be sent without his approval. An officer will be sent up to-night to take charge of the expedition. The greatest secrecy alone will insure the success of the expedition.

FRANK S. BOND,

Major and Aide-de-Camp.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, May 3, 1864.

Messrs. HILL, FINCH, AND PARKER,

Committee of Machinists and Blacksmiths:

GENTLEMEN: Having informed me of the promptitude and willingness with which the members of your association yield to the public necessity, forbidding further contest with the proprietors of shops having Government contracts, &c., you desire to know if I think the public interests would be injured by your going elsewhere for work. I think an amicable and friendly understanding between yourselves and the capitalists, in which they would give you satisfactory assurance of their intention to deal with you and treat you in the spirit of justice and liberality, would be best for all parties and for the public interests.

I should therefore feel obliged, as a public servant, and out of regard for the just interests of this city and of all concerned, that you should take this course, and go to work as usual, and I should be very much disappointed if pursuing this course you are not met in a corresponding spirit by your former employer.

W. S. ROSECRANS,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT,
Saint Louis, May 3, 1864

COMMANDING OFFICER,

New Madrid:

Send one company of the Second Missouri Artillery to Cape Girardeau.

By order of Brigadier-General Ewing:

H. HANNAHS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT,
Saint Louis, May 3, 1864.

Colonel J. B. ROGERS,

Cape Girardeau:

The company of Second Missouri Artillery will not go to Bloomfield. If it has started order it back. It will soon be ordered here.

By order of Brigadier General Thomas Ewing, jr.:

H. HANNAHS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.