will be sent to Baton Rouge than enough to supply the place of those take away and to defend the place. You will retain the escort company of the Thirteenth Army Corps at Baton Rouge. Such officers of the staff as you do not need may report here at headquarters Thirteenth Army Corps.

W. DWIGHT,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, No. 138. New Orleans, La., May 27, 1864.

* * * * * * *

13. The cavalry remaining with General Arnold will proceed to Gretna instead of to Donaldsonville, as previously ordered.

* * * * * * *

By command of Major-General Banks:

GEO. B. DRAKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

PORT HUDSON, May 27, 1864.

Brigadier-General DWIGHT,

Chief of Staff, New Orleans:

There is a movement of troops on the right bank of the river this morning. Reported to be two brigades of cavalry and a battery marching to Donaldsonville.

DANIEL ULLMANN,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, May 27, 1864.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for your information a statement in regard to the condition and designs of the rebels in Texas, taken from a communication made to our vice-consul-general at Havana by a recusant blockade-runner. From the circumstances of the case, as narrated by Mr. Savage, the Department is inclined to think it worthy of attention. The informer was in a position to know the facts, and no good reason appears to discredit his recital of them.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

[Indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, May 31, 1864.

Respectfully referred to Major-General Canby, commanding Military Division of West Mississippi, for his information.

By order of the Secretary of War:

LOUIS H. PELOUZE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.