Numbers 2. Reports of Major General Thomas C. Hindman, C. S. Army, of operations May 31-November 3, 1862.
RICHMOND, VA., June 19, 1863.
GENERAL: Heretofore it has been impracticable for me to make any connected report of my services as commander of the Trans-Mississippi District. Such a report is therefore submitted at this time.
The state of affairs in the Trans-Mississippi District was extremely discouraging...
...I now directed the enrollment and organization into Co’s and Regts of all men in Ark subject to conscription. Absentees from commands east of the Ms were to be included, but with a memorandum stating their proper companies and Regts. Substitution was prohibited, because I regarded it as certain to increase the difficulties, already too great, that were in my way.
To encourage volunteering, it was announced that they who should form Co’s by 6/20 would be permitted to elect their company officers, but that in all other cases the company officers, and in all cases the field and staff officers, would be appointed. Under the conscript law these men were to be distributed among the old Regts, depriving them of all right to elect officers of any grade. I enlarged, instead of curtailing, their privileges.