Fort Smith [Arkansas] Nov 16th 1862 Colonel The undersigned, upon consultation, respectfully submit as their opinion, that, if the Army is to Encamp within the immediate vicinity of Fort Smith or Van Buren [Arkansas], the recovery of the Sick would be greatly promoted by securing comfortable Buildings in those Cities for Hospitals With rigid Quarantine, & police regulations we think that Small Pox can be prevented in Hospitals, more especially in the Garrison in Fort Smith, since Surgeon Duval [Elias R. Duvall], who is a resident of the place states that out of Six Hundred cases which occurred in the place last Fall & Winter, not one occurred in the Garrison We have the honor to be Very Respectfully Yr Obt Servants J [John] M Keller Med Dir &c R [Randolph] Branson Cheif Surgeon 1st Division E. R. Du Val Chief Surgeon 2d Division C. [Caleb] Dorsey Baer Chief Surgeon 3d Division Col R. [Robert] C. Newton A.A.G. }