presented for a raid to Houma. You can at according to your judgment, sending it or not, as after investigation you think best. All animals brought over by Captain Whitaker will be taken possession of by your quartermaster and held subject to my orders. Captain Murphy will show you the various orders he is acting under.

Yours, respectfully,

J. L. BRENT,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

LEWISVILLE, ARK., March 31, 1865.

Major-General PRICE,

Washington, Ark.:

GENERAL: I inclose an extra of the Natchitoches Times of 25th instant, which, though rather old, is yet of interest; first, because it shows how the recognition rumors we had some days since originated; second, it contains General Lee's report of the fight between Generals Hampton and Kilpatrick, of which we have heretofore had only rumors; and, third, it shows that, notwithstanding the contradiction received here, General Early did have a fight with Sheridan and was worsted, losing prisoners, &c., as mention is made in our papers of an effort to recapture the prisoners. Doctor Taylor received a letter this morning from Doctor Burton, dated Camden, 30th, saying that a Northern paper of the 20th had been received and that no battle had been fought up to that time. No mention of foreign news was made by Doctor Burton and it is to be presumed the paper continued none.

Very respectfully,

B. DAVIDSON.

Abstract from return of the Western Sub-District of Texas, Brigadier General James E. Slaughter, C. S. Army, commanding, for the month of March, 1865.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Enlisted

total pres

ent.

Staff. 6 . . . . . .

Northern Division. 33 216 216

Eastern Division. 9 103 103

Western Division. 14 194 194

Southern Division. 25 418 418

Fort Brown. 15 167 167

Total. 102 1,098 1,098

Pieces of artillery.

Command. Aggregate Aggregate Heavy. Field

present. present

and ab

sent.

Staff. 6 8 . . . . . . .

Northern Division. 291 388 . . . . . .

Eastern Division. 133 199 . . . . . .

Western Division. 253 385 . . . . . . .

Southern Division. 558 937 . . . . .

Fort Brown. 205 331 . . . 6

Total. 1,446 2,248 . . . 6

Organization of troops in the Western Sub-District of Texas, commanded by Brigadier General James E. Slaughter, March 31, 1865.

NORTHERN DIVISION.

Colonel CHARLES L. PYRON.

Post of San Antonio.

2nd Texas Cavalry (one company), Captain William G. Tobin.

2nd Texas Cavalry (Company G, detachment), Lieutenant Robert Collings.