Upon this and other information the council of war decided that our only safety lay in falling back to some point where we could reopen communication and learn the whereabouts of our train of subsistence.  To this decision of the council he at the time assented, and said that he would arrange with the commanders of brigades the order of march.  Subsequently he issued an order putting the command on half rations, declaring that he would not fall back, and refused utterly, upon my application, to take any steps for the safety or salvation of his command.  I could but conclude that the man was either insane, premeditated treachery to his troops, or perhaps that his grossly intemperate habits long continued had produced idiocy or monomania.  In either case the command was imperiled, and a military necessity demanded that something be done, and that without delay.  I took the only step I believed available to save your troops.  I arrested this man, have drawn charges against him, and now hold him subject to your orders.

On the morning of the 19th I commenced a retrograde march and have fallen back with my main force to this point.

You will see by General Orders, No. 1, herewith forwarded, that I have stationed the First and Second Regiments Indian Home Guards as a corps of observation along the Grand and Verdigris Rivers; also to guard the fords of the Arkansas.  Yesterday evening a courier reached me at Prior Creek with dispatches saying that a commissary train was at Hudson’s Crossing, 75 miles north of us, waiting for an additional force as an escort.  Information also reaches me this morning that Colonel Watie, with a force of 1,200 men, passed up the east side of Grand River yesterday for the purpose of cutting off this train.  I have sent out strong reconnoitering parties to the east of the river, and if the information proves reliable will take such further measures as I deem best for its security.

I design simply to hold the country we are now in, and will make no important moves except such as I may deem necessary for the preservation of this command until I receive specific

instructions from you.  I send Major Burnett with a small escort to make his way through to you.  He will give you more at length the position of this command, their condition, &c.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
F. Salomon, Colonel Ninth Wis.  Vols.,
Comdg.  Indian Expedition.

Salomon’s insubordination brought the Indian Expedition in its original form to an abrupt end, much to the disgust and righteous indignation of the Indian service.  The arrest of Colonel Weer threw the whole camp into confusion,[372] and it was some hours before anything like order could be restored.  A retrograde movement of the white troops had evidently been earlier resolved upon and was at once undertaken.  Of such troops, Salomon assumed personal command and ordered them to begin a march northward at two o’clock on the morning of the nineteenth.[373] At the same time, he established the troops, he was so brutally abandoning, as a corps of observation on or near the Verdigris and Grand Rivers.  They were thus expected to cover his retreat, while he, unhampered, proceeded to Hudson’s Crossing.[374]