GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF VA. AND N. C.,
ARMY OF THE JAMES,

Numbers 422.
In the Field, December 29, 1864.

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3. Pursuant to instructions from the lieutenant-general commanding the Armies of the United States, Colonel G. S. Dodge, chief quartermaster, Army of the James, will forward and deliver to Judge R. Ould, agent of exchange, C. S. Army, at Boulware's Wharf, on the James River, at 10 a. m. Saturday, December 31, 1864, 1,000 army blankets consigned to Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchins, First New Hampshire Cavalry, for distribution to Federal prisoners of war confined at Richmond and vicinity.

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By command of Major-General Butler:

H. B. SCOTT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, December 29, 1864.

Major-General CANBY, New Orleans:

GENERAL: On the 19th of November last Major-General Granger was directed to receive from General Maury at Mobile 1,000 bales of cotton and ship them to the order of the Confederate General W. N. R. Beall and New York, sending an officer to accompany the cargo.

A copy of these instructions was at the same time mailed to you at New Orleans. Nothing has been heard of this shipment except that the authorities at Richmond say our officers in Mobile Harbor refuse to receive the cotton. This matter should be attended to at once.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

[First indorsement.]

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, January 9, 1865.

Respectfully referred to Colonel C. C. Dwight, agent of exchange, for remarks so far as he is acquainted with the circumstances attending the preparation for sending and receiving this cotton.

By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby:

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Second indorsement.]

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
OFFICE OF AGENT OF EXCHANGE,

New Orleans, January 10, 1865.

Respectfully returned.

I arrived in Mobile Bay, off the city of Mobile, on the 5th instant with rebel prisoners for exchange. A river steamer then lay aground on the west shore of the bay, about two miles below the city, which I was informed by officers of our fleet and by the rebel commissioner of exchange had aboard 1,000 bales of cotton to be shipped to New