ENGINEER OFFICE,

Galveston, March 21, 1863.

Captain EDMUND P. TURNER,

Assistant Adjutant-General, San Antonio:

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that the prevailing unfavorable winds retarded the placing of the obstructions across the main channel to such exigent that to last night only three rafts have been anchored. When during the night of the 21st one of the fastened rafts was found blow up, after examination I came to the conclusion that tit wad one by one of the torpedoes placed by Colonel Forshey, and not anchored sufficiently well to prevent its drifting with the tide under the raft and exploding. If all the rafts had been fastened across the damage would have been almost immaterial. But as it is, it caused the chains of the different anchors to be entangled and some moved out of position, so that it doubles the original amount of labor of placing them, being obliged to disentangle, loosen, raise anchors, repair raft, and them commence placing them again. It will require probably fifteen working days to complete the work. The balance of the works are progressing as well as could possibly be expected from eh amount of labor and material at my disposition.

I have the honor to remain, respectfully, your obedient servant,

V. SULAKOWSKI,

Chief Engineer.

Quantity and rations of subsistence stores on hand March 23, 1863, at the post of Port Hudson, La.

Articles. Quantity. Rations.

Pork............... Pounds. 91,100 182,200

Bacon................do. 311,700 623,400

Flour................do. 17,690 15,724

Rice.................do. 3,000 15,000

Pease................do. 357,400 794,222

Sugar................do. 334,000 2,783,333

Soap.................do. 2,412 60,300

Salt............. Bushels. 13,619 14,526,933

Molasses......... Gallons. 42,558 2,127,900

Lard............. Pounds. 29,000 58,000

Salt beef...........do. 22,720 22,720

Potatoes......... Bushels. 390 9,360

Corn.................do. 31,715 ....

Hogs.............. Head. 1,647 ....

JOSEPH P. CARR,

Major and A. C. S.

SPECIAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, No. 71.
Richmond, March 23, 1863.

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XIX. Brigadier General L. M. Walker will proceed without delay to Alexandria, La., and report to Lieutenant General E. Kirby Smith, commanding, &c., for assignment to duty.

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By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.