cuted an punished officers of your command who had been guilty of speculating in illegal substitute transactions. One member of the court (the presiding judge), and also the judge-advocate, well knows and cheerfully states that you are entitled to the highest credit for the noble, patriotic, and self-sacrificing spirit displayed by you in your valuable services during this war, and more especially for your services in raising your late brigade, a difficult task, which could not have been so successfully performed by any other.

Your obedient servant,

THO. J. JUDGE,

Presiding Judge Military Court, Maury's Corps.

SAML. J. DOUGLAS,

ANDREW HERRON,

Assistant Judges.

E. J. FITZPATRICK,

Judge-Advocate.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF ALA., MISS., AND E. LA., Numbers 130.
Demopolis, Ala., May 9, 1864.

* * * * *

XIII. Surg. W. C. McCaleb is relieved from duty with Fourth MISSISSIPPI Volunteer Cavalry, and assigned as chief surgeon of Brigadier-General Chalmers' DIVISION.

By command of Lieutenant-General Polk:

P. ELLIS, JR.,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[MAY 9, 1864. -For Adams to Polk, reporting operations, &c., see Part I, p. 10.]

DEMOPOLIS, ALA., May 9, 1864.

Major WILLIAM ELLIOTT,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Columbus:

I assumed command of the department this morning, by order of the President. Wish you to report here. General Polk left his staff. See postmaster and telegraph office about dispatches being sent here. Order commanding officer at Columbus to open dispatches from Roddey and telegraph here, if necessary, the contents. I will not need Major Dyer at present. Consult him as to his wishes. I send orders to Tuscaloosa.

S. D. LEE,

Major-General, Commanding Department.

DEMOPOLIS, ALA., May 9, 1864.

Brigadier General WIRT ADAMS,

Canton, Miss.:

I have assumed command of the department. You will send all reports to this point instead of Columbus. What has become of the force under General McArthur that moved out toward Mechanicsburg?*

S. D. LEE,

Major-General, Commanding Department.

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*For reply see May 9, 9 p. m., Part I, p. 11.

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