"HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION,
St. Peter,
Aug. 22, 1862.
"His Excellency, ALEX. RAMSEY,
"SIR: Mr. Shelley will give you a detailed statement of all the news here up to the present, and I send with him a dispatch from Judge Flandrau, giving valuable information from the New Ulm region, where he now is.
"I arrived with three companies to-day, after a very fatiguing march through the big woods, where the roads are execrable.
"I sent Lieutenants Cox and Buck, with portions of their companies from Nicollet and Sibley counties, to Judge Flandrau's aid very early in the morning. Major Fowler is here, and his military ability should be employed here.
"If you desire me to remain in charge of operations here, I would be gratified if you would send him a commission as lieutenant colonel, which I think he would accept, although I have not asked him.
"I learn from Captain Skaro that Colonel Nelson was employed in preparing to dispatch 300 mounted men and 300 infantry here immediately. Be sure that he brings ample supplies of Springfield muskets and ammunition.
"I learn that the United States quartermaster has these arms on hand, which he does not feel authorized to issue until the regiments of volunteers are fully organized. I would respectfully suggest that if red tape is in the way in this emergency, that you cut it with the bayonets of a corporal's guard.
"This is no emergency of a common nature, to be dallied with in the circumlocution office.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H.H. SIBLEY,
Colonel, Commanding"
[Source: see previous post, p 196]
Blogger's note: Sibley's reference to "the circumlocution office" is undoubtedly a reference to a work of Charles Dickens. The novel "Lil Dorrit" describes the workings of a bureaucratic office where procedure is everything and action is nothing.