JEFFERSON CITY, MO., October 18, 1864--3 p. m.

Brigadier General THOMAS EWING, Jr.,

Saint Louis, Mo.:

Let the sore-headed exempts go home two days after the receipt of this order. The Enrolled Missouri Militia will be enough to hold Franklin County. Give Colonel Gale the order.

JOHN V. DU BOIS,

Colonel and Chief of Staff.

JEFFERSON CITY, October 18, 1864--7.35 p. m.

Brigadier General T. EWING, Jr., Saint Louis:

The commanding general directs me to say that your dispatch is received and your dispositions appear to be good.

FRANK S. BOND,

Major and Aide-de-Camp.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT, Numbers 219.
Saint Louis, Mo., October 18, 1864.

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6. The Sixty-first Illinois Veteran Volunteers, Colonel Grass commanding, will march at once to the depot of the North Missouri Railroad and embark on train for Mexico, Mo., and on arrival at that post the commanding officer will report to Colonel Holmes, commanding. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.

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8. Pursuant to instructions from the major-general commanding the department, Colonel Samuel A. Holmes, Fortieth Missouri Infantry, will proceed to Mexico or Allen, or such other point on the North Missouri Railroad as he may elect, and with such force as may be turned over to him by General Douglass, at Mexico, or Colonel Forbes, at Macon, will pursue and endeavor to rout the enemy. Colonel Holmes will leave in store at Mexico all camp and garrison equipage belonging to his command, taking only a supply of ammunition and the knapsacks of the men. He will subsist his command from rebels, giving receipts for such subsistence stores, reporting duplicate receipts thereof to Colonel T. J. Haines, chief commissary, Department of the Missouri. All other private property will be undisturbed. On the arrival of Brigadier-General Fisk Colonel Holmes will obey his orders.

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By command of Brigadier-General Ewing:

H. HANNAHS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT,

Saint Louis, Mo., October 18, 1864.

Major H. H. WILLIAMS, Pilot Knob:

General Curtis' advance is at Independence and Pleasant Hill again. Kansas City is being rapidly fortified. The present prospect is that Price will get out by about the same route Shelby took last fall. Telegraph me if you wish to go to Kansas.

THOS. EWING, JR.,

Brigadier-General.