laid down by him in his note* to Major-General Blair are simply a statement of what General Shermans own policy will be while he remains in command here. He will not undertake to declare or pre- scribe a policy for his successors. General Sherman is now waiting for the mayor of Savannah to furnish him a list of those who desire to go beyond our lines. Upon the receipt of this he will make arrangements for sending out all such by flag of truce, and of this twenty-four hours notice will be given. All baggage, & c., taken from the city will, of course, be examined; by whom and in what manner will be regulated by Brig. Gen. J. W. Geary, commanding the post. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY HITCHCOCK, Major and Assistant Adjutant. General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, January 5, 18652.50 p. rn. Lieutenant-General GRANT, Fortress Monroe: I think it would be useful if you would write to Sherman, urging him to give facilities to the organization of colored troops. He does not seem to appreciate the importance of this measure and appears indif- ferent if not hostile. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. FORTRESS MONROE, VA., Jan nary 5, 18658 a. m. (Received 9 p. in.) Major- General HALLECK, Washington: Please have everything called for by Sherman forwarded without delay. He cannot move until the forage and subsistence called for is received. A special messenger from Sherman has just left here with his requisitions. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant- General. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVIsION OF THE Mississippi, Savannah, Ga., January 5, 1865. General H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: Connected with my report of the operations of this branch of my army, I beg leave to submit the names of certain officers that in my judgment merit promotion or the favor of the Government, in addition to those heretofore submitted through regular official chan- nels. Col. A. Beckwith, commissary of subsistence, was assigned to me by the chief of his department in April last. He at once entered on his duties with an energy and intelligence that could not be sur- passed. I have never seen a more industrious officer, and the result has been that he has fed an army of 100,000 men, operating from Nash- ville to Savannah, a task that one year ago was regarded an impossi- bility. His coadjutor in this work, General Easton, of the quarter- masters department, has properly been brevetted a brigadier.general, See Vol. XLIV, p.846.