12. Brigadier General Cyrus Hamlin, U. S. Volunteers, will proceed without delay to Port Hudson, La., and assume command of the U. S. forces at that post.

* * * * *

By command of Major- General Hurlbut:

J. C. STONE,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SOUTHERN DIVISION OF LOUISIANA,
New Orleans, February 14, 1865.

Major R. G. SHAW,

Eleventh U. S. Colored Artillery, Commanding, Plaquemine:

(Through General Cameron.)

Brigadier-General Sherman directs that you make use of the independent scouts sent you yesterday in assisting to keep up through reconnaissance upon Grand River and beyond, m and up the Grossetete country. All movements made by the enemy must be closely watched and reported promptly to these headquarters. This scouting business will be made by you a perfect system, and no movements of the enemy from the Atchafalaya down into the Grossette country or across Grand River must be made without information of it at these headquarters in less than three hours' time.

I am, sir respectfully,

FREDERIC SPEED,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. NORTHERN DIV. OF LOUISIANA, Numbers 4.
Baton Rouge, La., February 14, 1865.

In obedience to General Orders, Numbers 8, dated headquarters Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, La., February 9, 1865, the undesigned hereby assumes command of the Northern Division of Louisiana, comprising the Districts of Baton Rouge, Port Hudson, and Morganza, and including all the territory in the Department of the gulf north of the Defenses of New Orleans on both banks of the Mississippi River. All orders now in force in the District of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson will so remain until otherwise ordered. The following- named officers are announced on the staff of the major- general commanding: Major William Hyde Clark, chief of staff; Captain William H. Clapp, assistant adjutant- general; Captain N. M. Hubbard, aide- de- camp and acting judge- advocate; Captain Charles E. Sevens, aide- de- camp; Captain E. E. Shelton, chief commissary of subsistence; Captain J. L. Routt, acting chief quartermaster; Captain George H. Wheaton, assistant commissary of musters.

F. J. HERRON,

Major- General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS,
Little Rock, Ark., February 14, 1865.

Brigadier G en. C. BUSSEY,

Commanding Third Div., Seventh Army Corps, Fort Smith, Ark:

GENERAL: It has been represented to these headquarters by the governor and other State officers of Arkansas and by deputations of