such precautionary measures as may be necessary to insure public health. The attention of the commission is specially directed to the subject of intramural burials, drainage, quarantine regulations, tenements of the poor, and any all other prolific or proximate causes of disease or contagion.

Dr. J. V. C. Smith, Dr. C. Faget, and Dr. Daniel C. Holiday will constitute this commission. A liberal compensation will be made fire their services, and a prompt attention to their requested. The provost-marshal-general is authorized and directed to furnish the commission quarters and such assistance as may be by them required. The reports of the commission will be presented to the medical director of the department.

By command of Major-General Banks:

RICHARD B. IRWIN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

BATON ROUGE, LA., March 11, 1864.

(Received 9.30 a.m.)

Brigadier-General STONE:

Yesterday's scouting party of the Fourth Wisconsin, under Lieutenant Meadhurst, had a skirmish near the Amite with a party of rebels, killing 1 and capturing 2. No loss on our side. Nothing else to communicate.

P. ST. GEO. COOKE,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

PORT HUDSON, LA., March 11, 1864-10 a.m.

Brigadier-General STONE, Chief of Staff:

The cavalry under Colonel Fonda returned to this post yesterday. Saw no enemy. Refugees report a strong raft at Fort De Russy. Say that the enemy have about 2,000 infantry in that vicinity.

GEO. L. ANDREWS,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
New Orleans, March 11, 1864.

Major General W. B. FRANKLIN,

Franklin, La.:

GENERAL: Please inform me in regard to the condition of the roads above you and when they will probably be in good order.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. P. STONE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

FRANKLIN, LA., March 11, 1864-9 p.m.

Brigadier-General STONE, Chief of Staff:

Since receiving your dispatch about roads I have been out 4 or 5 miles. Where the road is high it is good, where it is not it is very bad. Two days will make it excellent everywhere.

W. B. FRANKLIN,

Major-General, Commanding.

36 R R-VOL XXXIV, PT II