Col. John M. Harrell, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 10.2, Arkansas
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

‘ [100] left defenseless and open to the invasion of Yankees and the incursions of savages and Kansans so completely that 10,000 men could march from one end of the State to the other in the midst of plenty and wholly unopposed.’ They urged that a department be established west of the river; that General Bragg or General Price be assigned there speedily; that supplies taken to Napoleon and Vicksburg be ordered back to Little Rock; that the telegraph lines destroyed be reconstructed; that troops yet in Arkansas be ordered to remain; and that the President order them a goodly supply of arms, ammunition and military stores, before the Mississippi be closed against them.

The signers were two former United States senators, two Supreme court judges, all of them trusted and honored citizens, all supporters and friends of the President, and two of them members of the Provisional Congress. Their appeal was startling and pathetic. If the President made any answer, it was not made public. The extremity which was supposed to demand that the State be denuded of its defense, may have forbidden an immediate reply. The historian of a war of any magnitude becomes familiar with frantic cries of military commanders for ‘reinforcements.’ McClellan called for them when he did not need them. Van Dorn gathered men from all quarters, until they were in the way of each other. Curtis was begging for men and supplies when he could have marched to Little Rock from Searcy with one-half of his army, ‘in the midst of plenty, and unopposed.’ These appeals are often purely selfish. Incompetency cannot win victories with the ‘nations’ of Xerxes or the hordes of Cetowaya.

Governor Rector about the same time issued a proclamation, describing the unarmed and defenseless condition of the State, complaining of the destruction and reckless disregard of the people's property and safety displayed by Van Dorn's operations. He protested against the further withdrawal of troops from the State,