is information that they are endeavoring to flee with their stolen property, which will probably be the case. All your detachments as well as the scouts should be on the qui vive.

By command of Brigadier-General Sibley:

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. C. OLIN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. DIST. OF MINNESOTA, DEPT. OF THE NORTHWEST, Saint Paul, Minn., August 13, 1864.

Lieutenant JONATHAN DARROW,
Commanding Co. K, Second Minnesota Cavalry, Fort Snelling:

SIR: You will proceed without delay in command of as many men of your company, including those of Brackett's battalion temporarily assigned to duty with the company by special orders of this date, as can be mounted at Fort Snelling, direct to Mankato, and from that point, after gaining all the information possible relative to the whereabouts of any party of hostile Indians within or near the settlements, you will repair with your command to such locality as may seem to be most seriously threatened by the savages and endeavor to find and utterly destroy any who are or have been engaged in the late raids and murders. On your arrival at Mankato you will report by letter or special messenger to Lieutenant-Colonel Pfaender, commanding Fort Ridgely, &c., for further orders, acquainting him of the movements you propose to make in the meantime in accordance with these instructions. You will keep your men form straggling and under strict discipline during the march and in camp, and be on your guard at all times against being surprised.

By command of Brigadier-General Sibley:

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. C. OLIN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

N. B.-You will confer on your arrival at Mankato with Colonel B. F. Smith, of the Minnesota State Militia, and act in concert with his forces until you received further instructions from Lieutenant-Colonel Pfaender. You will be furnished with ten days' rations, and you will draw from the acting ordnance officer at Fort Snelling such additional carbines and sabers, with accounterments, as may be requisite for the equipment of your command, and sixty rounds of cartridges for each carbine.

HEADQUARTERS, Fort Abercrombie, August 13, 1864.

Captain R. C. OLIN,

Assistant Adjutant-General, District of Minnesota:

CAPTAIN: Quinn, the scout, whom in a former communication I spoke of as having remained over at Fort Wadsworth, returned with the mail carrier from that post yesterday evening. He informs me that messengers had arrived at that fort from Standing Buffalo with propositions to come in with himself and band, provided protection was guaranteed him by the commander of that post. His messengers