never had any faith in the Arkansas River as a means of transportation. If it should be necessary to resort to land transportation Fort Smith had far better be abandoned. I will determine this question so soon as the necessary reports have been received.

E. R. S. CANBY,

Major-General.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, La., November 16, 1864.

Major General N. J. T. DANA,

Commanding 16th Army Corps, Vicksburg, Miss., or Memphis, Tenn.:

As General Howard is soon expected at Memphis, it is not necessary for me to give any special instructions in regard to the defense of that post, except to suggest that in case of an attack by a large force, all the troops, supplies, &c., be concentrated at Fort Pickering, and any other strong points that it may be necessary to hold, without wasting any men or material for the special defense of the city.

E. R. S. CANBY,

Major-General, Commanding.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 400.
Washington, November 16, 1864.

* * * * * *

10. By direction of the President, Major General J. J. Reynolds, U. S. Volunteers, is assigned to the command of the Military Division of West Mississippi, during the disability of Major-General Canby, to exercise command.

* * * * * *

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

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

New Orleans, La., November 16, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Asst. Adjt. General, Mil. Div. of West Miss., New Orleans, La.:

SIR: I have the honor to submit to your consideration a statement of the information received at this office this 16th day of November, 1864, from the following source, the statement of Thomas F. Chapman, scout, New Orleans, La., November 16:

Mr. Chapman, who was detained in arrest at Alexandria fifty-seven days, left that place on the 1st instant. Brigadier-General Thomas commanded six or seven regiments of infantry at and near Alexandria. General Bagby's headquarters were four miles this side of Alexandria. Colonel A. W. Terrell's brigade was encamped eighteen miles from Alexandria, on the road from that place to Cheneyville. It was reported that Colonel Terrell was ordered to Black or White River, La. On his retreat from the Atchafalaya, September 20, Colonel Terrell destroyed $1,000,000 worth of public property, including a pontoon bridge. The