His services are greatly needed, and it is doing an act of injustice to the command to deprive it of them. I would therefore respectfully ask that he may be ordered to report back to his regiment.

I have the honor to be, colonel, your obedient servant,

J. C. TAPPAN,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[JULY 29, 1864.- For Maxey's congratulatory General Orders, Numbers 53, see Part I, p. 30.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 179.
Richmond, July 30, 1864.

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XXII. Brigadier General F. T. Nicholls, Provisional Army, C. S., will proceed to the Trans- Mississippi Department and take charge of and organize the bureau of conscription for that department, of which he is hereby constituted the superintendent.

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XXIX. Colonel F. C. Wilkes, of the Invalid Corps (late ofthe Twenty- fourth Regiment Texas Dismounted Cavalry), is assigned to post duty in the District o Texas, and will report to Major General J. B. Magruder, Provisional Army, C. S.

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By command ofthe Secretary of War:

SAML. W. MELTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[JULY 30, 1864.- Fort Smith to Davis, relating to transfer of troops to east side ofthe Mississippi, &c., see Part I, p. 92.]

HDQRS CONFEDERATE FORCES IN NORTH. ARKANSAS,
July 31, 1864.

Colonel A. S. DOBBIN,

Commanding Brigade:

COLONEL: With feelings of admiration for the bravery displayed by your entire command, I congratulate you upon your brilliant success,and mingle my sorrow with yours over the suffering wounded and the heroic dead. Your dispatch the 28th was not received until to- day, the 31st, and consequently my orders concerning Colonel Gordon were based upon an entire ignorance of your intentions after your fight. I am glad you concluded to take the course mentioned in your last dispatch, and you will retain Colonel Gordon until further orders, and proceed with the plantation business as you deem best. I am now about to blockade White River again, but my stay her will depend entirely upon news from Colonel McCray,a nd the movements of the enemy. I am fearful that a large Federal force is coming against us from Memphis, which, if such is the case, will compel me to seek a more favorable position. After you have accomplished all you can near Helena, I