HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN DIVISION OF LOUISIANA,
Shreveport, La., June 8, 1865.
Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS,
Commanding Department of the Gulf:
GENERAL: We reached Grand Ecore on the 5th instant, leaving the Twenty-first Iowa
Infantry and two squadrons of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry as garrison at that place. Maj. Gen. H.
T. Hays made that point the headquarters of his district, and bad with him about 600 men. At
least 2,000 will be paroled there, many of them stragglers from the other commands. Twenty-one
pieces of artillery and 500 stand of small-arms were turned over to the ordnance officer at that
point. Late on the evening of the 6th we reached Shreveport, the troops, however, not getting
here until the evening of the 7th instant. Brigadier-General Dennis has been assigned to
command of the post, the remnant of his division being camped one mile from town. There will
be but little public property turned over aside from artillery and ordnance stores, although
Generals Buckner, Fagan, and the other officers show every disposition and make every effort to
have the property pass into the hands of our officers. When it was known here that
commissioners had gone to New Orleans to negotiate there was a general breaking up of the
organizations, the troops scattering in every direction and carrying with them everything, public
and private, they could lay hands upon. The single exception to this was in the case of the
Missouri troops, who retained entire their organization and protected all the public property we
have received. Their conduct has been very good. They have acted in good faith, and have turned
over everything, and immediately upon receiving their paroles took the oath of allegiance as
provided in Special Orders, No. 215, Headquarters of the Army. At least 5,000 Missouri and
Kentucky troops will take the oath here. Just after reaching Grand Ecore five boats came down
with one brigade of Missouri men that General Fagan had started to Alexandria, he not having
rations to feed them. I directed them to land at Alexandria, procure paroles, and take the oath
(that being their desire), and from that point proceed to Baton Rouge, where transportation will
be furnished them home.
All of the Missouri and Northern Arkansas troops I will send to Baton Rouge, where they can
be cared for until boats are sent up. Owing to the great scarcity of provisions, I have been
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compelled to send them away from here as rapidly as possible. There will be paroled at this point
about 15,000 in all. The artillery and ordnance stores will be sent to New Orleans without delay.
The Treasury agents sent up by Mr. Flanders have arrived and are collecting the Government
cotton. We will get quite a large amount on the Red and Washita Rivers, but much has been run
off by the soldiers and other persons, so that it will require a little time to collect it. With the
approval of the Treasury agent I have passed several boats loaded with private cotton out of Red
River and to New Orleans. There is an immense amount of private property, cotton, &c., along
this river waiting an opportunity to get down, and I believe it should be pushed through while the
river is up. The country is badly off for supplies, and I hope all parties will be permitted to bring
them up. It will do much toward restoring good feeling. Captain Fitzhugh, of the Navy,
accompanied me to this point, and leaves to-day for the Mississippi. He received from the rebel
naval officer the iron-clad gun-boat Missouri and a supply steamer, the Cotton. We found in the
quartermaster's department but two boats, the Champion and Beauregard. As soon as supplies
arrive I will send a regiment of infantry to Marshall, where there is a large amount of
ammunition and other property. A messenger reached me to-day from Col. W. H. Dickey,
announcing his arrival at Monroe, and also the arrival of the garrison at Camden. The stage
routes are mostly operating, and in a few days the telegraph will be at work to Galveston,
Camden, and other points. I have written Colonel Beckwith about supplies, and would specially
request that a good quartermaster be sent here. The work is too great for a green hand. Will
report by every mail.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
F. J. HERRON,
Major-General.
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