VI. In compliance with instructions from department headquarters the Eleventh Michigan and Twelfth Ohio Cavalry are relieved from duty in this district, and will proceed from their respective stations as soon as practicable to Louisville, Ky., their commanding officers reporting upon arrival to Major-General Stoneman. All officers and enlisted men belonging to these regiments on detached duty within this district, except under orders from higher authority than that of the general commanding, will be at once relieved and ordered to report to their respective regiments at Louisville. By command of Brevet Major-General Burbridge: J. BATES DICKSON, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. FIRST DIV., MILITARY DISTRICT OF Kentucky, General D. W. LINDSEY, Adjutant and Inspector General State of Kentucky, Frankfort: Brigadier-General Hobson, just leaving on the train, directs me to inform you that the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, and Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, stationed respectively at Richmond and the region of country surrounding Mount Sterling, Flemingsburg and surrounding, Glasgow, Elizabethtown and surrounding, have been ordered off by superior authority and that the people living in the country occupied and protected heretofore by these regiments should take some measures to protect themselves, as it is not in the power of the general to do it if his troops are taken from him. It is with extreme regret that the general is forced to communicate this to you, but he does it that the citizens may exert themselves to protect their homes and lives from the numerous bands which he has endeav ored to rid the country of with the inadequate force at his disposal. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. S. BUTLER, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General, U. S. Volunteers. Brig. Gen. E. H. HOBSON: HUSTONVILLE, KY., February 17, 1865. GENERAL: Upon our arrival home we found a squad of Captain Bridgewater's men at this point doing fine service, also recruiting for the service. Yesterday Lieutenant Finch, of the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, with about sixty men, came here. We suggest the propriety of your ordering them to Bradfordsville as an outpost for this section, which covers the most important points approaching the Rolling Fork country. Bridgewater's men still remain here, which makes a fine covering for retreat. J. E. HUFFMAN. H. BROWN. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, 4. The Ninety-seventh U. S. Colored Infantry is hereby relieved from duty at Barrancas, Fla., and will be sent to Fort Gaines, Ala., to report for orders to Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger. WASHINGTON, February 17, 1865-11.10 a.m. Maj. Gen. E. R. S. CANBY: Dispatch of 11th received. Requisitions for troops on coast absorb all hay that can be transported from Northern ports by sea. Your sup. ply must go down Mississippi and should be shipped from New Orleans to Mobile and other Gulf ports. One cargo of about 450 tons will be dispatched to Mobile, which is all that can now be spared. M. C. MEIGS, Brevet Major-General and Quartermaster-General. FORT GAINES, February 17, 1865. Major-General CANBY, Commanding, &c.: GENERAL: Abundant evidence seems to be accumulating to prove that every effort will be made possible to defend Mobile. That one division from Stewart's corps from Tupelo has arrived, and is now on the east side of Mobile Bay at and in supporting distance of Blakely and Vessel Point, there is no doubt. The eastern bank from Great Point Clear up to the batteries on Blakely River is thickly picketed, and there are some few pieces of light artillery displayed whenever our reconnoitering boats approach the shore. The last reconnaissance by the navy found seven feet on Blakely Bar, hence the vigilance and precaution by the rebs on that side. However, I apprehend no difficulty in outgeneraling them, capturing everything, or forcing a hasty evacuation. The only drawback is the interminable delay of A. J. Smith and our quartermasters in hurrying over the troops, batteries, &c., from New Orleans. Captain Palfrey goes over this evening and can explain many things of importance, especially the opening of the Pensacola Railroad. Yours, truly, G. GRANGER, SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST FLORIDA No. 29. AND SOUTH ALABAMA, Fort Gaines, Ala., February 17, 1865. I. The Ninety-sixth and Ninety-seventh Regiments U. S. Colored Infantry, engineer troops, will be subject to assignment to duty only from these headquarters. All officers and men detached from their commands by other not superior authority will be immediately returned to duty with their respective regiments. Reports and returns and requisitions for other than engineer supplies will be made as heretofore. The regimental commanders will receive their orders for duty through Capt. J. C. Palfrey, U. S. Engineers, chief engineer. * * By command of Major-General Granger: F. W. EMERY, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Nashville, Tenn., February 18, 1865. No. 43. XII. The One hundred and forty-ninth Illinois Infantry will proceed at once to Chattanooga, Tenn., and report to Maj. Gen. J. B. Steedman, commanding District of the Etowah, to whose command it is hereby assigned. