HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, New Orleans, February 28, 1864.

Brigadier General T. E. G. RANSOM,
Commanding Fourth Div., Thirteenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: Report by telegraph your presence, number, and condition to Major General W. B. Franklin, commanding troops in Western Louisiana, at Franklin, and receive his orders.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. P. STONE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Matagorda Island, February 28, 1864.

Brigadier General C. P. STONE,
Chief of Staff, Department of the Gulf:

This command being now reduced to less than a division, although composed of several detachments, and the troops now here being mostly for fatigue and garrison duty and to hold this island, and there being now present with them two competent general officers, besides myself, viz, Generals Warren and Lawler, and as Major-General Washburn, the permanent commander of the First Division, which composes the greater part of this command, is daily expected, according to private letters received here from him, and also General Benton, who also belongs to this command, being soon due, I desire, as I cannot be of much further use here, to ask to be relieved from duty in the Thirteenth Corps and ordered to report at the headquarters of the department. It is my wish, on reporting at the headquarters of the department, to ask for orders to report elsewhere for duty, to take an active command, preferably farther to the north.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully,

N. J. T. DANA,

Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES IN TEXAS, Numbers 39.
Pass Cavallo, Tex., February 28, 1864.

* * * * * *

4. Brigadier General M. K. Lawler, having reported for duty at these headquarters, will report to Brigadier-General Warren, commanding First Division.

By order of Major General N. J. T. Dana:

HUGH G. BROWN,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, Numbers 43.
Indianola, Tex., February 28, 1864.

I. The Eighteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Colonel H. D. Washburn commanding, will be held in readiness to move, with all their camp and garrison equipage complete, at six hours' notice.