on yesterday. Please state the number and names of the missing, whether or not everything possible under the circumstances was done for the preservation of life, and especially state your opinion, based upon the best information in your possession, as to what person or persons, if any, the responsibility for the disaster must attach.

Sympathizing whit you in the loss your regiment has sustained, I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. WILSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Matagorda Island, Tex., March 14, 1864.

Captain PATTERSON,

Commanding Pioneer Corps:

CAPTAIN: You will please immediately prepare boxes or coffins for 3 men of the Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteers drowned in McHenry Bayou yesterday and for any other bodies which may be recovered.

By command of Major-General Dana:

B. WILSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

NASHVILLE, TENN., March 14, 1864-8.30 p. m.

(Received 2.30 a. m., 15th.)

Honorable EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

Generals Curtis and Blunt desire a transfer of a portion of Steele's force and territory to the Department of Kansas. I think such a change decidedly unadvisable.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 14, 1864-10.30 p. m.

Major-General STEELE,

Little Rock, Ark.:

You command all troops found within the limits of your department when the order establishing it was received. You will arrest any officer within your department who interferes whit your authority in this respect.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

NASHVILLE, TENN., March 14, 1864-8 p. m.

(Received 1.30 a. m., 15th.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK:

I received dispatch from General Steele, at Louisville, identical with the one your received, and replied to it substantially the same.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.