33.] LOUISVILLE, January 14, 1865.

General J. L. DONALDSON,

Nashville:

Colonel Parsons is here, sent out from Washington, to superintend the transportation of General Schofield's command. He will leave for Paduca this afternoon. Transports sufficient will assemble at Paducah from Cincinnati, this place, and Cairo in three or four days, and will proceed to Easport. If practicable, communicate this to General Thomas and General Schofield as soon as possible.

ROBERT ALLEN,

Brigadier-General.

34.] LOUISVILLE, January 14, 1865.

Colonel W. W. MCKIM,

Cincinnati:

Send to report to me six good transports as soon as possible, with good supply of coal and ten days' stores. Only a small crew will be needed. Telegraph the names and when I may expect them.

ROBERT ALLEN,

Brigadier-General.

35.] LOUISVILLE, January 14, 1865.

General DONALDSON,

Nashville:

Do you know where Major-General Thomas and Schofield are? Can you reach them or Johnsonville by telegraph? Is the rialroad working to Johnsonville? Is there any coal there?*

LEWIS B. PARSONS,

Colonel and Chief of Rail and River Transportatio; n.

36.] LOUISVILLE, January 14, 1865.

Captain ARTHUR EDWARDS,

Assistant Qaurtermaster, or

Captain L. S. METCALF,

Assistant Quartermaster, Saint Louis, Mo.:

Come to Cairo and Paducah with Hendrick and Downs, or any other assistant as soon as you can. You must come on train this afternoon if possible. I expect to be there to-morrow.

LEWIS B. PARSONS,

Colonel and Chief of Rail and River Transportation.

37.] CAIRO, January 16, 1865.

Major-General SCHOFIELD:

(On train for Saint Lous-sent to Centralia, Ill.)

I am out by orders of the Assistant Secretary of War to assist in moving your army. He said that I should find dispatches from General Thomas at Louisville. Finding nothing I came to Paducah and

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*For reply, see Numbers 24, p. 225.

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