exercise the utmost vigilance to keep rascals out of the State. If after the people of Tennessee have set the civil authority fairly to work they show an ability to execute the law and preserve peace, I will then relax my rule of suppressing travel in Tennessee.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

EMINENCE, March 31, 1865.

Major-General PALMER,

Headquarters, Louisville:

I am passing with 150 men. Will be at Shelbyville to-night.

H. M. BUCKLEY,

Colonel, Commanding.

WEST GULF SQUADRON, U. S. FLAG-SHIP STOCKDALE, Off Blakely Bar, March 31, 1865.

Major-General CANBY,

Commanding Army and Division of West Mississippi:

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of yesterday's date, and to thank you for the information contained therein. I am very happy to know that you have a prospect of capturing these forts with all their troops, consequently Mobile. Last night the river fell three feet four inches, so that at present some of the vessels inside the bar are aground and cannot move. We shall do all in our power to aid you in the attack, however. It seems to me that with the opposite side weakened by sending so many of their troops over here, that a demonstration with 3,000 or 4,000 upon the city would cause its surrender, for it seems utterly impossible that such extensive works should be garrisoned. I thank you, general, for the plan of Spanish Fort and surroundings.

I am, general, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. K. THATCHER,

Acting Rear-Admiral.

P. S.-Commodore Palmer, who now visits your headquarters, will explain our position.

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEERS BRIGADE, March 31, 1865.

Major-General CANBY:

I shall be off to your headquarters in about an hour.

J. S. PALMER,
Commodore, Commanding First Division.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, OFFICE OF CHIEF QUARTERMASTER, Fort Gaines, Ala., March 31, 1865.

General P. J. OSTERHAUS,

Chief of Staff, &c., Military Division of West Mississippi:

GENERAL: I would respectfully suggest, unless the major-general commanding desires for military reasons to keep the pontoon bridge now at or near Dannelly's Mills in its present position, that the