Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-08-27

hospital here. by Gen. Blunt. Seven or
eight Of our meu have died IN the past
week: but the sick list i decreasing
rapidly now. We expect Ia move TO
some point near Leavenworth soon as re-
lieved here. 10 refit. recruit and remoun;
Yours. in haste, ORDERLY
HFAD-QrAETERs lSDIAS ENPEDITION.
CANYON WOLF CREEK. CHEgoEEE NATION.
July 2Gth. loG2.
Brig. GEN. James G. Blunt, Commanding
Department of Kansas:
SI.,-I have the honor to report thui
hay. arrested Col. VIM. Weer. Command
ing the Indian Expedition. and have as
sumed command. Among the numerous
reasons for this step, Il fey Of the chief
are rs follows: From the day Of orr first
report to him. We have found him Al inan,
abusive and violent III his intercourse with
his fellow officers. nOtoriOusly intemper-
ate in habits. entirely disregarding militia
nv usages and discipline: always rash III
speech, act and orders refusing to inie-
rior officers and their reports that consid-
Grafton which is due M officer Of the [.
S. ARMY. Starting from Cowskin Prairie,
Oh the lst inst, we were pushed rapidly
forward to the vicinity Of Fl. Gibson, on
the Arkansas River, n distance Of one
hundred and sixty miles from Fl. Scott.
No effort was made by him 10 keep CON-
munication open behind Us. Il seemed
he desired none. We had but twenty
three davs' rations on hand. A. soon a.
he reached a position on Grand River.
fourteen miles from Ft Gibson. his move
ments suddenly ceased. We could then
have crossed the Arkansas River. but il
seemed there was no object 10 be attain
ed in his Judgment, by such move
There ,ys Iav entirely idle from the 9th
10 the 10th. We had at last reached the
poiu. when we had but three days ra-
lions on hand. Something must be done.
We wore in barren country with large
force of the enemy III front of ~. : \
large and now impassab!s River between
us, and no news from our train or from
our base of operations. for twelve days.
What were we 10 do? Col. Weer called
q Couucilof War At which he stated, that
the Arkansas River was now impossible
10 our forces. that Il train containing COM
missarv stores had been expected for 8
days. that three different set OF couriers
sent cut, some time previous, had entire
" failed TO report that he had been u
days entirely without communication
with or from the Dept, and that he had
received reliable information that large
force Of the enemy were moving 10 our
rear via the Verdigris River for the pnr-
pose Of cutting OF our train. Upon this
and other information this Council of War
decided that our only safety lay N falling
back to some point where we could re
open communication and learn Of the
whereabouts Of our train of subsistence.
To this decision Of the Council he at the
time assented and said that he would ar
range with the Commanders of BrIgades
the order of march. Subsequently he is
sued sn order putting the command ON
half rations, declaring that he would not
fall back, and refused utterly upon my
application to take any steps for the safe
tv or salvation of his command. | could
but conclude that the man was either IN
sane or premeditated treachery 10 his
troops. Or perhaps that his grossly intern-
perate habits, long continued. had pro
duced idiocy or monomania. In either
case the command was imperilled and
military necessity demanded that some
thing be done, and that without delay
took the only step. | believed, available
to save your troops. ! arrested this man.
have drawn charges against him and now
hold him subject 10 Your order. On the
morning of the 18th commenced ret
rograde march and have fallen back with
my main force TO this point. You Will
see by general order No. l, herewith for
warded that | have stationed the lst and
I'd Reg'ts Ind. II. G'ds. as corps OF OBJ
servation along the Grand and Verdigris
Rivers, also to guard the forts Of the Ar
kansas. Yesterday evening courier
reached me at Prior Creek with dispatches
saving that commissary train was at Hud-
sons Crossing, seventy-five miles north OF
us. waiting for an additional force as an
escort Information also reaches me this
morning that Col. Waite with force OF
twelve hundred men passed up the east
side of Grand River yesterday. for the.
purpose of cutting off this train. have
sent out strong accommodating parties to
the east of the River, and if the inform
alton proves reliable, will take such fur
ther measures as I deem best for its secu-
rity. design simply to hold the coun-
try we are now in, and will make no I'M
portant moves, except such as | may deem
necessary for the preservation of this com
mand, until receive specific instructions
from you. send Maj. Burnett with a
small escort to make his way through to
you. He will give you more at length the
position of this command. their condition
&c.
Very Resp'ctly yocr Obt. Serv
F. SALOMON.
Col. 9th Wis. Vols, Comd'g Ind. Exp.