LITTLE ROCK, ARK.
June 2, 1861

Hon. L. P. WALKER:

DEAR SIR: I have been detained by pneumonia, an attack from which kept me ten days in bed. Then low water and the sinking of a steam-boat kept me until yesterday. I am not able to report upon the condition of things among the Indians, but hear they are favorable. Gen. McCulloch is about the frontier of Arkansas, northwest of Fort Smith, as I hear. I do not think these matters worth talking about, but my sense of duty requires me to report that with about 25,000 able-bodied brave men Arkansas has less the appearance of a military organization than any people I ever yet knew. The people are nearly all under arms, and daily rumors of invasions calling them from home, and I never yet saw people who appeared to know so little about commanders, or who seemed so utterly devoid of confidence in any one faction or leader of a faction in the State. My belief and conviction is that but little can be done among these factions, and that a military leader from without the State is needed, who when he gets here shall have command of all the forces not under McCulloch, and that the bold and brave men can rally under such without disturbance from leaders of any faction whatever, and that without this Arkansas with her brave and hardy hunters cannot be made available in any other way, unless it will be by waiting for a new man to grow up.

These are my thoughts, freely given. If able, I go up the river to Fort Smith to-morrow.

I have the honor to be, truly, &c., yours,

DAVID HUBBARD