Hqs Ind Ty
Fort Smith, Ark
May 7, 1863
Gen Wm Steele to Col S S Anderson AAG, Little Rock

I send you the statement of Capt Minehart of the circumstances under which his company was broken up, to which I would add, as the result of inquiries, that Clarkson’s command was, after his defeat & capture, reorganized by Lt Col Buster. Buster’s command together with Reid’s Battery, & other disorganized commands, was merged into Clark’s Regiment by order of Gen Hindman. Capt Minehart, Capt Reid, and other officers of commands which have been broken up are, and, have been for months, in an anomalous position, not recognized as officers and, claiming to be exempt from conscriptions.

NARA-RG 109
Chapter II, Volume 270
Military Departments - Letters Sent, Brig. Gen. William Steele's Command, March 1862-May 1863