HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, S. C., April 13, 1864.

Brigadier General J. P. HATCH,

Commanding District of Florida, Jacksonville, Fla.:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you send a force, to be taken from General Ames' original brigade, to relieve the garrison at Fernandina and Saint Augustine as soon as possible.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ED. W. SMITH,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST FLORIDA,
Barrancas, April 13, 1864.

Commodore W. SMITH,

Commanding, Navy-Yard:

SIR: Two colored boys came in this morning with the following information:

They were cooks in the Fifteenth Confederate Cavalry and deserted last night at 10 o'clock at the Seven-Mile Station. Colored Maury is there with 160 mounted men, and said that he would take breakfast in the navy-yard to-morrow morning. I am sure you will have not pills ready for them. They are repairing and building bridges on the several roads leading to us. Six hundred cavalry and 200 to 300 infantry are at Fifteen-Mile Station. They know of no more troops moving down from Pollard.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ASBOTH,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST FLORIDA,
Barrancas, April 13, 1864.

Commodore W. SMITH,

Commanding Navy-Yard:

SIR: Lieutenant Breckinridge, U. S. Army, just reports the information received. He thinks from a reliable source that there is a cavalry force of ten full companies 3 miles from the head of the Bayou Grand.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ASBOTH,

Brigadier-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Numbers 156.
Hilton Head, S. C., April 14, 1864.

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II. The following-named regiment of the Tenth Army Corps will proceed to Fortress Monroe, by the steamer North Star, and the