Head-Quarters Camp of Instruction
Benton Barracks, (near St. Louis, Mo.,) Oct 18 1861
General1
I asked by Telegraph a suspension of your order directing the 8th Wisconsin to report at Jeffersonville to Genl Sherman; mainly because General Fremont was draining this point when Thomson was moving against us, to pursue Price2 who was retreating far towards Arkansas, and I saw that any accident or apparent danger in this vicinity would renew the cry of persecution and neglect. I therefore pressed the Wisconsin and another regiment towards Pilot Knob and Telegraphed the Commander at Cairo to send a force through from St. Jenevive towards Pilot Knob to save our force and stores at that point and peradventure close in on Thompson. I hear the Wisconsin has reached Pilot Knob but I have no response from Cairo. If we save Pilot Knob this time, I shall rejoice. The only importance attached to the point is our guns and stores.
If they were not there no army would be tempted to within fifty miles of the poor sterril volcanic labarynth of hills and defiles. True it is the end of a Railroad, but the end of a railroad without the rolling stock which should be held here in this city; is of no use to a foe, and hence there is no need of half a million of stores and useful force at that point to invite the starving scoundrals of McCuIlough to come and steal them. Whatever be the result then, do not overlook the movements of the enemy this side which took Capt Elliot and his company and faught the Home guards in the vicinity. The Wisconsin 8th and Boyds Regiment were needed. I started about 300 Cavelry, but Capt. McKeever very sumeraly ordered them back and sent them to Geni Fremont taking away every armed cavalier in this Command.
At last accounts Genl Fremont was about 30 miles south of the Railroad–Price far below.
I hope that persuit will not be prolonged far in that direction, with the large force now accumulated out there; as it will be very expensive, and no considerable force of the enemy will make a stand there.
If I had Cavelry arms I could send 3000 to the Pilot Knob and that is the force most needed. But every arm goes West, and my Cavelry is useless. My infantry is very little better being mainly with no arms and what is armed is 300 old smoothbores and about 900 Belgium muskets that are absolutely worthless.
Yet I have no fears of this city as the rebils cannot or dare not squeese themselves into this interior angle.
To an intimation which I gave to Capt McKeever that orders were awaiting the 8th Wisconsin he responds “I do not understand how you could receive orders from Washington to send that regiment to Indiana No troops can leave this Dept without an order from Major Genl Fremont.” This being only a few hours after he had order my Patroll back, and a battery out of my Command without my knowledge; I did not respond to enlighten his “understanding” but left him to consider “how.”
The importance of matters here must excuse the length of this communication.
Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt
Saml. R. Curtis
Brig Geni Com.
1. Adjt. Gen Lorenzo Thomas
2. Sterling Price, former governor of Missouri, and Congressman, a veteran of the Mexican War with the rank of brig. gem, cast his lot with the southern forces, though moderate in views. A maj. gen., C. S. A., he fought at Wilson’s Creek. and led most of the actions in Missouri in 1861. After a brief post-war sojourn in Mexico, be returned to Missouri in 1866.