike on the points in question.

I do not desire any exemption from the usual custom in regard to contracts, but must affirm that I do not believe in the policy of letting them out, provided certain ones that might be named are examples of the benefit that may be expected from them by our Government.

I am at a loss to conceive how it was that, with the understanding expressed in the letter of General Hindman respecting the restriction of "the operations of wandering commissaries in the Cherokee Nation" you could have taken the position you assumed; how you could have done so with the full knowledge that General Pike controlled affairs in the Department of Indian Territory how, with long experience in military matters, you could have arrogated to yourself the position of a superior when you knew that you had no ground to sustain you. If General Pike had been dissatisfied with my official conduct on account of extravagance, imbecility, or for any other reason, it was his place to manifest it; and it would have been at least courteous to let him have an expression of choice in the appointment of the officer who should act as quartermaster of his department.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. QUESENBURY,

Major and Quartermaster, Department of Indian Territory.

LITTLE ROCK, July 17, 1862.

Brigadier-General PIKE,

Port McCulloch (via Port Smith):

Send your best battery forthwith to Fort Smith, to report to Colonel C. A. Carroll, with 50 rounds of ammunition. Send with it a company of squadron of cavalry. This to be done immediately. I shall go there and take command at the earliest moment possible. The enemy is reported again on the White River.

T. C. HINDMAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF INDIAN TERRITORY,

No. ---.
Port McCulloch, July 17, 1862.

I. The general commanding the Department of Indian Territory, left with 1,300 mounted men and the Indian troops to defend it against Federal invasion, cannot permit those patriotic citizens to return to their homes who, being over thirty-five years of age, reluctantly yield to the imperative demands of their private interests, and forego the opportunity so ardently desired and now at last presented, of meeting an abhorred enemy in the field, without an appropriate testimonial of his regard, and of his appreciation of their eminent and illustrious service

*See p.946.