turn your division back and move it by easy marches to the vicinity of Camden, and there rest your command, using every possible exertion to fill up your ranks, calling in all your absentees, and making your force as strong and effective as possible preparatory to a movement in the direction of Missouri.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. S. WEST,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT,
Shreveport, La., May 16, 1864.

Major General M. M. PARSONS,

Commanding Division:

GENERAL: The general commanding directs me to inform you that the enemy have evacuated Alexandria. You will therefore turn your division back and move it by easy marches to the vicinity of Camden, and there rest your command, using every possible exertion to fill up your ranks by calling in all your absentees, and making your force as strong and effective as possible preparatory to a movement in the direction of Missouri.

If your wagons have not yet joined you ascertain where they are and order them to you.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. S. WEST,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT,
Shreveport, La., May 16, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel W. J. HUTCHINS,

Chief Texas Cotton Office:

COLONEL: Your letter of April 13, concerning the supply of powder, has been submitted to the general commanding. He desires me to say that the department requires for immediate use 6,000,000 musket caps, 60,000 pounds of musket powder, and 50,000 pounds of cannon powder, and that ten times this amount will be required for the year's supply. Major Rhett, chief of ordnance reports only 928,482 musket caps, 10,425 pounds musket powder, 17,489 pounds cannon powder. Major Rhett also reports that he has on hand only 70,000 pounds of lead, with a weekly consumption of 25,000 pounds. Two hundred thousand pounds of lead are required for immediate use. The following amounts, after deducting that on hand (viz, 5,071,518 musket caps, 59,575 pounds musket powder, 32,511 pounds cannon powder, and 130,000 pounds of lead), are needed immediately, and the general commanding desires that you will use every exertion to procure and send them forward with all possible dispatch.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. R. BOOGS,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.