PINE BLUFF, December 7, 1864- 7 p. m.

(Received 7.30 p. m.)

Captain C. H. DYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Colonel Erskine arrived this morning. He brought in seven prisoners.

POWELL CLAYTON,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE FRONTIER,
Fort Smith, Ark., December 7, 1864.

Colonel S. H. WATTLES,

Commanding Indian Brigade;

SIR: You will please start the ox train back to Fort Scott as soon as it can be got ready,a nd you will send the Fifty- fourth Colored with it as escort; and I would advise that you also send with the Fifty- fourth the most, or all, of your Indian troops still left at Gibson, retaining the First Arkansas there to hold the post during their absence. I sent you an order on the 5th instant to start Major Foreman with about 400 Indian troops immediately on the arrival of the ox train at Gibson, for the purpose of meeting the mule train at the earliest possible date.

Very respectfully,

JOHN M. THAYER,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

P. S. - Your dispatches of the 5th instant reached here at 7 o'clock this morning.

NASHVILLE, TENN., December 7, 1864- 11.50 a. m.

Major-General ROSECRANS:

The Forty- seventh Illinois is reported at Springfield, Ill. Did your order them to that point! If so, please send me a copy of the order.

A. J. SMITH,

Major- General.

SAINT LOUIS, December 7, 1864.

Major General A. J. SMITH:

The Forty- seventh Illinois Volunteers ordered to Springfield upon Governor's recommendation, but has reported back under orders from the War Department to join your command. The regiment leaves here by boat for Nashville to- day.

W. S. ROSECRANS,

Major- General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, Numbers 339.
Saint Louis, December 7, 1864.

1. The Forty- seventh Illinois Volunteers, en route to rejoin its proper command in the field, having reported at these headquarters in compliance with Special Orders, Numbers 398, paragraph 5, current series, from headquarters superintendent volunteer recruiting service, State of