[Third indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Morganza, September 3, 1864.

Respectfully returned to Brigadier-General Dennis, with the information that Colonel Sheldon's command will be subject to his orders on the passage to mouth of White River, and until the commanding officer of Third Division shall arrive at that point.

By order of Brigadier-General Lawler:

B. WILSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS LA FOURCHE DISTRICT,
Thibodeaux, La., September 3, 1864.

Captain WASHBURNE, U. S. Navy,

Brashear City, La.:

A party of some 300 rebels attacked a scouting party near Napoleonville on the night of the 1st, capturing 20 men. They were driven yesterday across Bayou Natchez and are undoubtedly returning to Franklin, from whence they are said to come via Bayou Pigeon in pirogues. Will you send a gun-boat up in Grand Lake to see if it is possible to catch any of them? I think they will cross Grand Lake to-night or tomorrow night.

Yours,

R. A. CAMERON,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding District.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, La., September 3, 1864.

Major General F. STEELE,

Little Rock, Ark.:

Your dispatch of the 26th ultimo is received.* Six thousand men are now on the way to you. This will be increased to 12,000 at once and to 20,000, if necessary. If Price crosses the Arkansas to invade Missouri he must be pursued. Every post not essential to your communication with the Mississippi should be abandoned. Major-General Reynolds will command the troops sent to you.

E. R. S. CANBY,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF LITTLE ROCK,
Little Rock, Ark., September 3, 1864.

Brigadier General CYRUS BUSSEY,

Commanding First Division, Seventh Army Corps:

GENERAL: I am directed by the brigadier-general commanding to call your attention to the picket stations west of Little Rock and request that they be changed in these particulars: First. The cavalry picket on the mountain road to Fort Smith is not sufficiently far out. It should be moved west and stationed at the fork of the roads in the hollow, 400 or 500 yards beyond its present position. Second. The infantry picket on the same road to be drawn in and placed on the stony spur over the

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* See Part I, p. 280.

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