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation. * * By command of Major-General Thomas: HENRY M. CIST, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland: Deserters and citizens report Forrest's force moving southward, via Buena Vista, to Grenada and Canton, headquarters to be at the latter place. Movement began Monday. This report comes in from various sources. I shall take steps to ascertain its truth. If the movement of troops toward New Orleans has been discovered, the intention of Forrest is clear enough and the report probable. The condition of my own command is steadily improving. J. H. WILSON, HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Brig. Gen. J. T. CROXTON, Commanding First Division: GENERAL: General Wilson directs me to inform you that deserters and citizens report Forrest's force moving southward, via Buena Vista, to Grenada and Canton. Forrest's headquarters to be at Canton. general desires that you will take such measures as you deem necessary to ascertain the truth of this report. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, The Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION, Major BEAUMONT, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Corps: MAJOR: The information obtained by Colonel Stewart from refugees is that Forrest has left Verona and gone to West Point. Mr. Ellis, sent as a guide, reports Roddey near Moulton, which is fifty miles from Eastport, and farther, perhaps, than the general desires the reconnaissance to proceed. I will send him along, and if Roddey or any one else comes in the way they will be brought in. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant. Col. R. R. STEWART, Brigadier-General. WATERLOO, ALA., February 18, 1865. Comdg. Fifth Division, Cav. Corps, Mil. Div. of the Mississippi : General Croxton desires me to inform you that the within-mentioned expedition is the one he spoke to you about this morning, and directs that it shall be started at an early hour to-morrow, February 19, 1865. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. J. MILLER, Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Col. R. R. STEWART, WATERLOO, ALA., February 18, 1865. Comdg. Fifth Division, Cav. Corps, Mil. Div. of the Mississippi: The general commanding directs me to say, in reply to your communication of this date, that he considers a well-mounted force of 500 men amply sufficient to accomplish the design of the expedition, and desires you to send out as large effective force as practicable, keeping the whole party on one road instead of dividing the force. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, LOUISVILLE, February 18, 1865. Hon. E. M. STANTON: I reached here last night. It seems that four regiments of cavalry heretofore on duty in this State are ordered south. Much apprehension is felt in consequence. I go to Frankfort this afternoon to meet Governor Bramlette. GENERAL ORDERS,} JNO. M. PALMER, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF KENTUCKY, Louisville, Ky., February 18, 1865. In compliance with General Orders, No. 21, current series, from the War Department, the undersigned hereby assumes command of the Department of Kentucky, headquarters at Louisville. Maj. G. M. Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Major-General. LEXINGTON, KY., February 18, 1865. Assistant Adjutant-General : In obedience to special orders from department headquarters, I have ordered the Eleventh and Twelfth Kentucky, Eleventh Michigan, and Twelfth Ohio Cavalry to report to Major-General Stoneman, at Louisville. The withdrawal of these troops, the only mounted force at my disposal, leaves me entirely powerless against the bands of guerrillas that infest Kentucky. Maj. Gen. E. R. S. CANBY, New Orleans: S. G. BURBRIDGE, WASHINGTON, D. C., February 18, 1865-1.30 p.m. It is not possible to ship any great quantity of hay from the Atlantic to Mobile with present demands for coastwise transportation. Your forage goes down the Mississippi and should be shipped from New Orleans to any Gulf port when needed. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General and Brevet Major-General. VICKSBURG, February 18, 1865—11 p. m. Col. C. T. CHRISTENSEN, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Military Division of West Mississippi: None of General Wilson's cavalry from General Thomas' army have arrived. General A. J. Smith's corps ought to get off by the [sic] of the 19th. Bearer of dispatches for General Thomas' cipher clerk passed up on Niagara at 9 p. m. this day. Your dispatch to General Wilson will be delivered upon his arrival. Your obedient servant, M. L. SMITH. [FEBRUARY 18, 1865.-For General Orders, No. 20, Military Division of West Mississippi, creating the Thirteenth and Sixteenth Army Corps, and assigning Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger to command the former and Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith to command the latter, see Vol. XLVIII, Part I, p. 891.] Copy of instructions furnished chiefs of artillery in the Department of the Cumberland. HDQRS. CHIEF OF ARTY., DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Nashville, Tenn., February 19, 1865. The major-general commanding the department desires that you make a monthly inspection of the artillery within your district and report the |