Headquarters First Brigade,
Army of the Frontier,
Fort Gibson, Jan. 30, 1864.

Soldiers—I take you with me to clean out the Indian Nation south of the river, and to drive away and destroy the rebels there.

Let me say a few words to you that you are not to forget.

Do not begin forming in battle until you are ordered. When you fire, aim low, about the knee; or at the lower part of a man's body, if on horseback. Never fire in the air. Fire slowly, and never until you see something to shoot at that you may hit. Do not waste your ammunition. Do not straggle, or go away from the command. It is cowards only that leave their comrades in the face of the enemy. Nearly all the men we get killed are our stragglers.

Keep with me close and obey orders, and we will soon have peace. Those who are still in arms are rebels, who ought to die. Do not kill a prisoner after he has surrendered, but I do not ask you to take prisoners.

I ask you to make your footsteps severe and terrible. We have offered peace too long, and our offer has been insulted. The time has now come when you are to remember the authors of all your sufferings, those who started a needless and wicked war, who drove you from your homes, who robbed you of your property.

Stand by me faithfully, and we will soon have peace. Watch over each other to keep each other right, and be ready to strike a terrible [blow] on those who murdered your wives and little ones by the Red Fork, along the Verdigris, or by Dave Vann's Cow Pens. Do not be afraid. We have always beaten them. We will surely win.

God go with us!

W. A. Phillips,

Colonel Commanding.