men (dismounted) of his regiment, well officered and armed and provided with three days' rations and forty rounds of ammunition. The steamer will return with the guard as soon as the provisions have been turned over to the army of Major-General Steele.

5, As it is highly important that the supplies for General Steele's army be forwarded without delay, Captain Benjamin F. Porter, assistant quartermaster, will at once send the steam tug Nephie to assist the steamer Matamoras which is designed to convey the supplies up the Escambia River.

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By command of Brigadier-General Asboth:

FRANK ENO,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 25, 1865 - 3 p. m.

Major-General THOMAS,

Nashville:

The Secretary of War directs that as soon as they can be replaced by other troops you will order the colored artillery at Paducah and the Fifth and Sixth Colored Cavalry in Kentucky to Washington to report to General Augur. They will bring no animals or transportation.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

KNOXVILLE, March 25, 1865.

Major General GEORGE H. THOMAS, U. S. Army:

We reached Whitesburg yesterday with the track, and expect to run to Rogersville Junction to-day. The switch at Knoxville was commenced to-day. Elk and Duck River bridges, on the Tennessee and Alabama roads, were completed yesterday. Work on Northwestern road progressing satisfactorily. Will be through in a few days.

L. H . EICHOLTZ,

Acting Chief Engineer.

SPECIAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 145.
Washington, March 25, 1865.

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39. Captain Joseph H. Spencer, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, upon being relieved at the office of the signal officer, Washington, D. C., by Captain L. B. Norton, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, will report to Major-General Thomas, commanding the Department of the Cumberland, to assume charge of the signal detachment connected with that department.

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41. Lieutenant Asa T. Abbott, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, is hereby relieved from duty in the Department of Washington, and will report in person to Major-General Thomas, commanding the Department of the Cumberland, for assignment to duty.

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By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

6 R R - VOL XLIX, PT II