Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. See Lincoln to Blunt, August 18, supra. On October 1 Schofield telegraphed Halleck, ``I am compelled to relieve . . . Blunt from his command. I would send Brigadier-General McNeil to take his place, but have no competent officer to relieve . . . McNeil. . . .'' (OR, I, XXII, II, 586). A telegram from Schofield to Lincoln, dated October 1, 1 P.M., received October 1, 4:45 P.M., must have been despatched on October 2 rather than October 1, as follows: ``I will send the papers in Gen Blunts case and defer action until I know your pleasure regarding it. I desire if possible to diminish and not to increase your difficulty this was one reason why I informed Gen Halleck what I thought it necessary to do.'' (DLC-RTL; also OR, I, XXII, II, 589).
On October 19, Schofield's General Orders No. 118, sent John B. Sanborn to relieve John McNeil, ordered McNeil to relieve Blunt at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and ordered Blunt to return to Fort Leavenworth and report to Schofield by letter.