and west of the Chattahoochee are to be paroled and forwarded to their homes, when practicable, excepting men who came from loyal States, who are not yet permitted to return to their homes.

By order:

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MISSISSIPPI,
Vicksburg, May 18, 1865.

Lieutenant Colonel C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Asst. Adjt. General, Military Division of West Mississippi:

I have received your communication dated the 15th instant, directing me to make an inspection of the posts in this department and report on the minimum amount of force needed here. I have no instructions as to my duties, and do not know what will be expected of me, and cannot definitely answer the communication. The department, according to existing orders, consists only of "the troops of the Military Division of West Mississippi on the river" within this State. If it is not intended to occupy anything else I think 1,500 men at Natchez and 1,500 men at Vicksburg sufficient. If the military occupation is to be extended over the State, it will take a considerable force of cavalry to suppress outlaws, and of infantry to hold certain interior posts or depots. All the cavalry, mounted, remaining in the department subject to my orders is the Ninth Indiana, about 350 strong. I have taken measures to have a detailed report of the strength of the force in the department, showing its condition and disposition.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NATCHEZ,
Natchez, Miss., May 18, 1865.

Captain FREDERIC SPEED,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

CAPTAIN: In answer to an indorsement of the general commanding the department on a communication from the headquarters Military Division of West Mississippi requiring an inspection of the posts on the Mississippi River within the limits of the department, with a view to the immediate reduction of their garrisons to the lowest minimum sufficient to hold them as military posts, I have the honor to recommend as follows:

For the post at Natchez-

Sixth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, garrison of Fort McPherson, effective strength. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200

Eighth New Hampshire Veteran Battalion, to perform police

and patrol duties, guards of public property, &c., post of

Natchez, effective strength. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250

One regiment of cavalry, well mounted, to be sent here to

repress bushwhacking, to do escort duty, keep open communication with the railroad and interior, the battalions to be divided between Rodney, Natchez, and Fort Adams, effective strength. . . 600

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Total effective garrison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,050

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Effective garrison at Natchez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,650

Effective garrison at Rodney and Fort Adams, each 200. . . . . . . 400

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Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,050