McNeil said in this message "the provost marshall found it only an ordinary stock of merchandise."

FORT SMITH, ARK., December 1, 1863.
Major-General SCHOFIELD:

The train General Blunt brought through from Fort Scott is here-
248 [wagons], by this morning’s report. All not repairing are in use collecting wheat and corn for grinding, carrying stores to troops in the field, or collecting forage. The post quartermaster has 60 more wagons in forage and feed business. 1 have sent no train to Little Rock, because I have neither been able to get wagons from the quartermaster nor supply mounted guard. There is a train within 80 miles, on the Line road, which, when it arrives, I expect to have transportation so that I can draw on Little Rock for supplies. The Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry are with it. The train to Little Rock should start each month, and be 200 wagons, each with a strong guard. We make no requisition on Fort Scott, but have on Springfield. I did not report on McDonald stock, as the provost-marshal found it only an ordinary stock of merchandise. My personal observations confirm this report. The ostensible parties are McDonald and Brooks. General Blunt has not returned to Fort Leavenworth. He is acting under authority of the War Department as commissioner to raise the Eleventh Regiment Colored Troops. He asked my aid in that capacity. Desirous to facilitate the service, and with respect to his rank, I have assigned him an office and such assistance as his duty requires. By General Blunt’s train we received 100,000 rations, without flour and little hard bread. By the coming train we will have as much more, with 20,000 rations of hard bread. The supply by each train is badly wanted.

JOHN McNEIL
Brigadier General, Commanding.