Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-04
REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS, INDIAN EXPEDITION,
CAMP ON WOLF CREEK, CHEROKEE
NATION, July 20th, 1862.

HEADQUARTERS, INDIAN EXPEDITION, /
CAMP ON WOLF CREEK, CHEROKEE
NATION, July 20th, 1862.
To Brig. Gen. James g. Blunt Commanding
the Department Of Kansas:
SRI have the honor to report that
have arrested Col. VIM. Weer, command.
ing the "Indian Expedition and have as
sumed command. Among the numerous
reasons for this step-a few of the chief
are as follows; From the day of our first
report to him, we have found him a man
abusive and violent in his intercourse with
his fellow officers, notoriously incorporate
in his habits, entirely disregarding militia
ry usages and discipline, always rash in
speech, act and orders, refusing to inferior
officers and their reports that consideration
which is due an officer of the United
States army. Starting from Cowskin Prai-
rie on the 1st inst, we were pushed rapid
ly forward to the vicinity of Fl. Gibson
on the Arkansas river, distance of one
hundred and sixty miles from Fort Scott.
No effort was made by him to keep com
munication open below US. It seems he
desired none. We had but twenty-three
days rations on hand. As soon as he
reached position on Grand River four
teen miles from Ft. Gibson, his movements
suddenly ceased. We could then have
crossed the Arkansas River. But it seem
ed there was no object to be attained in his
judgment, by such move. There we lay
entirely idle from the 9th to the 18th. We
had at last reached the point when we had
but three days rations on hands. Some
thing must be done. We were in a bar
rem country, with large force Of the en-
emy in front Of US, q large and now i'm
passable river between US, and no news
from our trains or our base Of operations
for twelve days. What were we to do
Col. Weer called council of war at which
he stated that the Arkansas river was now
impossible to our forces-thata train con-
tanning commissary stores had been ex-
pected for two days; that three different
set Of cOurieTs sent out some time previous,
had entirely failed to report; that he had
received reliable informatsOn that large
force of the enemy were marching to our
rear via the Verdigris river for the purpose
of cutting off our train. Upon this and
other information the council Of war de-
cided that our safety lay in falling back to
some point where we could reopen COM
munication and learn the whereabouts of
our train of subsistence. To this decision
of the council he at first assented and said
that he would arrange with the command
ers Of brigades the order of march. Sub
sequently he issued an order putting the
command on half rations, declaring that
he would not fall back, and refused utterly
upon my application 70 take any steps for
the safety or salvation Of his command.
l could but conclude that the man was eth
er insane or premeditated treachery
to his troops. Or, perhaps, that his
grossly incorporate habits, long con-
tinued, had produced idiocy or
In either case the command
was imperilled, and a military necessity
demanded that something be done, and
hat 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 to |