Major-General Reynolds, Comdg. U.S. Forces, Dept. of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark.
General--Seeing the hopelessness of any further struggle, and not wishing to be placed in the attitude of a guerrilla, bushwhacker, or marauder, which I would necessarily be should I prosecute a further hopeless strife, and being fully satisfied that the regular organized armies of the Confederate States east of the Mississippi River are surrendered, I have determined, on the 5th proximo, at Jacksonport, to surrender my command, but it is impossible for me to prevail on some of my men to deliver their arms until they have some assurance from the U.S. authorities that those independent companies and squads claiming protection under the Federal Government are immediately disarmed. I am confident that you are not aware of the many murderous crimes and outrageous depredations committed on the people through the country, or their course would have been ended before this. I called the attention of Colonel Ryan, commanding at Lewisburg, to this matter last winter, but he seemed to take no action in the matter whatever, and I am very well satisfied that peace and order can easily be restored should these fellows be disarmed, as my men have no particular animosity against the Federal Government, and are now willing to submit to the laws of the country and the requirements of the U.S. forces if they can be let alone by these independent men. I have been requested by the citizens of this county to say to you that they are exceedingly anxious for peace, and if you will send them instructions how to proceed, they will establish law and order without the trouble and expense of an armed force to do that for them; but should troops be necessary, they petition you not to send men of this State, who have personal grudges, but a command of some other State, who are not prejudiced and who will do justice to all parties. Will you inform me whether men who have not been engaged in this war, that have not yet taken the oath, will have to report and do so or not. Things will be quite easy, I think, in this portion of the country, if these independent fellows were disbanded and disarmed, as I could then control the Southern soldiers without further difficulty, and the citizens seem very anxious to go forth and restore law and order were they not prevented by these armed forces.
Very respectfully,
A. R. WITT,
Colonel.
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Headquarters Department of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark., May 25, 1865.
Col. A. R. Witt.
Colonel--Yours of the 18th instant is received. In answer I have to say that the request to disarm certain companies organized for neighborhood protection cannot be complied with at the present time. These companies, it is hoped, may be disarmed and disbanded at an early day, which day will, however, be postponed until all men now in arms against the Government lay down their arms and give their paroles. These armed companies or colonies are ordered not to commit depredations on unarmed men or peaceably disposed citizens, and information to the contrary, by whomsoever given, will be willingly received at any of our posts, and if sustained by evidence the offenders shall be brought to immediate punishment. The citizens who have taken no part in the war are not required to come forward now and take any oath. They are expected to attend to their business and conduct themselves as good citizens until the President shall issue a proclamation covering their cases, which will be published for their guidance. Officers from here are now en route to Wittsburg, and will be at Jacksonport on the 5th proximo to receive paroles. These officers meet others from St. Louis, who have instructions from Major-General Pope. If these instructions do not prohibit it, I am willing that the men of your command shall retain their horses for agricultural purposes, and if they require seed corn on application to the nearest post commander they will receive it in reasonable quantities. Every encouragement will be given for all men to return to peaceful pursuits, and those who continue in any other attitude will be promptly disposed of. All citizens are invited to give information at the nearest military post of the whereabouts of marauders of any description.
Respectfully,
J. J. REYNOLDS,
Major-General, Commanding.
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Quitman, Van Buren County, Ark., June 10, 1865.
Lieut. Col. John Levering, Assistant Adjutant-General, Seventh Army Corps, Department of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark.
General--I dislike very much to so often trespass upon your time, knowing the vast amount of business that necessarily comes before a district commander and of greater importance than this can possibly be, but seeing from your letter of the 25th ultimo that you did not understand me in regard to the kind of commands I wish disarmed, hence it is I trouble you again. It is not your home colony companies, composed of good, honest citizens, whose antecedents are clear and will do justice to all parties, I object to. Something of this kind I hope will soon be established for our protection, as we have been paroled in good faith and wish to return to our homes and again resume our several avocations unmolested; but it is these squads or companies that you call jayhawkers or marauders, which are very numerous in our country, and call themselves independent companies, I object to, headed by Chris. Denton, Thomas Kampton, Dick or Nath. Williams, and others, who say what they do is under the direction of the U.S. authorities. About the 1st of this month, after I had ordered my men to gather up all arms and C.S. property and report at Jacksonport, in pursuance to General Orders, No. 8, issued from General M. Jeff. Thompson’s headquarters, for the purpose of being paroled, some of these illegal bands above spoken of caught one of my men, held him as a prisoner of war, and perhaps have killed him; did not at least permit him to report and be paroled; took four or five guns that had been collected, pillaged house, and even took out of it feather beds. These are the squads or kind of men that our paroles are no protection for us in any way whatever, and when we lay down our arms at the same time we lay down our lives, should we offer to return to our homes. And these are the bands we are so desirous and respectfully ask that you disarm, and not any legal body of men that you may authorize, for we well know the position you occupy, and your better judgment would dictate that such men would not restore order and peace in the country, and, of course, are not recognized by you.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. R. WITT,
Colonel Tenth Arkansas Regiment.
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Headquarters U.S. Forces, Searcy, Ark., June 11, 1865.
Upon consultation with Colonel Witt, who desired me to indorse this paper without sending it through his intermediate commanders, to whom I generally report, I have the honor, in complying with his desire, to respectfully indorse his within given opinion in regard to these bands calling themselves "independent companies." I have no doubt whatever that these depredators are jayhawkers and not members of home colonies properly authorized. These robbers are very quiet at present, but if some protection is not granted, paroled insurgents and other peaceably disposed men will be, to say the least, insecure in the pursuit of agriculture, &c. The case is therefore respectfully submitted to you.
Very respectfully,
OTTO F. DREHER,
Captain, Third Minnesota Veteran Volunteer Infantry,
Commanding Detachment, and Acting Assistant Provost-Marshal.