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2 Headquarters Department of the Missouri,

          In the Field,  Wednesday morning  Feb'y. 3rd 1869.

    The couriers between this place and Fort Arbuckle now seem to be all in place, much to the satisfaction of the Major General Commanding.    Block arrived Monday night with what appeared to be a tolerably late mail thro' from Fort Gibson, but nobody seems to be the better for it.  There was nothing for me.     I am told that the only late papers were a St. Louis Republican of the 7th and an Army & Navy Journal of the 2nd both for Rife, and so news in either one.
    Sunday morning is now the set time for the departure from this point of the thro' mail to Gibson.   The regular day for the other mail to go has not yet been fixed, will be Wednesday or Thursday, I judge, accordingly [strike ly] to the arrivals from Arbuckle.
    The courier who will take this starts at noon today.
    We hear that Col. Andernreid of Gen'l. Sherman's staff is now at Fort Arbuckle, but dont know whether he is coming out here.
  Couriers who went direct to Gibson leaving here the 20th Jan'y, are expected to return today or tomorrow.    I will forward by the first opportunity anything that may come for you or Maj. Woodward.