New Orleans to report to you. The first fleet left Eastport on the evening of the 6th, and the whole command have with them their transportation and artillery.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, No. 40.
New Orleans, La., February 9, 1865.

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8. The regiments composing the Separate Brigade, organized by paragraph 5, Special Orders, No. 39, from these headquarters, viz, the First Louisiana Cavalry, the Second Illinois Cavalry, the Second New First Louisiana Cavalry, the Second Illinois Cavalry, the Second New York Cavalry, and the Thirty-first Massachusetts Mounted Infantry, will be sent with as little delay as possible to Carrollton, La., and encamp at the place selected by Brigadier-General Lucas, commanding the brigade. The commanding general Department of the Gulf will issue the necessary orders. The brigade commander will as soon as the troops have been collected report direct to these headquarters.

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13. Surg. Julius A. Skilton, Fourteenth New York Cavalry, is hereby assigned to duty as chief medical officer of the Separate Brigade organized by Special Orders, No. 39, paragraph 5, from these headquarters and will report accordingly without delay to Brigadier General Thomas J. Luca, commanding.

By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby:

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, No. 8.
New Orleans, February 9, 1865.

First. The District of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson and the Post of Morganza will hereafter be known and designated as the Northern Division of Louisiana.

Third. Major General F. J. Herron is assigned to the command of the Norther Division of Louisiana, and will establish his headquarters within the limits of his command.

Fourth. Brigadier General T. W. Sherman will retain the command of the Southern Division.

By command of Major-General Hurlbut:

GEORGE B. DRAKE,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS, New Orleans, February 9, 1865.

COMMANDING OFFICER PLAQUEMINE:

General Sherman says you must use your own discretion as to the necessity of withdrawing your cavalry. The object for which the reconnaissance in that quarter [was made] is accomplished, but you cannot have scouts there too much.

FREDERICK SPEED,
Assistant Adjutant-General.