HDQRS. ARMY AND DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
Near Spanish Fort, Ala., April 4, 1865.

Rear-Admiral H. K. THATCHER,

Commanding West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Mobile Bay:

ADMIRAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date by Lieutenant Lyon; also of your note to Captain Eaton. I am very much obliged for your offer of howitzer boats, and send this by Captain Cook, aide-de-camp, with the request that you will be placed to hand him the orders for the launches at Pensacola and New Orleans.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. R. S. CANBY,

Major-General, Commanding.

STARKE'S LANDING, April 4, 1865-11.30 p.m.

(Received 5th.)

Lieutenant-Colonel CHRISTENSEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Admiral Thatcher had previous to my arrival sent for the launches at Pensacola. I am off immediately.

M. K. COOK,

Captain and Aide-de-Camp.

HDQRS. ARMY AND DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
Near Spanish Fort, April 4, 1865.

Lieutenant Colonel C. G. SAWTELLE,

Chief Quartermaster, Mil. Div. of West Miss., Fort Gaines, Ala.:

COLONEL: Admiral Thatcher has kindly offered us the use of some howitzer, boats, now at Pensacola and New Orleans, and the commanding general directs that the Laura be placed at the disposal of Captain Cook for the purpose of obtaining the boats at the latter place. Please to send a steamer to Pensacola and request General T. Kilby Smith to detail an officer to go with her and hurry up the boats obtainable at that place.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

LOUISVILLE, KY., April 4, 1865.

Captain J. E. HARRISON,

Fifth U. S. Cav., Special Inspector Cav., Mil. Div. of West Miss.:

CAPTAIN: On yesterday I wrote you a short note informing you of the result of my efforts to have the cavalry at Memphis sent down to New Orleans, as ordered by General Canby. After General Washburn's refusal to permit it to go I proceeded to Cairo, and from there sent the following dispatch to Major-General Thomas, viz:

CAIRO, ILL., March 31, 1865.

General GEORGE H. THOMAS,

Nashville, Tenn.:

GENERAL: The First Iowa, Eleventh New York, Second Wisconsin, Fourth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, now at Memphis, have been ordered by General Canby to report to General Grierson in New Orleans. I was sent to Memphis by