HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT,
Saint Louis, Mo., March 25, 1864

Lieutenant Colonel JOHN N. HERDER,

Commanding Post, Pilot Knob:

If the other two companies have not been sent to Captain Leeper, let them go forward at once. Keep in communication with him, and have the cavalry of your command ready to move, if necessary. The report seems sensational, but we must be on hand for what comes. General Fisk will not return before Tuesday next.

G. A. HOLLOWAY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. 4TH SUB-DIST., DIST. CENT. MO., Numbers 29.
Kansas City, Mo., March 25, 1864

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II. All of the militia in the Fourth Sub-District is hereby relieved from duty until further orders, and by consent of their company commanders will be allowed to take their arms and equipments to their homes; nevertheless retaining their company organization.

By order of Colonel James H. Ford:

EDWARD L. BERTHOUD,
First Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS, SNIBAR HILLS,

Snibar Station, Jackson County, Mo., March 25, 1864

First Lieutenant E. L. BERTHOUD,

A. A. A. G., 4th Sub-Dist., Dist. of Central Missouri:

SIR: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance to verbal instructions received from the colonel commanding, I have located Company M, Second Colorado Cavalry, at the Mason farm, about 5 miles southeast of Blue Springs, as forage can more easily be obtained at this point. It is also a much better point to scout from than Blue Springs, it being a more central point, and having command of a larger scope of country, and at the same time protection can be afforded to many more citizens who may wish to return, as this has been a much more thickly settled country than about Blue Springs. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. NELSON SMITH,

Major, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF KANSAS,

Fort Leavenworth, March 25, 1864

GEORGE A. CUTLER:

DEAR SIR: Yours of the 21st is duly received. The matter of running out cattle from the Indian country, reported by you in a former letter, did not escape my attention and proper exertions to correct. I visited the country, and gave orders to my troops to stop all the droves coming north and turn them over to the quartermasters, by them to be cared for till further orders. Working cattle are being