you will telegraph to me from Pleasant Hill the fact of your return from the scout and what you have accomplished. Show this communication to him.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHESTER HARDING, JR.,

Colonel Forty-third Missouri Volunteers, Commanding Sub-District.

MACON, MO., January 31, 1865-11. 50 a. m.

Major J. W. BARNES,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Company I, Forty-ninth Regiment Infantry Missouri Volunteers Captain Benecke, are mounted upon their own horses and armed, at their own expense, with Spencer eight-shooting rifles. Shall I forward them with their horses to Benton Barracks?

W. T. CLARKE,

Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, January 31, 1865.

Lieutenant W. T. CLARKE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

Retain Company I, Forty-ninth Infantry Missouri Volunteers, until further orders. Send forward the other companies of the regiment as soon as possible.

J. W. BARNES,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

MEXICO, January 31, 1865.

Lieutenant W. T. CLARKE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

Nine companies of the Forty-ninth Regiment have arrived here. Company I, Captain Benecke, has not been heard from.

E. SMART,

Colonel, Commanding.

FORT SCOTT, KANS., January 31, 1865.

Major General S. R. CURTIS,

Fort Leavenworth:

The fifteen companies of my command need about 800 horses. The requisitions are all in and Captain Insley could soon buy them, if so instructed by you. The horses are badly needed, as the troops will be of little use without them, and I would therefore respectfully request that you give Captain Insley the necessary instructions. The spring will soon open, and we will need a well-mounted command to attend to the bushwhackers, who will come with the first leaves.

CHAS. W. BLAIR,

Colonel Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry.