SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF NORTH KANSAS,

Numbers 6.
Fort Leavenworth, January 8, 1865.

1. Major Clarkson Reynolds, Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, will proceed to Wyandotte, Kans., and assume command of the troops at that station, and make his regular monthly and tri-monthly reports to these headquarters.

2. Major James Ketner, Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, will assume command of his regiment and quarter with his troops at new barracks, approving all passes and furloughs for his command, making his regular reports to Colonel W. R. Davis, commanding post.

By order of Brigadier General T. A. Davies:

D. J. CRAIGE,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

OMAHA, NEBR. TER., January 8, 1865.

Major-General CURTUS,

Fort Leavenworth:

The following dispatches are just received:

JULESBURG, [January] 8, 1865.

Had a desperate fight (Indians went south) and will report in a few moments.

N. J. O'BRIEN,

Captain, &c.

KEARNY, 8TH.

The present state of things on the road will not answer. The posts must be concentrated or made more numerous. There are some, as per returns, too weak to make a defense against the heavy odds now threatening. Either give me power to act as I deem best, or direct what I shall do while we are corresponding. The Indians are masters of the Overland road, and immediate action is imperative.

R. R. LIVINGSTON, &c.

I will leave for the field by stage to-night.

ROBT. B. MITCHELL,

Brigadier-General.

OMAHA, January 8, 1865.

COMMANDING OFFICER, Columbus, Nebr. Ter.:

You will move immediately with fifty men of Company E, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, and report to Colonel Livingston at Fort Kearny. Make no delay in starting and move as rapidly as possible, not to injure your animals.

ROBT. B. MITCHELL,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, La., January 9, 1865.

COMMANDING GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,

New Orleans, La.:

SIR: Under authority of Executive order of December 10, and of the order of the Secretary of War of December 12, 1864, Major General W. F. Smith and Honorable Henry Stanbery have been appointed special commissioners to inspect and report upon the condition of affairs in