HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
New Orleans, March 16, 1864.

Captain BRADSHAW,

Depot Quartermaster, Brashear:

CAPTAIN: Have steam-boat transportation ready to take the commanding general, staff, orderlies, servants, and horses from Brashear to New Iberia. The general will leave Algiers at 10 a. m. to-morrow, and steamers must be ready on arrival of the train at Brashear.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. P. STONE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Numbers 67.
New Orleans, March 16, 1864.

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6. Brigadier General T. W. Sherman, U. S. Volunteers, commanding Forts Jackson and Saint Philip, in addition to his present duties will relieve Brigadier General Richard Arnold, chief of artillery, Department of the Gulf, in command of the heavy artillery brigade.

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13. The Seventh Massachusetts Battery, now stationed in this city, will proceed without delay to Brashear City, reporting to Brigadier-General Grover, commanding Second Division, Nineteenth Army Corps. Quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.

14. Brigadier General Godfrey Weitzel having returned from special duty beyond the limits of this department, is temporarily assigned to duty in the city of New Orleans, and will report to Major General J. J. Reynolds, commanding defenses.

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By command of Major-General Banks:

RICHARD B. IRVIN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

PORT HUDSON, LA., March 16, 1864.

(Received 10.25 a. m.)

Brigadier-General STONE,

Chief of Staff:

Fleet of Admiral Porter passed mouth of Black River Monday at 10 a. m. Heavy firing heard same day from 3 p. m. until dark. General Steele is said to have left Little Rock ten days ago. Reported at or near Monroe. It is supposed that the fleet has passed Fort De Russy. My staff officer went as far as Black River. Had no pilot to go farther. The above is the best information to be obtained. Walker said to have 8,000 men at Fort De Russy. Taylor at Alexandria, where there are said to be no fortifications. Bragg said to be at Shreveport.

GEO. L. ANDREWS,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers.