August 17, 1862, Springfield, Mo.,
General Brown to Brigadier-General Schofield

SPRINGFIELD, August 17, 1862.

 Brig. Gen. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD:

Express from Greenfield just arrived. Colonel Wright has a scout from Coffee's camp. The combined forces of Coffee joined by Hancock, Poindexter, Quantrill, Tracy, Taylor, now in camp at the mouth of the Little Osage, are about 3,000. Scout says they intend to go south as soon as joined by 1,000 from the north. Blunt's movement in their rear has alarmed them, and they are expecting Rains up from their rear to assist them, and from reports received at the west I think he is moving in Newton County. Coffee thinks he is cut off. This force of Coffee and company is organized into companies made secretly before his raid and were prepared to join him. They are mostly armed, but have no ammunition--prisoners after being with them a week and who have escaped say not 3 rounds. They are in a constant state of alarm, prepared to run and not to fight, and more afraid of the Feds than they are of the devil. They have no artillery. I do not believe, with Blunt and Wright in their rear, that they will leave the Osage Hills in force, but will double-step by them, and leave the State by the route they came or through south of Rolla, or by dividing their forces by both routes, though a rebel officer on parole in his corps told me last night that their destination was north of the Osage River. Your instructions will be fully carried out.

 E. B. BROWN.

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