would suggest that you move somewhere in the colony to recruit your horses,for t reason that you will be nearer the other forces, and be able to concentrate more rapidly in case of an emergency.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JO. O. SHELBY,

Brigadier- General, Commanding.

[JULY 31, 1864.- For Smith to Taylor and Taylor to Boggs, relating to transfer of troops across the Mississippi, see Part I, pp. 93, 94.]

Abstract from return ofthe First Sub- District, Galveston, Tex., Brigadier General J. M. Hawes commanding, for the month of July, 1864.

Present for duty.

Command. Office Men. Aggrega Aggrega

rs. te te

present present

. and

absent.

General headquarters 13 ... 13 13

1st Heavy 17 327 477 559

Artillery, Lieutenant

Colonel J. H. Manly

20th Regiment Infantry 21 512 631 929

(Texas) Major R. E. Bell

Timmon's Regiment, maj. O. 20 300 384 564

Nathusius

8th Regiment Texas 18 350 408 530

Infantry Major J. A.

Vernon

2nd Regiment Texas 13 270 359 466

Infantry, Captain T. S.

Douglass

Light Artillery, Captain 2 84 104 209

A. E. Dege

Cadet Company, Captain 3 32 35 40

W. Mc W. Williamson

2nd Texas Cavalry, 19 167 202 330

Captain W. A. Spencer

Total 126 2,042 2,613 3,640

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. TRANS- MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT, Numbers -
Shreveport, La., August 1, 1864.

Under instructions from the War Department, Lieutenant-General Taylor is directed to cross the Mississippi River with Walker's and Polignac's divisions and Thomas' brigade.

SOLDIERS:

Your President appeals to you. Your comrades east of the Mississippi River call to you for aid. Events are transpiring. A campaign is there progressing which is to decide the destiny of our country. It is to you to give success to that campaign and to restore peace to our beloved land. Your mission is a holy one. Your commander wishes he could accompany you. He parts with you with regret. He is confident that you will illustrate in the armies of Georgia and Tennessee the deeds which have made your names glorious in this department.

E. KIRBY SMITH,
General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST LOUISIANA,

Alexandria, August 1, 1864.

Brigadier General W. R. BOGGS,

Chief of Staff, Hdqrs. Department of the Trans- Mississippi:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the arrival at this point of Lieutenant-General Taylor, who desires me to request that the troops