Here is the letter I remembered.

Dec 16, 1864
Hd. Qrs. Dist of Arkansas
Washington 16th Dec 1864.
Maj. Gnl Sterling Price

Cmd Exped Forces

General,

The Maj. Gnl Comdr desires you to furnish each of your Divn commanders with a copy of the enclosed order & to direct them to use their utmost diligence in collecting the absentees from their commands. They will as far as possible, give, to all those embraced in the order, the information required to bring them together as rapidly as possible.

The order must not be published in the news-paper or poster, since it would disclose to the enemy, the position of our cavalry.

The Maj. Gnl Comdr instructs me to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 14th Dec 1864 & to say in reply that he will comply with it as soon as the organization of your command shall take place, which will be on the 26th inst.

Circumstances have come to his knowledge since his verbal communication with you on the subject of a leave of absence which in his judgement make it desireable that you as well as Brig. Gnl Shelby should be present at the reorganization of your command & he has ordered Brig. Gnl Shelby to return to duty until the organization shall have been practically affected.

The Maj. Gnl Comdr will take great pleasure in ordering with you, to your next command, such escort & such of the officers of your staff as he is permitted to allow by law & the orders of his superiors.

For his information I am instructed to request that you will forward to these Hd Qrs a list of the names and military status of the staff you desire to take organization & number of your escort.

I have the honor to be General
Qutr Mast
W A Alster???
A A G
A L M