are likely to be high, and the bridges over some of them are of a slight and temporary character, and more or less dangerous to be used as a means of transit for so many valuable animals. If reliable and responsible parties would offer to deliver them at Fort Snelling for $ 8 per head, it would be better to contract with them, as the lowest estimate of the cost in the mode you suggest will be $ 6.50 each, and is likely to be more, with the risk of losing some of the horses separated. Captain Carling, chief quartermaster of the district, concurs with me in these opinions. I will, however, send down a detachment of cavalry in a day or two, to bring up such horses as may be ready at La Crosse. Please reply to this.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. H. SIBLEY,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

MILWAUKEE, WIS., March 31, 1864.

General SULLY,

(Care Chief Quartermaster, Saint Louis, Mo.):

There are four companies for you to go from here. Do you wish them all sent now, or only one? The views in your letter of 28th approved. Will write fully by mail. Answer about companies at once by telegraph.

JNO. POPE,

Major-General.

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

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate

present.

General 34 47 121

headquarters.

13th Army Corps

(McClernand):

Headquarters. 11 20 35

First Division 181 3,669 4,415

and attached

troops (Dana).

Second Division 139 3,008 3,878

and attached

troops (Herron).

Third Division 94 2,020 2,275

(Cameron).

Fourth Division 132 2,527 2,990

(Landram).

Total 13th Army 557 11,244 13,593

Corps.

19th Army Corps

(Franklin):

Headquarters. 10 --- 10

First Division 294 6,193 7,134

(Emory).

Second Division+ 146 3,700 4,477

(Grover).

Reserve Artillery 6 270 280

(Closson).

Total 19th Army 456 10,163 11,901

Corps.

Continuation:

Command. Aggregate Pieces of Headquarters.

present and artillery.

absent.

General 175 --- New Orleans

headquarters. and Read

River.

13th Army Corps

(McClernand):

Headquarters. 75 --- Pass Cavallo,

Tex.

First Division 6,943 27 Do.

and attached

troops (Dana).

Second Division 6,479 10 Brownsville

and attached and Brazos

troops (Herron). Santiago,

Tex.

Third Division 4,413 8 Red River,

(Cameron). La.

Fourth Division 5,971 10 Do.

(Landram).

Total 13th Army 23,881 55

Corps.

19th Army Corps

(Franklin):

Headquarters. 12 --- Red River,

La.

First Division 9,733 14 Do.

(Emory).

Second Division+ 5,950 18 Do.

(Grover).

Reserve Artillery 373 14 Do.

(Closson).

Total 19th Army 16,068 36

Corps.

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* For troops composing Red River expedition, see also Part I, p. 167.

+ The First Brigade is reported in Defenses of New Orleans.

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