HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Alexandria, May 9, 1864.

Rear-Admiral D. D. PORTER,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron:

ADMIRAL: Your note asking for teams to continue at work bringing down ammunition during the night has been received. The teams have been ordered as you desire.

I am, admiral, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

N. P. BANKS,

Major-General, Commanding.

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG-SHIP CRICKET, Off Alexandria, La., May 9, 1864.

Major General N. P. BANKS,

Commanding Department of the Gulf:

GENERAL: I have given orders to the commanders of all the boats above to get their guns and all extra weight off of them without delay. Will you oblige me by ordering either sling carts or heavy siege carriages to transport the guns down here, and also some wagons for the ammunition and other heavy weight. The boats above the falls will be ready for the carts about 1 o'clock.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

DAVID D. PORTER,

Rear-Admiral.

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG-SHIP CRICKET, Off Alexandria, La., May 9, 1864.

The gun-boats and transports will proceed in the following order in going down the river:

The Groesbeck will attend the U. S.steamer Fort Hindman; W. L. Ewing, Ozark; Southwester, Mound City; Emerald, Carondelet; Clara Bell, Pittsburg; Des Moines, Chillicothe; Chouteau, Osage; Mars, Neosho; Sioux City, Louisville; Thomas E. Tutt, Lexington. These steamers will drop in after the gun-boats which they are to attend, and keep their position.

The transports Starlight, Lioness, Red Chief, Belle Creole, Rob Roy, Belladonna, Mittie Stevens, Arizona, Gillum, Silver Wave, Adriatic, Diadem, and Liberty will take the middle of the convoy. If attacked ahead, they will drop back and let the stern gun-boats pass on to the batteries.

DAVID D. PORTER,

Rear-Admiral.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Alexandria, May 9, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel W. S. ABERT,

Assistant Inspector-General:

COLONEL: It has come to the knowledge of the commanding general that much private freight of various character has been brought to this landing by army wagons and placed upon Government transports to be carried down the river. You are hereby ordered and