tions on his return. I showed him yesterday your private note in regard to taking the field with the Tenth Corps. He has not yet decided that question.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,

Numbers 136. Hilton Head, S. C., April 1, 1864.

I. The Third Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers (mounted infantry) will proceed at once to Jacksonville, Fla., and report to Brigadier General J. P. Hatch, commanding the District of Florida. They will take with them their camp and garrison equipage. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.

II. Company A, Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery is hereby ordered to be mounted as a light battery, the armament to be four 12-pounder howitzers.

By command of Major General Q. A. Gillmore:

ED. W. SMITH,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH,
Jacksonville, Fla., April 2, 1864.

Brigadier General J. W. TURNER,

Chief of Staff, Dept. of the South, Hilton Head, S. C.:

GENERAL: On examining a young man who has come to-day through the enemy's line I got the following information, which I am inclined to put some faith in:

The enemy' number in our front is about 10,000, 1,000 of whom are at Baldwin throwing up intrenchments, the remainder encamped at McGirt's Creek. An outpost of two regiments of cavalry and one of infantry is established at Cedar, a few pickets east of the creek. General Anderson is in command, assisted by General Finegan and Colquitt. Generals Taliaferro and Gardner are at Baldwin, but have no commands and are to return to Charleston.

Baldwin is being strongly fortified. The works were laid out by General Beauregard, and are still incomplete. General Colquitt's troops have been under marching orders for the weeks. The force opposite Palatka is small; our force there much exaggerate, it being believed that our main force is there.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. P. HATCH,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH,
Folly Island, S. C., April 3, 1864.

Brigadier General A. SCHIMMELFENNIG,

Commanding U. S. Forces, Folly Island, S. C.:

GENERAL: I am directed by the brigadier-general commanding to request that you will forward to these headquarters as soon as practicable a report of the events of principal importance in this