December 23, 1863, Kansas City, Mo.,
Brigadier-General Thomas Ewing, Jr., to Lieutenant Colonel C. W. Blair

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE BORDER,
Kansas City, Mo., December 23, 1863.

  Lieut. Col. C. W. BLAIR,  Commanding Fort Scott:

COLONEL: Inclosed are dispatches as to Quantrill's return to Missouri. They give all the information I have. I have ordered the line of messengers to be extended from Trading Post to Fort Scott, and will communicate to you by it (or by special messenger) all the information I get, and wish from you all you get. The companies of infantry at Fort Scott will remain for the present, or, if started, will be ordered back. You will, if necessary, bring in the company property from the several stations, so as to put as good a cavalry force as practicable in the field. You will, by scouts and scouting parties, get as early and accurate information as practicable as to the enemy's force and movements. I think the intention is to strike the Neosho Valley towns, and go as high up as Emporia, or possibly Topeka. Major Plumb has companies C, K, and F, of the Eleventh Kansas, M, of the Third Wisconsin, and two mountain howitzers, 12-pounders. One company is at Mission, a small detachment at Le Roy, and the balance at Humboldt. Total for duty: Cavalry, 228; battery, 27. I send him to-day, from here, Company E, Fifteenth Kansas, 51 men, for duty.

Respectfully, yours,

 THOMAS EWING, JR.,

Brigadier-General.

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