The Indian Territory in the Civil War Message Board

Hindman's Opinion on the Indian Troops 9/22/1862

Head Quarters District of Arkansas

Little Rock, Arks. Sept. 22, 1862

Colonel:

The report of Brig. Genl. Raines command herewith forwarded, needs explanation.

It puts his armed infantry at 2,901 - his unarmed infantry at 2,806 - his artillery at 14 pieces - and his cavalry at 9,677, all armed.

His infantry consists of two brigades - his own and Col. Carroll’s; but during his command of the entire force, his own infantry forms part of Carroll’s brigade.

The armed infantry carry shot-guns, sporting rifles, and muskets - the last named being in the proportion of about one in five, of which about one fifty had bayonets. They are partially instructed in company drill, but know nothing beyond that. The unarmed infantry wee marched to camp and organized while I was there, and are but little instructed.

His artillery consists of three batteries - two of them are of two 12 pounder s each, bronze. The other is of two 12 pounder rifle, bronzed, captured at Lone Jack, and four iron six (6) pounders, sent from the arsenal here, where they had long been inserted in the ground, as ‘corner posts.’ The carriages and harnesses are much worn. The supply of ammunition small. The horses in tolerable condition. The companies poorly drilled.

His cavalry consists of one Arkansas regiment, which is of Carroll’s brigade - three Missouri regiments, constituting Shelby’s brigade - three Texas regiments, which are of Cooper’s brigade - one mixed battalion of Missourians and Arkansians, also of Cooper’s brigade - and one mixed battalion of Arkansians, Missourians and half breed Cherokee’s, also of Coopers brigade. Col. Cooper reports, on addition, 5,568 Indian cavalry, of which only about 600 seemed to be under his command, and they but nominally so, the balance of the Indian force appears to exist on paper exclusively.

Carroll’s Arkansas cavalry regiment and Cooper, mixed battalion of Missourians and Arkansians are partially drilled. Shelby’s Missouri brigade, just organized, is commencing drill.
The three Texas regiments and the mixed battalion of Arkansians, Missourians and Half Breed Cherokee are wholly un-drilled and undisciplined. As for Col. Cooper, 5,568 Indians, thy are not worth their rations, as cavalry.

General Rains effective cavalry force does not exceed 2,000 men. His effective infantry force is 2,901. The strength of his artillery has been stated. He is greatly outnumbered by the enemy in his front, holding a line fifty to sixty miles north of his own which corresponds nearly to the north line of Arkansas. It is absolutely necessary that he continue to hold that line. If it is lost, he must retire to the Arkansas river, 100 miles south, giving up the Indian Country entirely, and going where there is not subsistence for five days for his command.

His supply of ammunition, for small arms, is under 20 rounds to the effective men. He has about one tenth the regulation allowance of cooking utensils - about one-twentieth that allowance of working tools, about one one-fifth of the established allowance of transportation. He will not average one tent to the company. Large number of his men are without hats or caps, not above one in every five has blankets, or any substitute for one, over 1,000 are absolutely barefooted, and as many more are virtually so.

Respectfully,

T. C. Hindman
Maj. Genl. Comdg

Col. James Deshles
A. A. Genl.