ordered to take such position with the cavalry brigade as to protect the left flank of the army.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOS. L. SNEAD,

Assistant-Adjutant General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE TENNESSEE, Guntown, Miss., September 10, 1862-12 m.

Brigadier-General ARMSTRONG,
Commanding Cavalry Brigade:

GENERAL: It is reported that the enemy have sent a force toward Bay Springs. If you find such to be the fact, and you have a sufficient force to do so successfully, make a dash upon them.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOS. L. SNEAD,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Abstract from Return of Third Sub-district, District of the Mississippi, Brigadier General M. L. Smith, C. S. Army, commanding, for September 10, 1862 [headquarters Vicksburg, Miss.]

Troops. Aggregate Aggregate Aggregate

present for present present and

duty absent

Field and staff 12 12 12

17th Louisiana, 351 495 603

Colonel Richardson

26th Louisiana, 406 716 775

Colonel De Clouet

27th Louisiana, 371 894 941

Colonel Marks

28th Louisiana, 264 531 631

Colonel Thomas

3rd Mississippi, 507 770 916

Colonel Mellon

6th Mississippi 176 596 777

Battalion,

Lieutenant-Colonel

Balfour

1st Mississippi 695 925 1,456

Light Artillery,

Colonel Withers

Heavy artillery, 653 959 1,160

Colonel

Beltzhoover

28th Mississippi 436 662 865

Cavalry, Colonel

Starke

Partisan Rangers 202 263 383

[three companies]

Sappers and 11 19 22

Miners, Captain

D. Wintter

Total 3,884 6,822 8,544

WAR DEPARTMENT, September 11, 1862.

Major-General VAN DORN, Jackson, Miss.:

The exchanged prisoners must be sent to their respective regiments. Where the headquarters of the regiment is with you it will remain under your command, and brigades and divisions may be formed without reference to former brigades and divisions, but troops of the same State must be brigaded together as far as practicable. Conscripts must be distributed to all the regiments of the State. Every effort will be made to arm and equip the troops. Your rank necessarily gives you the right to command General Price when you are acting together. Nothing in these instructions must be considered as rescinding the orders or interfering with the arrangements of General Bragg.

G. W. RANDOLPH,

Secretary of War.