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

Major General N. P. BANKS,

Commanding Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, La.:

GENERAL: I am instructed by the major-general commanding to inquire where the Sixth Michigan Heavy Artillery is stationed at present (it was ordered by Special Orders, Numbers 93, section 4, August 10, 1864, headquarters Military Division of West Mississippi, to embark at Morganza for this city, reporting on arrival to General Arnold), and to request that orders be at once given for it to be held in readiness to embark to-morrow morning for Mobile Bay. More detailed information about where the transforation will be in readiness will be given during the night, but it is desirable that the above notice be given to the commanding officer as early as possible, and that the station be reported to these headquarters. My impression is that the regiment is stationed at Carrollton.

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Indorsement.]

Received at 10.45 p. m., and orders at once issued.

GEO. B. DRAKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
New Orleans, August 18, 1864-10.45 p. m.

STAFF OFFICER OF THE NIGHT:

You will please forward to headquarters Military Division the note addressed to Major Christensen and to its destination (which the orderly must find at all hazards at once) the order addressed to the commanding officer of the Sixth Michigan Heavy Artillery. You will also please direct the orderly to inform you as soon as possible of the exact location of this regiment, which he will find at one of the cotton-presses, and you will give this information to Major Christensen by letter as soon as received. Orders will be received from General Canby during the night were the Sixth Michigan will embark. Upon receipt of this, without further instructions from General Banks, you will order the regiment in accordance with the orders you will receive from General Canby. It is of great importance that the orderly find the location of this regiment as speedily as possible and deliver the order inclosed, as well as the one you will receive later, before referred to.

GEO. B. DRAKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
New Orleans, August 18, 1864-10.45 p. m.

Major C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

The Sixth Michigan Heavy Artillery is at a cotton-press in this city. I have ordered that you be informed which one; also that it be in readiness to embark to-morrow morning.

In the absence of Major-General Banks:

GEO. B. DRAKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.