directs me to say that Lieutenant-General Grant, in giving the order which relieved you from command at Helena, assigned no reason for so doing. It is not, however, understood that any rebuke was intended by the order. Your request for assignment to a command at the East will be referred to General Grant.

I am, &c.,

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, Mo., March 29, 1865.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff:

The force sent from Fort Laramie reports capture of 150 lodges of Sioux 150 miles north of that post, also that ninety lodges of Arapahoes have come in and given themselves up. It is a question with me where I shall send these prisoners to. I cannot feed them so far out.

G. M. DODGE,

Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT, No. 71. Saint Louis, Mo., March 29, 1865.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3. Chaplain E. O'Brien, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, is hereby assigned to duty as superintendent of refugees and contrabands for the Second Sub-District, headquarters Cape Girardeau. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation, including servant and authorized horses.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

By order of Brigadier-General Ewing:

H. HANNAHS,
Major Fiftieth Missouri Volunteers and Act. Asst. Adjt. General

PLEASANT HILL, MO., March 29, 1865.

Colonel HARDING,

Kansas City:

Captain Wyckoff has arrived here with his company. He lost the guerrillas' trail in the Sni Hills. They told the citizens at different places that they were going north of the Missouri River. The captain thinks they purpose doing so. He was compelled to come in for want of rations for his men. His wagons will be here to-night or to-morrow.

A. W. MULLINS,

Major.

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK., March 29, 1865.

Brigadier-General SANBORN:

There are in the counties of Benton, Washington, and Madison sixteen fresh colonies as agricultural settlements, twelve of which are well organized. They number and aggregate of about 1,200 men, mostly