I earnestly recommend these several matters to the attention of the Government, fully persuaded that the safety of its property, the efficient and safe transaction of its vast and increasing business at this point, and the comfort and character of its soldiers and sailors require liberal appropriations to that end. Having already made reference to the conduct of Col. S. G. Hicks, commanding at Paducah, I will add that Col. W. H. Lawrence, Thirty-fourth New Jersey, commanding at Columbus, as well as Captains Cogswell and Ekings, commanding detachments from the same regiment at Hickman and Island 10, evinced exemplary fidelity and courage. Col. John I. Rinaker, Óne hundred and twentysecond Illinois, now commanding the post of Cairo, is a gallant and meritorious officer, vigilant in the performance of duty, and wise and just in administration. Capt. J. H. Odlin, assistant adjutantgeneral, and First Lieut. Charles B. Smith, aide-de-camp, have on all occasions been brave, vigilant, and faithful in duty, and I commend the various officers of the staff for the honorable manner in which their various and often most responsible duties have been met. In pursuance of Special Orders, No. 34, headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi (Major-General Sherman), and letter of instructions from Major-General McPherson, commanding Depart ment and Army of the Tennessee, dated April 20, 1864, Brig. Gen. H. Prince proceeded to Columbus, Ky., and on the 28th of April assumed command of that district. The district was in the letter of instructions defined by metes and bounds, lying wholly on the east side of the rivers, not including nor referring to the post of Cairo. I was assigned to the command of the District of Cairo, which included the post of Columbus, by Special Orders, No. 61, headquarters Sixteenth Army Corps (Major-General Hurlbut), and entered upon duty March 19, 1864. No order has come to my knowledge relieving me of that duty, nor any order making Cairo any part of the district to which General Prince was assigned. That the record may be intelligible, I refer to the accompanying papers marked G for explanation. I am, therefore, after this day without the command to which I was assigned, though not relieved by any order. It did not comport with my self-respect nor my sense of what was due the service to accept a controversy with a senior officer in a matter probably resulting from inadvertence. Having communicated these facts to Major-General Washburn, my superior officer, and the Adjutant-General of the Army, and awaiting instructions, I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure F.*} GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF CAIRO, No. 15. Cairo, Ill., April 2, 1864. The large quantities of supplies which through permits (too freely granted), as well as by evasion of established regulations, have been carried into the interior of Western Kentucky, now partially under insurrectionary control, are now in the hands of the rebel forces affording them aid and comfort. Such supplies, furnish an induce *For inclosures A to E, see reports of Gray, Helmer, Hicks, and Lawrence. ment to hostile incursions and support the marauders while making them, and it may be presumed that they were shipped and transported to the interior for that very purpose. To prevent the continuance of this abuse, and for the purpose of stopping the enemy's supplies, it is, in accordance with instructions from corps headquarters, ordered: I. All permits for the landing of goods, supplies, or articles of sale of any description between Paducah (including that point) and Memphis are suspended, and no such goods will be landed until further orders; peremptory seizure and arrest being the penalty for violation. II. Steamers will not make landings, nor receive or discharge passengers or freight on the Kentucky shore between Paducah and Cairo, nor on either shore between Cairo and Memphis, except at Columbus, Island 10, and Fort Pillow, except under armed convoy and under orders of a competent military or naval officer. III. Ferry-boats, trading boats, skiffs, and other irregular craft are being used for conveyance of spies, traitors, and contraband supples for the enemy's use. No further crossing of the river by such boats, ferries, or other craft between Paducah and Memphis will be allowed. The military and naval officers will promptly arrest all persons offending, with their effects, and, in their discretion, hold or destroy all such boats, &c. IV. The commanding officers at Paducah and Columbus will retain under their control all engines and cars, and permit no running of trains except for military purposes and under their orders. V. Officers of the Treasury Department are respectfully advised of the existence of this order, and enjoined to cause its due observ ance. By order of Brig. Gen. M. Brayman: J. H. ODLIN, Assistant Adjutant-General. [Inclosure G.] HDQRS. DEPT. AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Brigadier-General BRAYMAN, Huntsville, Ala., April 19, 1864. Commanding District of Cairo: GENERAL: Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant has ordered three regiments from Saint Louis with which to re-enforce Paducah, Cairo, and Columbus, and to feel out toward Union City. Union City is not to be occupied as a post, but visited frequently by sccuting parties and patrols. Paducah and Columbus are to be held at all hazards, and all other points south of the Ohio in your jurisdiction which are weak and exposed must be evacuated. Colonel Hicks remains in command at Paducah, and BrigadierGeneral Prince is ordered to take command of Columbus, Ky. All troops along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers must strike at the enemy wherever he is in reach, and strike hard. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 34. JAS. B. MCPHERSON. HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, I. Brig. Gen. Henry Prince, U. S. Volunteers, will proceed to Columbus, Ky., and assume command of that district, reporting by letter and telegraph to Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, commanding Department of the Tennessee, Huntsville, Ala., and Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn, commanding, &c., at Memphis, Tenn., for detailed instructions. HDQRS. DEPT. AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Brig. Gen. HENRY PRINCE: (Care of Commanding Officer, Cairo, Ill.) GENERAL: In accordance with instructions from Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, you are hereby assigned to the command of the Defenses and District of Columbus, Ky. At This district will include Paducah, and will embrace all that portion of Kentucky and Tennessee west of the Tennessee River, and north of a line running from the Big Sandy, west through Paris to the Obion River, and thence along to the Mississippi River. You must not understand, however, that you are