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

On the 3rd of October they (the enemy) were heavily re-enforced by their forces from Springfield, and moved on us in such force as to drive us from Newtonia. We were then ordered back to Mudtown, which retreat required about five days. Said time the command being without any breadstuff, and as for salt, we have been without that ever since we left the Missouri River, as none has ever been issued to us.

From Mudtown we were ordered to Black's Mill; from there to Huntsville, and thence to the Camp-Ground Meeting-Rouse, north of this; from thence here, 4 miles east of Maguire's, on Richland Creek.

In the engagements above mentioned, we have had a good many horses killed and wounded, and we have frequently had to do thirty to forty hours without forage. Our horses have been under the saddle ever since General Hindman organized the brigade. Our men, from being so poorly clad, and owing to the excessive duties that they have been compelled to perform, are rapidly becoming unfit for service. Our 6rigade reports now some 500 sick. We have a great many men without a blanket, overcoat, shoes, or socks. There are not more (as regimental report shows) than one-half our horses fit for duty. We have had no iron or time to shoe our horses. Our horses are beginning to die pretty fast, owing to the heavy labor that they have been compelled to do. As for transportation, we were furnished some five wagons by the division quartermaster; all the balance on hand we have collected our-selves. We have never drawn any clothing, shoes, salt, or anything else. All we have in way of transportation is one wagon to the company, and they mostly two-horse wagons. We have but few cooking utensils, which we likewise have purchased with private means. We have a great many horses unserviceable, for the want of shoeing.

The strength of our brigade when first organized was 2,319, all of which were reported for duty for upward of seven weeks. The greater portion were reported for duty until within the last few days. Since this cold spell of weather set in, our reports show but 1,068 men for duty. The increase of sickness in Jeans' and Gordon's regiments is 100 per day.

Respectfully,

JO. O. SHELBY,

Colonel, Commanding Cavalry Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS, &c.,
Camp on Mulberry, November 3, 1862.

Brigadier General J. S. ROANE, Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: General Hindman directs that you detach from Brigadier-General Marmaduke's Missouri Cavalry a bold, firm, and discreet officer, with 50 well-armed and well mounted men, with instructions to go rapidly in quest of Brigadier General Albert Pike to Fort McCulloch, Fort Washita, or wherever else he may be, whether in the Indian Territory, Texas, Louisiana, or Arkansas, to take Brigadier-General Pike into personal custody, and conduct him, without delay, to the headquarters of Major General T. H. Holmes, commanding the Trans-Mississippi Department, at Little Rock, Ark. Instruct the officer in command of the detachment that he is to treat Brigadier-General Pike with as much courtesy as the due execution of this order will allow but that he is to execute the order to the letter, using all necessary force, even to the extent of taking life, should resistance be offered. Instruct him further that he is to keep his instructions secret from all persons, until the moment for executing