BOGGY DEPOT, July 21, 1862.
Major General T. C. HINDMAN,
Commanding Trans-Mississippi District
GENERAL: Your order of the 17th reaches me here, on my way to the Canadian. West's and Howell's companies, with six guns (all they can man together), are a day's march in advance. I shall send them to Fort Smith as ordered.
I still have two bronze guns and twelve rifled Parrott guns of war. If you want them, you will have to send men and horses for them; I have none of either, and shall buy no more horses. I send also Captain Corley's cavalry company, the only Arkansas company, except West's, that I have. I repeat my request to be immediately relieved of this command. If I do not receive an order to that effect in fourteen days, I shall leave the command in the hands of Colonel Cooper.
Very respectfully, yours,
ALBERT PIKE,