HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER BRIGADE,
March 30, 1865.

Lieutenant Colonel C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

I have worked all the officers and men of the Ninety-sixth and Ninety-seventh U. S. Colored Infantry almost day and night since [they have been] at this place. If I send the Ninety-seventh it will stop my wharf building and greatly delay the unloading of supplies, as it takes all the One hundred and sixty-first [New York] for provost and picket duty, but will send it if you say so.

Yours, respectfully,

J. BAILEY,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. ARMY AND DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
March 30, 1865.

Brigadier General J. BAILEY:

The Ninety-seventh will not be sent. Your reasons are entirely satisfactory.

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER BRIGADE,
March 30, 1865.

Lieutenant Colonel C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

The rations and forage for Steele's command have started. Telegraph to retain the Ninety-seventh has been received.

Your obedient servant,

J. BAILEY,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER BRIGADE,
March 30, 1865-9 p. m.

Lieutenant Colonel C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

The General Banks has arrived with 1, 3000 sacks grain, 150 cavalry, and also a mail for your headquarters, which I forward to-night. the wind is so high that she is unable to come in the wharf to-night.

J. BAILEY,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. ARMY AND DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
March 30, 1865.

Major-General GRANGER:

The 30-pounder and the mortars will open at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning unless the enemy should open heavy upon us at an earlier hour, when he will be replied to at once. I will arrange with the admiral to open at the same hour.

E. R. S. CANBY,

Major-General, Commanding.