June 5:

Number of messages ....................................... 11

Number of words .......................................... 425

Average number of words .................................. 38

RECAPITULATION.

Number of messages ....................................... 245

Number of words .......................................... 7,822

Average number of words .................................. 31

Respectfully submitted.

Your obedient servant,

MILTON BENNER,

Acting Signal Officer.

[Inclosures.]

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES,
Near Port Hudson, May 23, 1863.

To Signal Officer in command of Signal Telegraph, near Placion Church:

SIR: The following good news has just been received from Colonel Grierson:

We are half a mile north of the railroad. Have met General Grover with his division. General Banks is 3 miles back. New from General Grant is glorious. He cut Johnston's forces to pieces, capturing sixty-one pieces of artillery. He has Vicksburg hemmed in so they cannot use their siege guns.

C. C. AUGUR,

Major-General, Commanding.

Send the above dispatch to the fleet.

G. B. HALSTED,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION,
Plains Store, May 24, 1863--6 p. m.

Captain ALDEN,

Commanding the Richmond:

General Banks is up with his forces, and we close in around the fort this morning, and will probably open upon them in the course of the day.

The general wishes me to say that he will keep the admiral informed of the progress of affairs.

C. C. AUGUR,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Riley's, before Port Hudson, May 26, 1863-Noon.

Rear-Admiral FARRAGUT, U. S. Navy,

Flagship Hartford:

ADMIRAL: The commanding general is at the front. I will forward your dispatch to him immediately; meanwhile, I take the liberty of stating our position early this morning: Sherman on the left, in advance of the enemy's first line of rifle-pits, having his pickets at the front edge of a skirt of woods, separated from the enemy's main line of works by an open plain. His position is in front of the school-house. Augur next, on the roads from the Plains to Port Hudson, and well advanced. Grover on the Jackson Railroad, holding the front edge of