HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, Tenn., January 10, 1865.

Colonel J. N. McARTHUR,

Fourth U. S. Colored Heavy Arty, Commanding Post, Colombus, Ky.:

COLONEL: Your letter of January 5, inclosing telegrams from Brevet Major-General Burbridge and Brigadier General S. Meredith, is received. You are not in General Meredith's command, and will not obey his orders. I have only to repeat my instructions contained in letter of 28th December, 1864, and to reiterate that you will not obey the orders of any officer unless he derives his authority from Major-General Canby, commanding Military Division of West Mississippi, Major-Genera Dana, commanding Department of Mississippi, Major-General Dana, commanding Department of Mississippi, or from these headquarters. You will not permit any interference with your command in any manner whatever by any one deriving his authority from any other source than those above mentioned; nor will you allow public property or material of any kind to be taken from under your control without order through these headquarters. I am not advised that Brigadier-General Meredith has been required to obey any orders of Major-General Dana, and therefore the telegram of Brevet Major-General Burbridge can in no wise affect the case. I inclose for your information a copy of telegram from E. D. Townsend, assistant adjutant-general, at Washington, D. C., of date January 1, 1865, declaring that General Canby's command extended to the mouth of the Ohio River. * You are relieved from any and all responsibility of reporting to General Meredith by my direct and positive order and command.

Very respectfully,

JAMES C. VEATCH,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,

Numbers 10.
Saint Louis, Mo., January 10, 1865.

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7. Colonel E. A. Kutzner, Thirty-ninth Regiment Missouri Infantry Volunteers, is hereby detached from his command and will report to Brigadier General C. B. Fisk, commanding District of North Missouri, at Macon City, Mo., for assignment to the command of the sub-district, headquarters at Glasgow, or such place as the district commander may deem best. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation for private horses, baggage, and servants.

* * * * *

9. Colonel Chester Harding, Forty-third Missouri Infantry, will report to Colonel J. F. Philips, commanding Central District of Missouri, for assignment to the command of the sub-district. Colonel Philips will furnish Colonel Harding with troops sufficient to enable him to keep one company at the crossing of the Little Blue, and Colonel Harding will be subject to the orders of Colonel Philips in all matters pertaining to his district. The returns of the Forty-third Missouri will be forwarded to headquarters District of North Missouri, as heretofore.

10. Lieutenant Colonel William Hoelcke, chief engineer Department of the Missouri, will proceed along the line of the railroad as far as Jefferson

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*See p. 393.

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