only hostile Indians, as it seems, from whom anything is to be apprehended on the Minnesota [frontier] are the small bands under Sleepy Eyes, White Lodge, &c., and any raids they can make before winter must of necessity be small affairs. Colonel Thomas is ordered in returning to Minnesota to march against any hostile Indians whom he may hear of anywhere south of Devil's Lake. I have also sent orders to Sully to send over to you Brackett's battalion, and I send to-morrow the other two companies of the First U. S. Volunteers. With all these forces it would seem that the frontier of Minnesota ought to be safe. I send these forces in deference to your apprehensions, though I cannot bring myself to believe that there can be any danger, except from small raids, which the forces in your district ought to be abundantly able to manage.

I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. POPE,

Major-General, Commanding.

MILWAUKEE, September 30, 1864.

Brigadier General A. SULLY,

Fort Rice, Dak. Ter.:

If you do not need Brackett's battalion this winter send them across the country to Minnesota.

JNO. POPE,

Major-General.

Abstract from return of the Military Division of West Mississippi, Major General Edward R. S. Canby, U. S. Army, commanding, for the month of September, 1864.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate Aggregat

present. e

present

and

absent.

General 16 ......... 16 16

headquarters.

Department of the

Gulf (Hurlbut):

Staff. 80 ......... 82 96

Infantry. 1,161 26,987 37,018 45,749

Cavalry. 295 6,885 9,961 12,908

Artillery. 151 4,774 6,050 7,141

Total. 1,687 38,646 53,111 65,894

Department of the

Missouri*

(Rosecrans):

Staff. 52 ......... 52 55

Infantry. 217 6,557 7,645 8,581

Cavalry. 230 7,113 8,818 13,270

Artillery. 26 837 1,044 1,241

Total. 525 14,507 17,559 23,147

Department of

Arkansas (Steele):

Staff. 34 ......... 34 37

Infantry. 459 11,224 16,203 24,447

Cavalry. 334 7,674 12,867 19,891

Artillery. 26 1,011 1,203 1,598

Total. 853 19,909 30,307 46,003

Grand total. 3,081 73,062 100,993 135,060

Pieces of artillery.

Command. Heavy. Field. Headquarte

rs.

General headquarters. ............ ........... New

Orleans,

La.

Department of the Gulf

(Hurlbut):

Staff. ............ ........... New

Orleans,

La.

Infantry. ............ ...........

Cavalry. ............ ...........

Artillery. 32 119

Total. 32 119

Department of the

Missouri* (Rosecrans):

Staff. ............ ........... Saint

Louis, Mo.

Infantry. 4 ...........

Cavalry. ............ 4

Artillery. ............ 46

Total. 4 50

Department of Arkansas

(Steele):

Staff. ............ ........... Little

Rock, Ark.

Infantry. ............ 3

Cavalry. ............ 14

Artillery. 7 54

Total. 7 71

Grand total. 43 240