under command of Captain S. P. Smith, was sent up the river 34 miles. They surprised and captured a picket of 1 sergeant and 9 men, with arms and equipments complete, and 13 horses. The affair was admirably conducted, and Captain Smith is deserving a commendation for the energy and good judgment displayed. Unfortunately the enemy have captured of 1 sergeant and 3 privates of the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry, immediately in front of Palatka.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. P. HATCH,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

WASHINGTON, D. C., April 4, 1864.

Major General Q. A. GILLMORE,

Department of the South:

GENERAL: Lieutenant-General Grant directs that you move, with all possible dispatch, so much of your forces as in your judgment can be safety spared from the Department of the South to Fort Monroe, Va., and report to Major General B. F. Butler, who will have orders in regard to your future operations. You will turn over the Department of the South, and the troops which you may deem necessary to leave there, to Brigadier General J. P. Hatch. You will be joined at Fort Monroe by the regiments and fractions of regiments belonging to the Department of the South which have been of furlough at the North and are now rendezvousing here preparatory to their return to your command. The troops which you bring with you and those which join you at Fort Monroe will constitute the tenth Army Corps.

You will bring with you their arms, baggage, and transportation.

Fractional portions, now North, of such regiments as you may leave in the Department of the South, will be sent by you from Fort Monroe to their proper commands in the South. Of course the arms, baggage, &c., of such parts of organizations will not be brought north. The selection of the troops to be brought north for active operations in the field is left entirely to your own judgment. The lieutenant-general, however, expects, from your own reports, that your effective command, on its arrival at Fort Monroe, will be from 7,000 to 11,000 men. This corps, increased by such forces as we may be able to give it, will be commanded by you in the field.

General Grant hopes that your command will reach Fort Monroe by the 18th instant; if not by that time, as soon thereafter as possible. The troops should arrive ready in every respect for the field.

Apply to Major-General Butler for such supplies as you may require. Should he not be able to meet your requisition, telegraph immediately, on ascertaining that fact, to the proper department in Washington.

The Twenty-sixth U. S. Colored and the Twenty-ninth Connecticut Colored Regiments will be immediately sent to the Department of the South; they number about 900 each. Possibly another colored regiments will be sent to that department, but do not rely on it. General Meigs is collecting vessels to assist in bringing up your forces and their transportation.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General, Chief of Staff: