July 10, 1862, Fort Scott, Kansas, Major B. S. HENNING, Third Wis. Cavalry, Comdg. Post and Provost. Marshal

HEADQUARTERS,
Fort Scott, July 10, 1862.

 Capt. THOMAS MOONLIGHT,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

CAPTAIN: I find that my force at this post is entirely too small to do the effective duty expected of us by the commanding general. As provost guard there is much to do, as the state of the country has been and is quite unsettled, and the well-disposed citizens, feeling that the commanding general is severe and that he is determined to put down jayhawking and kindred crimes, have taken hold of the matter, and are active and vigilant, and feel it their privilege to call on me as provost- marshal for details of men to assist them, which I immediately give. Besides our duty as provost guard we have to furnish a strong force to guard prisoners and commissary stores at this post.

My whole effective force is 230 men. By my original order from Colonel Barstow I am required to keep a sufficient force at Mine Creek and Trading Post to insure the quietness of that neighborhood. My force there now is 60 men. At the suggestion and approval of the commanding general I have sent a force to Jasper County, Missouri, to protect the Union men in that vicinity, which leaves me only 120 men to protect the post and the immense amount of stores here. I have no disposition to exaggerate or create needless alarm, but I cannot help feeling that it would be very proper for our force to be increased. I assure you, sir, that I shall be active and vigilant and do all that can be done to protect the interests of the Government, and hardly fear any attack, without Quantrill's and Hays' bands should drop in on us on their way down to the southern country.

Our guard-house is well filled with jayhawkers and desperadoes of different kinds, and some of the worst ones, with their friends outside, threaten just enough to make me a little anxious to string some of them up.

I am notified that 105 rebel prisoners taken at the fight of Grand Saline will reach here to-morrow (July 11), and with my small force it will be impossible for me to guard them safely, and under the circumstances shall order them being taken to Fort Leavenworth, together with some prisoners already in confinement hero.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 B. S. HENNING,

 Major Third Wis. Cavalry, Comdg. Post and Provost. Marshal.

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