SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT, &C.,

Numbers 145.
Houston, May 30, 1863.

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III. The following-named troops will proceed without delay to Bonham, Tex., and their commanding officers will report either in person or by letter to Acting, Brigadier General S. P. Bankhead, viz:

Captain Krumbhaar's battery of mountain howitzers.

Colonel Gurley's regiment Texas Volunteers.

Colonel Hardeman's regiment, Arizona Brigade.

Six companies of the Texas State Line.

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By command of Major-General Magruder:

EDMUND P. TURNER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

CANTON, MISS., My 31, 1863.

Lieutenant General E. KIRBY, SMITH,

Commanding Trans-Mississippi Department:

Port Hudson is invested by Major-General Banks, Vicksburg by Major-General Grant. I am preparing to aid Vicksburg, but cannot march to Port Hudson without exposing my little army to destruction. If you can do anything to succor Port Hudson, I beg you to do it.

J. B. JOHNSTON,

General.

Report of operations for the defense of Mobile, Ala., for the month of May, 1863.

MAY 31, 1863.

FORT MORGAN.

This work is in good condition. Nothing has been done on it during the month.

FORT GAINES.

Laborers and carts have been engaged in embarking glacis coupee on the north and west fronts and sodding the same. This has now been completed, and the fort is wholly defensible, excepting that its armament is not complete. The tower bastions remain without the gun intended for each, and seventeen flank casemate howitzers are yet lacking.

OBSTRUCTIONS BETWEEN FORTS MORGAN AND GAINES.

Four rows of heavy piles extending from the west bank, nearly 2 miles toward Fort Gaines, have been planted. Nothing more is proposed here.

BATTERY AT GRANT'S PASS.

A wharf has been completed at this place in the last month. The battery is in good condition.