HEADQUARTERS FIRST MISSOURI CAVALRY,
Camp on Sugar Creek, Ark., March 9, 1862.

GENERAL:  In obedience to your order of the 2d instant, to proceed to Keetsville and send forward a commissary train reported to be there and then to make a reconnaissance of the country east of the position occupied by our forces, I marched with 140 men on the morning of the 3d, accompanied by Colonel Pease, of your staff, to Keetsville, and forwarded the train as directed.  I then proceeded east to the Roaring River, and north 8 miles northeast of Cassville, Mo., and finding no appearance of the enemy, bivouacked for the night.  At daylight of the morning of the 4th I again moved forward in the direction of Morris� Mill, on White River, where a camp of the rebels was reported to be in that vicinity.  I reached the mills about 4 p. m.  Finding no enemy there, I at once moved forward in the direction of Berryville, over the most broken country it is possible to conceive, crossing the White River six times in traveling 8 miles.  At 10 p. m., having found forage for our horses, I camped for the night, and again, at daylight of the 5th, moved forward on the road to Berryville.  When about 2 miles I arrested two men of suspicious appearance, and from them obtained information that a company was organizing at Berryville to leave on the following morning.

Moving forward as rapidly as the nature of the ground would admit I soon came to the suburb of the town, and observed a body of horsemen moving north on the road leading in that direction.  Taking two companies I went in pursuit; Colonel Pease, with the balance of the command, in the mean time surrounded the town, taking some 50 prisoners, 22 horses, and 50 stand of arms.

My horses being much worn, I was unable to overtake those that had left, and after destroying three wagons partially loaded with stores belonging to the enemy, I returned to King�s River and bivouacked.

At early dawn next morning the command was ordered to saddle, and as men and horses were exhausted and a snow storm prevailing I concluded upon returning to camp, which I reached at 2 a. m. on the morning of the 7th.  I found forage exceedingly scarce, failing to secure sufficient over the whole region I scoured in that direction to supply the immediate wants of my command.

I would respectfully state that I had neither field officer nor captain and but three lieutenants with the command, and take this opportunity to return my acknowledgment to your aide-de-camp, Col. Henry Pease, for his valuable co-operation and encouragement to my men, and his gallantry and bravery, displayed in their presence on this and other occasions of more perilous adventure.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. A. ELLIS,
Colonel, Commanding First Missouri Cavalry

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 8, Pages 186-187.

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