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Immediately after the Battle of Pea Ridge, Companies D & M, 3d Iowa Cavalry were ordered to Rolla to assist in guarding prisoners sent up under the command of Capt. Coll, whose companies returned from Rolla to Springfield to command the post. Capt. Colle with his company (D) joined Col. Bussey on the march to West Plains. Companies L & M under Maj. Perry remained at Springfield and were subsequently ordered to Lebanon where Maj. Perry commanded the post with entire satisfaction to the department commander. His command were kept constantly employed scouting and guarding trains from Rolla to Springfield and during the summer had several important skirmishes with the enemy, all of which were successful. Maj. Wm. C. Drake with Companies I. & K. reached Salem, Missouri on the evening of the 12th of Feb. when they were ordered to permanently garrison the place. On the 11th Lieut. & Adjutant H.D.B. Cutter with 25 men of Company K. left the main force four miles from Rolla and made a detour of about 50 miles to the head of the “Merrimac” and to the rear of Salem for the purpose of routing a band of rebels known to be in that vicinity. Lieut. Cutter met the enemy and defeated him and captured sixteen prisoners, arms, etc. Our loss was one horse killed. About the 20th of February Maj. Drake with his command started on an expedition to West Plains, Missouri, where Col. Coleman with a force of 200 to 300 rebels were in camp and from which place they scoured the country burning the property of Union men and perpetrating outrage on the people. Major Drake encountered the enemy in their camp, which he charged immediately on coming in sight, killing 15, wounding 15, and capturing 60 prisoners. The rebels were taken completely by surprise and made but little resistance. Maj. Drake returned to Salem, forwarded his prisoners to Rolla and immediately set out on an important expedition towards the Arkansas line. McBride, Coleman and Fairchild were all raising regiments for the rebel army and had over one thousand men in camp with recruiting parties through the country. Maj. Drake was joined by a Battalion of the 6th Missouri Cavalry