the river which are now guarded by petty detachments, liable to be picked up one by one. The Amite country is said to be rich in cattle and our patrols ought to supply the troops at Baton Rouge and New Orleans with beef. In a four-hours' examination of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry at drill I did not find a single officer in it who could countermarch a squadron or form line faced to the rear from column. I recommend that a board of examination be appointed for the officers and the ignorant and inefficient be discharged.

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I desire to ask your attention to some special cases of absentees. The lieutenant-colonel of the Second Louisiana Cavalry, Woodrow, is on duty as assistant inspector-general on General Sherman's staff, in the Defenses of New Orleans. The regiment is a new one, has no colonel, and needs its lieutenant-colonel badly. Captain J. W. Porter, Second Louisiana Cavalry, is on duty in New Orleans in the provost-marshal's office, and should be with his company. Major G. W. Durgin, jr., of the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, is on duty as acting assistant adjutant-general to Brigadier-General Bailey at Morganza. His regimentis a large one and needs him to look after his battalion. Captain Foster, of the First Wisconsin Battery of horse artillery, on some duty in the city, should be with his battery. It is a fine one, serving with the division, and should not be allowed to get out of hand.

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I am, sir, your obedient servant,

J. W. DAVIDSON,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Cavalry.

[Indorsement.]

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, August 18, 1864.

Respectfully referred to Major-General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf, whose attention is invited to the recommendation made by General Davidson in relation to the distribution of the force stationed at and near Baton Rouge. The recommendation for an examination, &c., of the officers of the six companies of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry is approved and will be carried into effect. The officers named as being absent from their respective commands should be relieved from their present duties, if it can be done without real injury to the service. Colonel Woodrow may already have been relieved, as an order to that effect was issued from these headquarters on the 10th is acting as assistant adjutant-general, is now at Mobile Point.

By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby:

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, No. 96. New Orleans, La., August 13, 1864.

1. Bvt. Brigadier General J. Bailey, U. S. Volunteers, will proceed to Mobile Point by first opportunity, and report in person to Major General Gordon Granger, commanding U. S. forces, for temporary assignment to duty.

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