April 25, 1861 from Little Rock-
...Gov. Rector has ordered me to concentrate troops at Hopefield forthwith so that I will not be able to come see you. I sent out ??? for my horse company and for the West Point Company to rendezvous there forthwith...
Headquarters Arkansas Volunteers, Camp Rector, May 6, 1861
...I received one letter from you and only one by the West Point troops...I am commander in chief and cannot leave without sacrifice of honor....if there is any prospect of danger (around Searcy) I will send our company home. I have ten companies here the very best kind of men. I have just disciplined five of our Searcy men from the company. They were mutinous and dissatisfied. We do not want such men, the sooner we get rid of them the better. Hundreds of men are willing to offer their services and to undergo the necessary fatigue and hardships....in this bottom we have rather a hard time with mud and water. Just think of 800 men within the ??? of 1 1/2 acres with tents as thick as they can be placed, with narrow streets, ??? and perfectly flat, and the earth the black stuff...we are all cheerful and contented for as soon as a man commences to murmer we consider him unfit for a soldier and send him home forthwith.
Headquarters Arkansas Volunteers, Camp Rector, May 10, 1861
...of all the positions I ever held the one that I now hold is the most arduous and the hardest I ever held. I am commander in chief and am unable to get furlough to go home...I will resign as soon as some one is sent here to take command and take command of my company of Rangers. I am well tired of commanding and taking care of 800 wild spirits. It is true that there has been no disturbances or disagreements, but the ??? is a little too hard and an great difficulty in the way that there is no permanent organization. I have some 13 companies here of independent volunteers. You can guess how hard a task I have got. Many are anxious for me to run for colonel, but I am out of that. I will if permitted join a regiment of Rangers for frontier service. I do not wish to be stationed upon this muddy river.