HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,

New Orleans, September 23, 1864.

Major General E. R. S. CANBY,

Commanding Mil. Div. of West Mississippi, New Orleans, La.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit to your consideration a statement of the information received at this office this 23rd day of September, 1864, from the following sources: The statement of R. J. Glover, deserter, Vicksburg, September 19, 1864; a report from Lieutenant peter Karberg, Goodrich's Landing, September 12, 1864. Walker's and Polignac's division arrived at Monroe, La., September 6, and were still there on the 11th. They numbered 7,000 infantry. There were two battalions of cavalry 600 strong on the Ouachita under Colonels Harrison and Waller. Three brigades of cavalry with eleven guns are reported to have passed through Monroe, La., on the march to Arkansas about the 1st instant. The troops at Monroe, La., were said to be on their way to Camden, Ark.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRANK W. MARSTON,

Major, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, Commanding.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER, DEPT. OF THE GULF,

New Orleans, September 23, 1864.

Major GEORGE B. DRAKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

MAJOR: I have the honor to report that the field-work at Donaldsonville is completed. Everything is finished and in good order and has been turned over to the commanding officer for preservation.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. C. HAINS,

Captain U. S. Engineers, Actg. Chief Engineer of the Dept.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Numbers 139.
New Orleans, September 23, 1864.

1. In obedience to Special Orders, Numbers 136, Military Division of West Mississippi, paragraph 6, dated September 22, 1864, the undersigned assumes command of the Department of the Gulf.

2. All general and special orders and assignments to duty, civil and military, in the department will remain in force until further orders.

3. The following officers are announced as the personal staff of the major-general commanding, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly: Major D. J. Benner, aide-de-camp; Captain Martin K. Cook, aide-de-camp; Captain James H. Wright, aide-de-camp.

S. A. HURLBUT,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers.