Analysis,or comments? Capt. Henry B. Milks led the Prairie du Rocher Raid into Illinois from Farmington, Missouri on April 5, 1864. His orders came from Lt. Col. Herder, 1st MSM Infantry, then commanding the Post at Pilot Knob, perhaps due to Col. John B. Gray of the 1st MSM Infantry then being in St. Louis serving on a Military Commission. (See OR Series I Vol. 34 Part I pg. 875 for Milks' communication on the Raid). When I researched this Raid, I was told by a colleague that Milks would not have gotten orders from an officer in another regiment but rather through the chain of command in the 3rd MSM Cavalry or higher up. At the time of the Raid, the 3rd MSM Cav. was minus a Col. (Woodson-dismissed Feb. 27, 1864) and Lt. Col. (Broadhead-resigned 2/6/1864). In addition, though Brig. Gen. Ewing had replaced Brig. Gen. Fisk as commander of the St. Louis District on March 25, 1864 it is apparent that Ewing did not play a role in the Raid. I have searched in vain for any other communications that might shed light on the original orders. Though Milks was in communication with the Provost Marshal in St. Louis, I believe this did not constitute an order, per se. Another theory is that there were no orders--always a possibility when no documentation can be located and especially in working with the 3rd MSM Cavalry--simply put, Capt. Milks planned the raid quietly so as not to alert his quarry. Any thoughts?