have been of the kindest character, and I know yourself will believe that only the sternest sense of duty would compel me to it.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

SAINT LOUIS, March 14, 1862.

E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War, Washington:

General Bragg is at Memphis, and large re-enforcements are arriving from the South by railroad, to sustain General A. S. Johnson and prevent us from reaching Memphis. If an attack on Mobile is intended, now is the time. The capture of that place would assist us very much here. Moreover, gunboats could then ascend the Alabama River and open its commerce.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Numbers 1.
Ship Island, March 20, 1861.

Pursuant to General Orders, Numbers 20, of February 23, 1862, from the Headquarters of the Army, Major General B. F. Butler, U. S. Volunteers assumes command of this department.

His staff is announced as follows:

Major George C. Strong, assistant adjutant-general, ordnance officer and chief of staff.

Captain Jonas H. French, aide-de-camp and inspector-general.

Captain Peter Haggerty, aide-de-camp.

First Lieutenant J. W. Cushing, Thirty-first Massachusetts Volunteers acting chief quartermaster.

First Lieutenant J. E. Easterbrook, Thirtieth Massachusetts Volunteers, acting chief commissary.

Captain George A. Kensel, chief of artillery.

First Lieutenant Godfrey Weitzel, chief of engineer.

First Lieutenant J. c. Palfrey, assistant engineer.

First Lieutenant C. N. Turnbull, chief of topographical engineers.

Surg. Thomas H. Bache, medical director.

Major J. M. Bell, volunteer aide-de-camp.

Captain R. S. Davis, volunteer aide-de-camp.

First Lieutenant J. B. Kinsman, aide-de-camp.

Second Lieutenant H. C. Clarke, aide-de-camp.

By command of Major-General Butler:

GEO. C. STRONG,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA,
Fort Pickens, March 22, 1861.

Brigadier General LORENZO THOMAS,

Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I deem it proper to report for the information of the General-in-Chief that the rebels at Pensacola and along their line of defense have been stampeded by our glorious Union Victories elsewhere. This information (indefinite, however) was derived from two stupid white