Headquarters Upper District Of Arkansas,

Pitman's Ferry, September 6, 1861. Col. T. 0. HlNDMAN,

Commanding, &c.: Colonel: I received your dispatch of the 29th ultimo yesterday afternoon. I expected, from your previous letters, that many of the men composing General Pearce's command would decline to enter the service of the Confederate States, but I was surprised to learn that the vote was unanimous. I approve of your removal of the arms to Fayetteville. It is all important to have them well secured. Let General McCulloch keep the battery formerly commanded by Captain Reid. 1 shall send Captain Roberts with his company immediately to take command of WoodrufFs battery, and a liberal supply of ammunition. You have made no mention in any of your letters about the amount of ammunition on hand, whether much or little. I shall only send ammunition, therefore, for the battery. It is important to know the number of small-arms which have been turned over. In my last dispatch I charged you to have the arms loaned by General Pearce to General Price returned. It is important, now that the troops under General Pearce have refused to enter the C. S. service, that a force should be raised for the protection of that part of the State. You say you can raise from three to five regiments of infantry in a space of time so incredibly short as to astonish me, but you add that you would not like to undertake it unless your infantry was ordered to join you. I regret that I am unable to spare your infantry, which now amounts almost to a brigade. I authorize you to raise at once two regiments of infantry and four companies of cavalry for twelve months or the war, the latter of course preferred. This duty is all important, and I hope you will exert your best energies in its performance. I need hardly say that you can render your State and the Confederacy better service in that way than you can render here or elsewhere. I don't believe the enemy will attempt to invade Arkansas in the west, but he may attempt inroads into the State, which it is my duty by timely precautions to prevent. What object can he gain by an invasion in that direction? The farther he should advance into the country, the more difficult his return and the more certain his destruction. If you raise a brigade of infantry, six companies of cavalry (including the two now near Fayetteville), these troops, with the battery of artillery under Captain Roberts, will form the nucleus of a force on which our patriotic citizens could rally in case of invasion. 1 do not believe it would be safe to form magazines of provisions anywhere in the west without an adequate force for protection. I would prefer you to raise the force first, for the conduct of Pearce's command does not give assurances that the men will respond so promptly to your call as you seem to believe. With respect to the horses and mules which may be turned over you must make such disposition of them as the public interest may require.
If you deem it best to dispose of those which may be unfit for service you are authorized to do so, either at public or private sale, as you may judge will best promote the public interest. It has been always deemed proper to dispose of public property at public sale, but as you apprehend collusion among the citizens, you will do whatever may be advisable to prevent the Government from being defrauded.

Reposing entire confidence in your integrity, capacity, and zeal, I shall leave much to your discretion connected with our operations in the west.

With high respect, your obedient servant,

W. J. HARDEE, [3.] Brigadier-General.

Headquarters Upper District Of Arkansas,

Pitman's Ferry, September 7, 1861. Col. T. C. HlNDMAN:

Colonel: I have concluded to send Captain Roberts in advance of his company to ascertain what kind of ammunition, if any, he will need for his battery. You did not mention the kind of pieces composing Captain Woodruff's battery, whether all were 6-pounders, or four 6-pounders and two howitzers. Also to ascertain the best route to be traveled over by his company, and such other information as might be useful for us both to hear. I hope you will be able to raise the brigade 1 authorized you to muster into service and the four companies of cavalry. Should it not be in your power to do so, I wish you to bring with you all the arms, ammunition, transportation, and other public property belonging to the Confederate States and return to this place. I feel assured you will use every means in your power to raise the troops. They are needed for the protection of that part of the State, and it ought to entitle you to a higher grade, which I shall request the President to confer on you. I feel some solicitude about the safety of the western part of the State; I do not fear an invasion, but I apprehend inroads by the enemy. I need all the surplus arms which you may have after arming the brigade, if you can raise it. I desire, therefore, that you will send me by Captain Roberts all the arms which may not be needed for that purpose. I have less than 5,000 men under arms, including artillery, cavalry, and infantry. I desire to muster two additional regiments into service. One of these regiments (Patterson's) I have armed in part, the other I hope to arm by the guns you will be enabled to send me. Write me fully about matters connected with your mission. With high respect, your obedient servant,

W. J. HARDEE,

Headquarters Upper District Of Arkansas,

Pitman's Ferry, September 9, 1861. General Ben. Mccttlloch,

Commanding &c.: I received yesterday your letter of the 2d instant. I had been previously apprised through Colonel Hindman that the State troops under General Pearce had refused to be transferred to the Confederate States. In view of this I have authorized Colonel Hindman to raise a brigade of infantry and four companies of cavalry in addition to the two companies near Fayetteville, for twelve months or the war, the latter preferred. I shall send from here a company of artillery, commanded by Captain Roberts, to command the battery formerly commanded by Captain Woodruff. I have instructed Colonel Hindman to turn over to you the battery of artillery formerly under command of Captain Reid. You suggest that I should turn over to you all the arms and military stores now at Fayetteville, in charge of Colonel Hindman. I am desirous of doing all in my power to assist you in raising troops for the protection of the country in which you are operating, but under the instructions 1 have received from the War Department I feel compelled to organize a force for the protection of the western part of the State, and these arms and military stores will be needed for that purpose. I have instructed Colonel Hindman, under date of the 6th instant, that if he should fail in raising the regiments authorized by me, to bring all the arms, &c., here. My object in so doing is to arm regiments, which I know can be raised in this section of the State, and which could be readily transferred to the west; but I do not doubt that Colonel Hindman will be able to raise the brigade authorized by me, in and about Fayetteville. I do not believe the enemy will attempt an invasion here, or in the western part of the State, but he will attempt to recover all of Missouri, and may make depredatory incursions into Arkansas. I have nothing to communicate of interest. My force is less than 5,000 men, effective and non-effective. I have three good batteries of artillery. I found I could do nothing in and around Greenville, and fell back to this place, where I am organizing my command, and endeavoring to procure clothing for the men.

W. J. HAEDEE, [3.] Brigadier-General.

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