FORT LARAMIE, February 29, 1864.

Colonel J. M. CHIVINGTON:

Colonel Collins had the opportunity of arresting or notifying those parties previous to their leaving the agency. I notified the colonel that they were lawfully licensed traders and were going to start out; asked him if he had any orders to give them; said not. I notified the traders accordingly. The Indians are all quiet and well disposed toward the whites at the points where the traders were going, and need small quantities of ammunition for small game. The traders, under my advice, have taken but a small proportion of ammunition to the amount of goods they have. The traders' invoices filed at the Indian Department call for double the amount I allowed them to take out, I knowing nothing of Order Numbers 29. There not being any condemned provisions at the post, and not having any provisions of my own, the Indians must necessarily have some ammunition, or will soon be in suffering condition. I know of no other way of supplying their wants. Should you know, please make the suggestion. I respectfully ask the discharge of the parties.

JOHN LOREE,

U. S. Indian Agent.

Abstract from returns of the Department of the Gulf, Major General N. P. Banks, U. S. Army, commanding, for the month of February, 1864.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate

present.

General headquarters 39 138 207

Thirteenth Army

Corps (McClernand*):

Headquarters. 9

-----------

9

Troops in Texas

(Dana):

Headquarters. 9 3 12

First Division 177 3,736 4,421

(Warren).

Second Division 76 1,887 2,349

(Herron).

Texas Cavalry 30 713 862

Brigade (Davis).

Engineer troops 19 419 521

(Cobb).

Pioneer Corps 2 22 25

(Patterson).

Engineer troops 6 100 119

(Hamilton).

Engineer troops 70 1,300 1,611

(Hodge).

Fourth Division 161 2,898 3,460

(Ransom).

Total Thirteenth

Army Corps and 559 11,078 13,389

attached troops.

Nineteenth Army

Corps (Franklin):

Headquarters. 10

-----------

10

First Division 208 4,806 5,870

(Emory).

Total Nineteenth 218 4,806 5,880

Army Corps.+

CONTINUATION:

Aggregate Pieces of

Command. present and field Headquarters

absent. artillery.

General headquarters 360

-----------

New Orleans,

La.

Thirteenth Army

Corps (McClernand*):

Headquarters. 14

-----------

New Orleans,

La.

Troops in Texas

(Dana):

Headquarters. 12

-----------

Pass

Cavallo, Tex

First Division 5,916 6 Indianola,

(Warren). Tex.

Second Division 4,497 10 Brownsville,

(Herron). Tex.

Texas Cavalry 1,049

-----------

Do.

Brigade (Davis).

Engineer troops 531

-----------

Matagorda

(Cobb). Island, Tex.

Pioneer Corps 35

-----------

Do.

(Patterson).

Engineer troops 137

-----------

Brownsville,

(Hamilton). Tex.

Engineer troops 1,897

-----------

Brazos San-

(Hodge). tiago, Tex.

Fourth Division 6,460 6 Berwick, La.

(Ransom).

Total Thirteenth

Army Corps and 29,548 22

attached troops.

Nineteenth Army

Corps (Franklin):

Headquarters. 12

-----------

Franklin, La

First Division 7,514 12 Do.

(Emory).

Total Nineteenth 7,526 12

Army Corps.+

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*Major-General McClernand resumed command February 23. The Third Division transferred February 26-28, from Madisonville to Algiers, La., and reported in the Defenses of New Orleans, and the Fourth Division transferred February 24-28, from Decrow's Point, Tex., to Berwick, La.

+The Second Division (Grover's) reported in the Defenses of New Orleans and District of Baton Rouge, and the Third Division (Reynolds') reported in Defenses of New Orleans and Districts of West Florida and Key West and Tortugas.

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