assessment on Saint Louis County. Please examine and satisfy yourself whether this assessment should proceed or be abandoned; and if you decide that it is to proceed, please examine as to the propriety of its application to a gentleman by the name of Charles McLaurin.

A. LINCOLN.

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 14, 1865.

Major- General POPE,

Saint Louis, Mo.:

The Secretary of War does not approve the creation of a new department, as proposed. he thinks that General Dodge will be able to properly defend the mail routes.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major- General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI,
February 14, 1865- 11. 40 a. m.

Major- General DODGE,

Fort Leavenworth:

What is General Mitchell doing at Omaha City while the Indians are overrunning his district! Please order him to his proper station and duty forthwith.

JOHN POPE,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Fort Leavenworth, Kans., February 14, 1865.

(Received 3. 40 p. m.)

Major-General POPE:

General Mitchell's district headquarters are at Omaha. He has been on the plains all winter. He meets the troops at Kearny. his presence at Omaha was necessary to get out our supplies. I have had to send all our forage from that point and subsistence stores from here. Colonel Moonlight is moving down from Denver, and I can keep the line open. The troops going forward, with those I can spare from the forts, will make a campaign against the Indians immediately.

G. M. DODGE,

Major-General.

SAINT LOUIS, February 14, 1865- 3. 50 p. m.

Major General G. M. DODGE,

Fort Leavenworth, Kans:

General McNeil has reported. Have you any particular duty or command to assign him to! Major- General Pope has gone to Milwaukee. When will you probably return!

J. W. BARNES,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

54 R R- VOL XLVIII, PT I