HEADQUARTERS ARMY AND DIVISION GENERAL FIELD ORDERS, No. 7. 1865. During the present operations, or until further orders, the Districts of South Alabama and West Florida will be distinct, and the commanders of each will report direct to the major-general commanding. The records of the District of South Alabama and West Florida will be retained at the headquarters of the District of South Alabama. Brig. Gen. T. Kilby Smith is assigned to the command of the District of South Alabama, and will relieve Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger when the corps of the latter marches. By order of Maj. Gen. E. R. S. Canby: C. T. CHRISTENSEN, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General VEATCH, Fort Gaines, Ala., March 17, 1865. Commanding First Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you move your command as soon as the quartermaster's department can furnish you transportation across the bay to Navy Cove. The command will move by brigades, right in front. No land transportation except such as is allowed to division and brigade headquarters and to regiments will be taken until further orders. F. W. EMERY, Respectfully, your obedient servant, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 9. HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., FIRST DIV., The troops of this command will embark immediately on board transports in the following order: Forty-seventh Indiana Veteran Volunteers on board the steamer Mustang; Twenty-first Iowa Volunteers on board the steamer Brown; Ninety-ninth Illinois Volunteers on board the steamer Groesbeck; Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteers on board the steamer Groesbeck. By order of Brig. Gen. James R. Slack: M. D. MASSIE, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. CIRCULAR, HDQRS. 1ST BRIG., 2D DIV., 13TH ARMY CORPS, No. 12. In the Field, March 17, 1865. The troops of this command will move to-morrow morning, the 18th instant, at 5.30 a. m. precisely. The following will be the order of march, viz: Special scouts; pioneer corps; Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry, advance guard; Nineteenth Iowa Volunteers; Battery F, First Missouri Artillery; Twenty-third Iowa Infantry; Ninety-fourth Illinois Infantry; ambulance corps; ordnance train; regimental trains; provost guard. By order of Col. Henry Bertram: A. J. ROCKWELL, Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, Į HDQRS. 3D DIV., 13TH ARMY CORPS, No. 2. } The Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, will move at 6 a. m. to-morrow in the following order: First, Second Brigade; second, Twenty-sixth New York Battery; third, First Brigade; fourth, Twentyfirst New York Battery; Fifth, Third Brigade; sixth, division train in same order as the troops; seventh, subsistence train. Reveille will be sounded at 5 a. m. The commanding officer First Brigade, will detail a field officer as general officer of the day to report to the general commanding at 6 a. m. Brigade commanders will detail officers of the day for their respective brigades, who will report to the general officer of the day. The commanding officer of the Second Brigade will detail one company as advance guard, and the commanding officer of the Third Brigade will make a similar detail as rear guard. The division will move at the hour named without further orders. By command of Brig. Gen. W. P. Benton: JOHN D. ROUSE, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. ARMY AND DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, Maj. Gen. A. J. SMITH, Commanding Sixteenth Army Corps: The major-general commanding directs that you designate a brigade of the Third Division of the Sixteenth Corps (about 2,000 men) and a section of artillery to be in readiness to occupy Cedar Point, Mobile Bay, to-morrow, the 18th instant. The command will move without land transportation, except six ambulances, and the men will carry five days' cooked rations in their haversacks. This occupation will be simply a demonstration to divert the attention of the rebels from the movements east of the bay, and the brigade will rejoin its division as soon as that object is accomplished. The commander will be instructed to make as much display of his force as he can without neglecting any precautions for security, and by the construction of roads, bridges, &c., convey the impression that his command is only the advance guard of a much larger force. Mon Louis River is fordable at several points, and it will be necessary that the troops should be on their guard against any attempts against them by any force of the enemy; but Cedar Point, in the event of any trouble of this kind, can be held against any force. This contingency should be looked to. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GENERAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS; No. 8. Dauphin Island, Ala., March 17, 1865. Each division commander will see that his command is provided with 300 spades or shovels, 300 axes, and 90 picks for intrenching purposes. One wagon to each brigade will be allowed for the transportation of these tools. Two wagons to each brigade will also be allowed for the transportation of additional ammunition. Division commanders will cause the cartridge-boxes of the troops to be filled at once, and an additional supply of forty boxes to each brigade drawn. All men serving with their regiments must be armed, and returns will be immediately sent in for the necessary arms and accouterments. By command of Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith: II. The organization of the Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, announced in Special Orders, No. 60, current series, from headquarters Military Division of West Mississippi, is hereby modified as follows: First Brigade, Col. J. I. Rinaker, One hundred and twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, commanding: Twenty-first Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Eighty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, One hundred and nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, One hundred and twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Second Brigade, Col. J. I. Gilbert, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry Volunteers, commanding: Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Tenth Kansas Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, One hundred and seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Third Brigade, Col. C. L. Harris, Eleventh Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry, commanding: Eleventh Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Thirty-fourth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Fifty-eighth Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry, One hundred and seventy-eighth New York Volunteer Infantry. * * * By command of Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith: J. HOUGH, Major and Assistant. Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., THIRD DIV., No. 1. SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Dauphin Island, Ala., March 17, 1865. In compliance with Special Orders, No. 19, dated headquarters Sixteenth Army Corps, March 15, 1865, the undersigned hereby assumes command of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. Capt. A. Stephen Stewart, Company A, Ninety-fifth Illinois Iufantry, is announced as acting assistant quartermaster, and First Lieut. John M. Read, adjutant Fourteenth Wisconsin Veteran Infantry, as acting assistant adjutant-general. L. M. WARD, Colonel Fourteenth Wisconsin Veteran Infantry, Comdg. Brigade. HDQRS. U. S. FORCES OPERATING FROM PENSACOLA BAY, Barrancas, Fla., March 17, 1865. Brig. Gen. ALEXANDER ASBOTH, Commanding District of West Florida: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to say that in pursuance of instructions received from Major-General Canby, all the cavalry force at this place will report to these headquarters and constitute a part of the forces operating from Pensacola Bay. The last regiment of General Lucas' command that arrives will report to you and remain at this post. You will please direct the commanding officers of these brigades to report immediately at these headquarters for further instructions. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN F. LACEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST FLORIDA, VI. Pursuant to orders from headquarters Army and Military Divis ion of West Mississippi all the cavalry force within this district will constitute a part of the force operating from Pensacola Bay, under command of Major-General Steele. The commanding officers of cavalry (brigaded and unbrigaded) regiments will report immediately for further instructions at headquarters U. S. forces operating from Pensacola Bay. VII. The Third Brigade, First Division, having been discontinued by the transfer of troops comprising it to other commands pursuant to orders from headquarters Army and Military Division of West Missis sippi, Col. L. L. Zulavsky is hereby relieved from the command of that brigade and will at once resume command of his regiment. By command of Brigadier-General Asboth: J. WM. HAIGHT, JR., First Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. CHATTANOOGA, March 18, 1865–9.30 p. m. Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: water. Have reached this place on my return to Nashville from Knoxville. General Stoneman starts on Monday. He has been delayed by high General Wilson will also start on Monday. He has been delayed by the same cause. Stanley's command will be at Bull's Gap on Tuesday, and in good order. I have directed General Stoneman to pass out of Tennessee by the head of the New River Valley, then move down that valley to Christiansburg and destroy the railroad beyond Christiansburg, about ten or fifteen miles, where there are numerous trestles and small bridges, but not to destroy the bridge over New River west of Christiansburg. Should he ascertain that there is not a large force of the enemy in Southwest Virginia, and should he ascertain on reaching Christiansburg that General Sheridan has captured Lynchburg, as is now reported in the papers, he will not destroy any of the 2 R R-VOL XLIX, PT II East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, but to move in the direction of Danville and threaten that place, should it be garrisoned by a large force; but, if it be weakly garrisoned, to attack it and destroy as much of the railroad as he can; then withdraw toward Tennessee and observe the movements of the enemy, reporting to me at once all his operations. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Army. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Maj. WILLIAM P. CHAMBLISS, Special Inspector, Cavalry Corps, Louisville, Ky.: MAJOR: Your communication in regard to the collection, inspection, and recuperation of broken-down horses has just been received. I am gratified to know that our views coincided so exactly. The only special reason I had for desiring the Edgefield stables filled up was that horses would not be so easily diverted from that point to other commands as from Louisville. Officers of Hatch's division seem to think that General Thomas would not prefer other commands if they were not so far away. I shall be satisfied, however, with whatever you determine upon after a careful consideration of the whole case. I have authorized General Hatch to send an officer to confer with you in regard to the horse question generally, so that the general can make some calculations as to when he will be able to take the field. Captain Carling, chief quartermaster of the corps, will also see you soon. I don't wish you to think me impertinent in this matter, or to imagine that I have not perfect confidence in the wisdom of your action in regard to your remounts; but the zeal, patriotism, and soldierly conduct of Hatch and his entire command cannot be too highly commended. The division is certainly entitled to a thorough remount, Spencer carbines, Blakely boxes, Stewart attachments, and good equipments. You need not have any fear that they will not use them efficiently. I inclose you a copy of a general order commending them for recent sacrifices. Citizens may imagine those sacrifices trivial, but you and I know they are more important than blood. I sent also through General Thomas a special report showing the present condition of the division. From it you will perceive that at present it is not in condition to do any duty whatever, except remain stationary. The carbines of which you speak I would like to have forwarded without delay for the Second Iowa, Sixth and Ninth Illinois. After that the number of requisitions already sent you will do as a guide. Hatch has now about 5,000 men here and a large number of recruits in depot in Illinois and Iowa. He will probably have 7,000 men in sixty days. If my plans for the ensuing campaign work out well, I shall want Hatch to join me with the corps trains somewhere between the Black Warrior and Coosa Rivers. I would, therefore, if for no other reason, like to have him ready to move at as early a date as possible. Captain Green has not reported yet, and I suppose will not be able to do so before I march. The three divisions mounted, First, Second, and Fourth, are just in as fine a condition as it is possible for cavalry to be in. I have reviewed Long and Upton, and I am sure they cannot be excelled in our army or anywhere else. With Hatch in as good fix we cannot be whipped by rebel cavalry. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General. |