HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Grand Ecore, April 6, 1864.

Brigadier General A. J. SMITH,

Commanding Detach. Sixteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding desires that you select from your fleet of transports those of lightest draught of water and most suitable for the navigation of the upper Red River, and make use of them for the transportation of the division intended to accompany the light gun-boats to Shreveport. If in your judgment all your transports can navigate those waters, your will direct them all to accompany the river division. If, on the other hand, there should be any which in your opinion cannot safely navigate the upper portion of the river, you will please order them to repair to Alexandria, below the rapids, while there is yet sufficient water on them for their safe passage, ordering them to remain at Alexandria until further orders from you or (in case of a rise in the river) of the commander of the division sent by the river. You will please instruct the commander of the river division to order those boats up to him from Alexandria, in case there should be a safe rise in the river after your departure.

Very respectfully, I am, general, your obedient servant,

CHAS. P. STONE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Grand Ecore, April 6, 1864.

Brigadier General A. J. SMITH,

Commanding Detach. Sixteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps:

The major-general commanding desires that you send a regiment of infantry at once to bivouac and throw out pickets right and left at a point on the Natchitoches road about a mile beyond these headquarters.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. DRAKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Grand Ecore, April 6, 1864.

Brigadier General A. J. SMITH,

Commanding Detach. Sixteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps"

GENERAL: The Luminary will not leave until to-morrow morning. There is no objection to your sending down one of your boats with your sick. She should have a guard on board to punish any guerrillas who may appear. The Black Hawk was fired into yesterday while going down.

Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant,

CHAS. P. STONE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Grand Ecore, La., April 6, 1864.

Captain WORMS, Assistant Quartermaster:

CAPTAIN: Upon having finished insuring stores to General Smith's command, your will move up the river with the transport fleet and