WASHINGTON, October 21, 1864.

Lieutenant-General GRANT,

City Point, Va.:

As it is manifest that no troops can at present be taken from General Sheridan's command, and as the vessels collected at Alexandria are wanted elsewhere, and involve enormous cost for demurrage, I have directed General Rucker to use them for other purposes. They can be collected again in week or ten days if required. Nothing satisfactory from Missouri. I can form no clear idea of the condition of affairs from reports received here. General Curtis seems to be fighting near Independence, but I hear nothing of Rosecrans, A. J. Smith's or Mower's divisions. No action yet as the change of commanders.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

CITY POINT, VA., October 21, 1864-6.30 p. m.

Major-General HALLECK,

Washington, D. C.:

I think it would be well to send Canby the orders you have prepared. If he was within telegraphic communication I would not have them sent until it was known Sherman had started.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF SIGNAL OFFICER, New Orleans, La., October 21, 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 21st day of October, 1864, from the following source, the statement of Alfred Langrin, Vicksburg, Miss., October 13, 1864: Colonel Harrison's command is reported to have returned from Arkansas to Oak Ridge, La. Colonel Harrison has ordered all the guerrillas from the adjoining country.

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

FRANK W. MARSTON,

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

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, Numbers 164.
New Orleans, La., October 21, 1864.

* * * *

6. Brigadier General W. A. Pile, U. S. Colored Troops, having reported at these headquarters in compliance with paragraph 3, Special Orders, Numbers 202, headquarters Department of the Missouri, will report to Major-General Hurlbut, commanding Department of the Gulf, for assignment to duty.

7. Brigadier General A. Shaler, U. S. Volunteers, having reported at these headquarters in compliance with paragraph 24, Special Orders, Numbers 274,