HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, May 29, 1865

Brigadier General A. ASBOTH,

Commanding District of West Florida, Barrancas, Fla:

SIR: In pursuance of instructions received from Headquarters o the Army all military restrictions hitherto imposed upon the bringing in of cotton are hereby removed, and you will please to encourage the movements of the same and practically facilitate it whenever the same can be done without injury or inconvenience to the service. It is the wish of the Government that the staple should be brought forward as rapidly as possible, and the search for Confederate cotton will no longer be continued.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Same to Brigadier General John Newton, commanding District of Key West and Tortugas, Key West, Fla.)

WASHINGTON, May 30, 1865-9.30 a.m.

Major-General THOMAS,

Nashville, Tenn.:

Send the Fourth Corps to New Orleans as soon as practicable. Separate the men whose time expires before the 1st of October from the corps, and if paymasters are ready to pay the balance let them receive their money before starting. Let there be no unavoidable delay in getting the corps off.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

NASHVILLE, May 30, 1865.

(Received 5.15 a.m. 31st.)

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT:

Paymasters are busy preparing rolls for payment of Fourth Corps. Only $3,500,000 required to pay portion of corps which goes. Cannot it be hurried forward from Washington? Will the corps transportation be sent with it?

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General, &c.

NASHVILLE, May 30, 1865.

(Received, 5.20 a.m. 31st.)

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

The capture of Champ Ferguson and surrender of his guerrillas has restored complete quiet to Overton and Fentress Counties. I have directed General Rousseau's expedition not to move. General Stoneman will go on.

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.