discharge the duties of the former, in accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress entitled "An act to abolish supernumerary officers in the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments," approved May 1, 1863. Until such, transfer is perfected, regimental commissaries will continue in the performance of their usual duties.

Commanders of regiments will be held responsible for the prompt execution of this order, and will report to department headquarters, through the proper channel, the date on which the commissary is relieved, his name, and the name of the quartermaster by whom he is relieved.

By command of Lieutenant General E. Kirby Smith:

S. S. ANDERSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

PORT HUDSON, LA., July 5, 1863.

Major [T. F.] WILLSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

MAJOR: The following-named commands have applied to me for the respectively named amounts of either mule or horse meat, to wit:

Officers. Men.

1st Alabama..................................... 30 555

Wingfield's battalion:

18th Arkansas................................... --- 50

12th Arkansas................................... --- 100

16th Arkansas................................... 30 180

-----

----

60 858

Total,945 officers and men.

They would like to have the ration for to-morrow this evening.

Respectfully submitted.

I am, major, yours, &c.,

J. P. JONES,

Captain, and Aide-de-Camp.

HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT, Shreveport, La., July 5, 1863.

General [MAGRUDER]:

I have the honor to inclose copies of orders sent to Major McKee; also copies of telegrams from Lieutenant-Generals Smith and Holmes. There are no troops here that can be sent to the relief of General Steele. Should the enemy get possession of the Indian Territory, the wheat region of Texas is in danger.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. R. BOGGS,

Brigadier-General, and Chief of Staff.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI, Shreveport, La., July 5, 1863.

Major McKEE,

Assistant Quartermaster, Alexandria, La.:

MAJOR: You will turn over to Major Bloomfield, quartermaster, Houston, Tex., as much Government cotton as you are able to haul from the