II. All general courts-martial in session are adjourned until further orders, and the officers composing them will rejoin their commands without delay.

By order of General Bragg:

ARCHER ANDERSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

FORT FISHER,

January 12, 1865.

Major HILL:

There are a number of signal-lights being shown northeast and southeast; they are not the blockade signals, but the old fleet signals. To-day at noon one of the blockaders ran very loose down from Battery Gatlin and turned off toward the fleet; when two ad a half to three miles from us her decks seem crowded, but not unusually so. I am just officially informed that a sergeant and three men deserted from Battery Gatlin last night.

LAMB,

Colonel.

MASONBOROUGH, January 12, 1865.

Major J. H. HILL:

The lights from the fleet have increased. Third and more vessels in view morning toward Fisher; 10 o'clock.

T. J. LIPSCOMB,

Colonel, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Wilmington, January 12, 1865.

Major General W. H. C. WHITING,

Commanding, &c., Wilmington:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that the commanding general has directed Major-General Hoke to send a brigade to the vicinity of Sugar Loaf, for the purpose of throwing up a line of works on the beach between the head of the sound and Fort Fisher.

I am, general, very respectfully, &c.,

ARCHER ANDERSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Wilmington, January 12, 1865-12 midnight.

Major General W. H. C. WHITING,

Commanding, &c., Wilmington:

GENERAL: The general commanding directs that the furloughs to the Senior Reserves be suspended, and that they be held in readiness to move by water to Sugar Loaf as soon as the steamers have carried one brigade of Hoke's division; that the Second South Carolina Cavalry,