Benton Barracks Mo.
Oct 22, 1861
General1
I was ordered yesterday by telegraph to march back all the troops I had sent down on the Iron Mountain road, which was no doubt intended as a preliminary for sending them West. The order conveyed also a scathing reproach saying “the whole affair has been grossly exaggerated Col Carlon should have kept the road open without any additional force.”2
An hour after I had to day responded by a kind of remonstrance showing the probability of conflict and [illegible] all I had sent; I received the telegraphic report of our success at Fredericktown, and further that the execution of the order to withdraw all I had sent would have left Pilot Knob and [illegible] without a man to guard them.
It is not therefore safe to withdraw the force [guarding the bridges–crossed out], and it would in my judgment be far better to send more and drive the enemy to the swamps or to Arkansas which is easy to do. But I am standing under two suspended orders, yours to send the Wisconsin 8th East, and Fremonts to bring them back here for the purpose of sending them West.
The first at my instance was suspended by you, the latter is suspended by me [and between you both, I suppose I will be suspended!–crossed out] to secure Pilot Knob and the railroad from scattering rebels.
In this dilemma I shall do just as near right as my judgment can dictate conscious as I am that being on the spot I ought to take some responsibility.
I have no fears of this place although I have no armed Cavelry and only about 600 Servisable muskets.
Price may hold out a shadow to draw General Fremont forward, but his force is insignificant. So is Hardies and Ben McCulloughs, and both these are far south and not supporting either Thompson who we have just routed, or Price who began to retreat when Seagles3 Brigade moved forward.
I should be pleased to receive orders concerning the 8th Wisconsin and further instructions from you.
No order has been given me to suspend work on the forts.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
Saml R. Curtis
Brig. Geni Comg
Copy to Geni Fremont
Oct 22. 1861
1. Probably Adjt. Gen. L. Thomas.
2. “Col. Carlon” was likely W. P. Carlin, CM. 38th Ill. Vols. who commanded the forces at Pilot Knob, Mo. during engagements there, October 12-26, 1861. The censure referred to above apparently referred to his retreat Oct. 17-18 from superior forces under Jeff Thompson.
3. Franz Sigel, native of Germany, and an active 1848 revolutionist with military experience, helped organize the 3rd Mo. Inf. in 1861 and became its co!. Raised to brig. gen. of volunteers, May 17, 1861, he became a maj. gene March 21, 1862, later served as a corp commander with Pope in Virginia.