expressly limited to this section in your operations. If the enemy makes his appearance and you can strike him to advantage, do so, without regard to district lines, and follow him as long as you can do so advantageously. All the forces along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in this department must strike the enemy whenever and wherever they can. present the forces within your jurisdiction are in a sort of transition state, a portion of them being for a special purpose. As soon as it can be done with safety, I want all the detachments and the battery belonging to the Seventeenth Army Corps sent to Cairo to join their respective divisions, which are ordered to rendezvous at that place. Three regiments of infantry have been ordered from Saint Louis with which to re-enforce Paducah, Cairo, and Columbus, Ky., and to feel out toward Union City. Union City, however, is not to be held permanently, but visited frequently by patrols and scouting parties. Paducah, Cairo, Columbus, Memphis, Vicksburg, and Natchez are to be held at all hazards. All points which are weak and exposed must be evacuated. The system of small isolated posts is a bad one. They add very little to the safety of navigation on the river or the security of the country, and are liable to be surprised and captured. A few strong posts, with good defensive works, and a thorough system of scouts and patrols, with gun-boats running up and down the river, will accomplish our object much better. As soon as the veteran regiments belonging to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps, now on furlough, return, your force will be regularly assigned and thoroughly organized. You will make your regular reports and returns to the headquarters of the commanding officer District of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GENERAL ORDERS.] JAS. B. MCPHERSON. COLUMBUS, Ky., Pursuant to Special Orders, No. 34, dated headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, Nashville, Tenn., April 24, 1864, the undersigned assumes command of this district. The chief officers of the staff departments belonging to the headquarters of the district (at present located in Cairo) will forthwith report in person to the undersigned at this place. The assistant adjutant-general will transfer his office, including all the records of the district, to this place to-morrow. The necessary transportation to execute these orders will be furnished by the quartermaster. HENRY PRINCE, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF CAIRO, Maj. Gen. S. A. HURLBUT, Commanding Sixteenth Army Corps: SIR: Your Special Orders, No. 61, assigned me to the command of the District of Cairo. General Sherman's Special Orders, No. 34 (April 24, 1864), directs Brig. Gen. H. Prince "to proceed to Columbus and assume command of that district." General McPherson's letter of instructions to General Prince, April 20, assigns General Prince "to the command of the Defenses and District of Columbus, Ky.", and describes this district by metes and bounds-being on the east side of the rivers—excluding, or rather not referring to, the post of Cairo. General Prince, by his order, April 28, issued from Columbus, assumes command of this district." 66 In the same order he directs my staff officers, located at Cairo, to report to him at Columbus, also my adjutant to transfer his office, records, &c., to Columbus. General Sherman's orders seem to include Cairo; General McPherson's letter otherwise. General Prince, as shown by his order, understands his command to include Cairo. I have not been relieved by any order from the command I assumed under yours. Personally, I make no question, being prepared to obey lawful orders and perform any duty, but there is confusion and doubt for which I am not accountable. I therefore solicit your order-being a district commander without a district, unless it be Cairo, which is a post, having a commander, &c. Yours, &c., Brig. Gen. H. PRINCE, M. BRAYMAN, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF CAIRO, Commanding District of Columbus : SIR: Since our conversation yesterday evening, Major-General Hurlbut has directed me to continue on duty as before, as to Cairo, omitting all that pertains to the other side of the river. Accordingly I resumed business this morning, and my staff officers report to me for duty as before; my headquarters also remaining as before. I have directed to be prepared for your use such original records, or copies thereof, as may be most agreeable and useful to you. I agree with you that Cairo should be a part of your district, and doubt not it will soon be so. At present I am governed by instructions of a superior officer, and when placed in such official relation as to make it proper, shall with entire readiness and pleasure be governed by SIR: Under verbal instructions from Major-General Hurlbut, I this morning resumed the transaction of official business and so advised you by note. Since that time General Hurlbut has been relieved from command. I recognize the necessity of Cairo being a part of the district placed under your command, though the instructions of General McPherson led General H. to a different conclusion, aided by the fact that I am not relieved in the usual manner. I therefore return to our understanding of yesterday morning. While waiting to be informed officially whether it was intended to relieve me from command, I think it proper to report to you for duty as you may prescribe, leaving the apparent conflict of jurisdiction in which the business of the past few days has been involved, to be explained where it originated. Respectfully, your obedient servant, M. BRAYMAN, Brigadier General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF Cairo, SIR: Having been so instructed by Major-General Sherman, commanding the Military Division of the Mississippi, I have the honor to transmit such testimony as I have been able to procure relative to the late tragedy at Fort Pillow. In some cases the reports of commissioned officers have been received without oath, but nearly all the statements are sworn to in the usual manner. Many persons who could have testified fully are not now accessible, having separated. Recognizing the exigency of the case, I prefer to transmit such as could be obtained in the shortest time. With your approbation I will add such as can be hereafter procured. You will, however, find sufficient in these papers to enforce absolute conviction upon all minds that violations of the laws and usages of civilized war, and of those obligations of common humanity which even barbarous and heathen tribes in some sort observe, have been perpetrated. Men and women who passed through the excitements of the battle, as well as the horrors of an indiscriminate massacre, which raged not only when the blood was hot and the judgment clouded by conflict, but which reached into the quiet of the following day, most of |