GENERAL: I sent you an order yesterday, by direction of the major-general
commanding, to impress what beeves you could find in the counties of Red River
and Lamar, and to send them here without delay. He requests me to-day to write
that 1,000 beeves are required here at once; that the line of the Ouachita, including
Camden, will have to be evacuated; that his troops have been several days without
beef, in consequence of the failure of the department officers (over whom he has
no control) to furnish beef; that it requires about 600 beeves a week to furnish this
army, and that there must be a surplus on hand of at least 1,200 beeves to enable
this army to subsist in front even a week in case of an advance; that by the greatest
and perhaps fated neglect of those whom he cannot control this district is on the
verge of ruin, and that therefore he is compelled in order to save it, even
temporarily, under the present system, to impress beef in Texas whatever may be
the consequence; but that you will therefore selec your most suitable officers and
men and endeavor to persuade the farmers to sell, and only impress when the
beeves cannot be obtained by purchase. The impressment law must be followed
strictly.
.
The major-general commanding is informed that there are many beeves in
Hopkins County, Tex. You will get, therefore, 400 from each of the counties
named, or apportion the number to each county, according to what may be its
estimated capacity to furnish. Funds will be sent you, if possible, to pay upon the
spot. As soon as 150 beeves are obtained send them, and push the matter as
rapidly as possible. Consult some patriotic citizens as to the beeves in the three
counties named (Lamar, Red River, and Hopkins). Tell them that there is
preparing a great raid from Little Rock for Northern Texas, as far as the major-
general commanding can judge, and that the beeves can be returned to them, if
they desire it, as soon as the officers at Shreveport can obtain them. Send your
unarmed men (good herdsmen) for the beeves.
.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. M. KIMMEL,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General
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The Scott in question is mentioned in the following March 22, 1865 entry of Samuel Pearson Newcomb's and wife Susan Reyolds' JOURNAL, 1865-1873 kept at Fort Davis in Stephens County, Texas. ..I abstracted S.P. Newcomb's Jan 1, 1865 to Dec 31, 1865 pages to prepare a 2-page article for my 1,046-page book that is 90% from handwritten records. The March 22, 1865 entry reads:
.
***********
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Late this morning Charles Hitson returned to this place after an absence of 2 or 3 months.
John Hitson also came up with him from Palo Pinto. They say that a man from the eastern
part of the State by the name of Scot with forty-five hands is up in this country gathering
beef steers, and giving them nothing in return except a quarter master's receipt. The
people of their country have been badly treated at differant (sic) times in a manner
simular (sic) to the above or worse. As the people of the frontier have been taken into the
Confederate Serouce (sic), the people of other parts of the country appear to think that
they can come up here with their threats to report the frontier men to the Confederate
Serouce (sic) and force him in to any measure they please. The frontier men are not quite
as easy excited as they were at first, as they have lost some of their beef steers which is
their only dependance (sic), the only product of this country.
.
**********
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Was this "Scot" in the 1865 diary Smith Scott of Marion County, MO? ..Do you think Shelby sent 46 men to Palo Pinto County Texas to procure cattle?
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My "Diary1865" web page displays some of Newcomb's JOURNAL, 1865-73 typescript pages.
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http://www.bourlandcivilwar.com/Diary1865.htm
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http://www.tshaonline.com/lshl/texhisdocs08k.html
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Again, please help me identify this "Scot" in the 1865 diary?
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com
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