The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-12-26
psoort Of MAJOR Gen. P. Il. Sheridan.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TUE GULF,
- a.. = -. Ann Il ISGG

following report OF operations Wtulh lde NUNS " s
command since May 20 ls65
On the 9th OF MAY, / SOS, | was relieved from COM
Tnand of the middle military division, and assigned to
the command of all the territory west OF the Mssis-
Fipui and south of the Arkansas rivers with dlrec-
tions to report Lieut. Gen Grant for instructions
This territory embraced at that time within its limits
the only organised rebel army in the Confederacy,
which was under command Of the rebel Gen Kirby
Smith With headquarters at Shreveport or vicaity, in
the State of Louisiana.
Ny instructions from the Lieutenant General were
20 operate against this command to break 1t up or de-
strov it. For this purpose / authorised TO draw
from Maor-Gen. J. J. Reynolds, commanding depart
rneut Of Arkansas IL, 900 men, aud from hajor-Gen
+. R. S. Candy commanding the military division Of
West Mississippi $4,000 men, together with the fourth
and twenty fifth army corps, and column OF from
5000 10 1000 cavalry to he collected from Louisiana
West Tennessee Mississippi and Alabaml. The ag
gregate strength Of this force was about $4,000 men
On the 2gth of MAY assumed control OF this ne"
command designating it the Military Division OF the
Southwest" with headquarters at New Orleans, La
and at about the same time received intelligence of the
surrender of E. Kirby Smith, through commissioners
sent from him to Major-Gen Candy. This surrender
was made but bore upon its face double dealing OF
the part Of the rebel commander or his agents, as the
Texas troops had declined to surrender aud had dis
banded to their homes destroying magazines and car
rying with them arms and ammunition from the diff
ferent arsenals. Gen. Smith proceeded to Galveston
and from thence escaped to Mexico in violation of the
agreement he had bound himself 10 observe.
This conduct on his part may have arisen from the
fact that could not be concealed that his real object
in offering surrender to get security for the Ar
kansas Louisiana and Missouri troops to return &c
their homes knowing full well that the Texas troop:
did not intend to surrender, and that most Of them
had already gone their homes; and while they were
destroying their arsenas, and carrying home with
them their arms it their constant boast that they
would renew the fight at some future day.
Previous the surrender and in anticipation Of the
successful escape of Jefferson Davis, and his probable
arrival in tie trans Mississippi department. it had been
contemplated to organise a column Of 900 Confed
crates Marshall, Texas, for the invasion OF Mexico
The scheme failed, perhaps from the capture OF Mr.
Davis. But while the main scheme Of sending the
$4,000 men to Mexico failed, numerous bands, squads
and parties numbering perhaps 5000 or 1000 men
crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico.
In view of this and the troubles of our sister repub
lie and taking into consideration the fact that all ou
military projects, during the war against Texas hac
been failures, and this account the Union people
there had to look upon the Government as weak
it was determined to throw a large force into tina
State and along the Rio Grande border. The accom-
plshment of this purpose accompanied with grea
labor from various causes, but it was successful.
achieved.
Among the first difficulties we're the inadequacy Q
the depot at this place for the requirements Of th'
service to be accomplished; the absence OF all mer
camille marine and the worthless character of most
the transportation held BY the quarermaster depart
ment here for the purpose Of crossing the gulf or en-
tering the ports of Texas; the destruction Of all ht
wharves at the ports in Texas, with the exception o
Galveston, by the Confederates and the long line q
communications TO the points occupied in the interior
which supplies had to be sent and last, bat not
least the great reluctance OF the troops, officers anC
men, to continue for longer period in the service
they claiming that they had fulfilled their contrac
with the Government and that it was bat Just they
should be mustered out.
The movement Of the thirteenth corps had been Or.
dered before reached New Orleans. One division 81
it. under Major Gen f. j. Heron, proceeded to occu
BY the line of the Red river in Louisiana, and Mar
shall and Jefferson in northeastern Texas. One
division under Maor-Gen. f. Steele under orders
for the Rio Grande line. The third division, under
Maior-Gen J. A Mower, ordered to Galveston
from thence to occupy the line of railroad from Gal
weston to BRENNAN, while MaiorGen. Gordon Granger
who was in command of the corps, was assigned 70
general command i'll Texas
While these movements Of the thirteenth corps we're
in progress | was rapidly collecting at Alexandria
Louisiana column Of cavalry about 450D strong, to
be commanded by Maor-Gen. G. A. Custer and
another column at Shreveport, Louisiana, about 5000
strong, to be commanded by Mejor-Gcn Wesley Mer
rift These cavalry columns collected from the
different points in the States before mentioned anC
were transferred up Red river by steamboats, under
gree difficulties from the low stage Of the wafer were
organised hrs divisions, equipped, supplied and pre-
pared 70 maIch Ioi "ir respective points OF destna
ton Merntts division 70 .-rrch via Marshall to Sar
"A mi q p
tin, Texas the columns marching uel,lv parallel L
each other and something Ike hundred rIlas anart
These columns took with them a small pontoou tail
to cross streams the line Of march, and for the IL
territorial object Of being able to the Rio Gande
should the government elect to send troops in tina
direction.
While tile movements Of tie thirteenth corps ant
cavalry going on, the twenty-fth corps was en-
barked at City Point VA fT the coast OF Texas, e
occupy the points Of lndianoa, Corpus ChTlStl brazo
l,l, 6 tbp lin
corps however being sent to the Rio Grande line
Great trouble was experienced in the landing OF tht
troops in consequence Of the bad harhors in Texas
the great draught Of vessels employed transports
and The absence Of suitable lighters to convey tbs
troops across The bars.
While the foregoing operations we're in progress
the fourth army corps numbering about 10000 men
with all its field transportation, arrived at New Orle
ans having been ordered to report to me for service
in Texas and was transported rapidly possible K
Indianola from thence TO Victoria aud ordered to oc
cupy the line from that point to San Antonio.
The troops oh the line from Galveston to Austir
were supplied with comparative case, as the bar a
Galveston offered no very difficult obstacles. Tht
wharyes although in bad condition. still suhced the
railroad from Hampstead to Brennan was in condition
to transfer necessary supplies and from Brennan
TO Austin there passable wagon road.
The landing Of the troops at Indianola WAS difficult
on account of the dangerous bar, which had to bt
lghtered from the Transports and il consequence
TO be- in most cases. to the shore in small boats That
when the troops were landed there water foI
a distance of eighteen miles and they had to be bur
ried over this distance as as landed, and from
thence to Victoria, where timber and could be
obtained in abundance. Victoria is distant from In
danoa about thrtyhve or forty miles After these
difficulties had been overcome, it found that the
country between Indianola and Victoria not pass
able for wagons in the winter and the railroad from
Lavaca to Victoria had to be repaired at much labor
and some expense, else the troops would have TO come
back to their supplies at Lavaca and Indanola, where
there water
therefore ordered tile railroad repaired and after
it was in running order sold to the company,
ing the cost of repairs The wharf at ludianola had
also to be built entire and when completed sold, to
cover the expenses incurred.
But on account of these obstacles, and especially
the difficulty of crossing the outer bar which IL about
twenty miles from the landing OF the transports
had to return to New Orleans the mouth OF the
Mississippi river for for the troops aud coal tor
the transports.
at Bazos Santiago the wharf had been destroyed and
many of the difficulties occurred here and OF
the transports had also to return to New Orleans and
the mouth Of the Mississippi river for supplies Of coal
and water The troops on this line we're extended up
the Rio Grande rs far as Ladero and on this line