One hundred fifty years ago, on November 2, 1864, a Union patrol sets out to the southwest: HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., CAV. DIV., SEVENTH ARMY CORPS, Little Rock, Ark., November 5, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that pursuant to orders I proceeded with 369 men and officers of this brigade and a detachment of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry of 110 men and officers, at 6 p.m. on the 2d instant, on the Jenkins Ferry road, and reached Doctor Mortons place (about thirty-five miles) at about 7 a.m. next morning. No enemy at that place, and had not been in that vicinity since a week before. A rebel commander, Colonel Logan, had been in that vicinity and stripped the country of forage, and then returned to Princeton. I proceeded by shortest route to Benton (fifteen miles), and found sufficient corn for one feed. Two prisoners were captured near this place. Their information is that there is a large force near Princeton and also a considerable command near Rockport. Returning, the command reached Little Rock at about 10 p.m. of the 3d instant. Total distance marched about seventy-four miles. Captured 2 prisoners and 3 horses and equipments. I am, very respectfully, &c., JNO. F. RITTER, Colonel First Missouri Cavalry, Comdg. Brigade. First Lieut. W. A. MARTIN, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Cav. Div., Seventh Army Corps. [First indorsement.] HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, SEVENTH ARMY CORPS, Little Rock, Ark, November 5, 1864. Respectfully forwarded to district headquarters for the information of the general commanding. J. R. WEST, Brigadier-General, Commanding. [Second indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF LITTLE ROCK, November 7, 1864. Respectfully forwarded to headquarters of the department. This scout was sent out in consequence of information received from the provost-marshal-generals scouts, which was to the effect that Logan with 700 or 800 men was at Doctor Mortons gathering corn. It turns out that the news was nearly a week old when reported to the commanding general, and I respectfully suggest that the scout who furnished it be severely punished for bringing false information, in order to prevent others from being the means of sending our cavalry on expeditions in future. Respectfully submitted. E. A. CARR, Brigadier-General, Commanding. [Third indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, Little Rock, Ark., November 7, 1864. Respectfully referred to Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, provost-marshal-general, for report with reference to indorsement of Brigadier-General Carr. By order of Maj. Gen. F. Steele: W. D. GREEN, Assistant Adjutant-General. [Fourth indorsement.] OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, Little Rock, Ark., November 7, 1864. Respectfully referred to Capt. L. B. Nash, assistant provost-marshal-general, for a full report in case. J. L. CHANDLER, Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost. Marshal-General. [Fifth indorsement.] OFFICE OF ASSISTANT PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, Little Rock, Ark., November 8, 1864. The information received at this office relative to a rebel force being at or in the vicinity of Doctor Mortons gathering corn, was given by the captains of two independent companies of scouts, and from a number of men belonging to those companies, and not from any regularly employed scout of this office. Knowing that for some weeks last past Logans force had been marauding in and taking corn from that section, together with the information from the sources alluded to, I could not do less than report the same. There is no scout employed at this office to be punished, but about ten men belonging to independent companies (some of them living in the vicinity of Doctor Mortons) that are responsible and to blame for the report. Very respectfully, L. B. NASH, Capt. and Asst. Prov. Mar. Gen., in charge of Secret Service. [Sixth indorsement.] OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, Little Rock, Ark., November 8, 1864. Respectfully returned and attention called to the indorsement of Captain Nash. J. L. CHANDLER, Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal- General.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:00:01 +0000
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