summarily dealt with. If you succeed in apprehending any deserters you will assemble a military commission and deal with them as they deserve. The citizens must and shall be protected in the possession of their property. We are moving down toward Clarendon. Nothing of interest has as yet transpired.

Very respectfully,

W. J. McARTHUR,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 145. Richmond, June 23, 1864.

* * * * *

XXV. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Jack, assistant adjutant-general, is relieved from duty with the command of the late Lieutenant-General Polk, and will proceed to the Trans-Mississippi Department and report to General E. Kirby Smith, commanding, &c., for assignment.

* * * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

SAML. W. MELTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT, Numbers 49. Shreveport, La., June 23, 1864.

I. Lieutenant Colonel L. W. O'Bannon, chief of quartermaster bureau, is relieved from his duties as chief quartermaster of the department.

II. Captain John E. Garey, assistant quartermaster, is announced as chief quartermaster of the department.

By command of General E. Kirby Smith:

S. S. ANDERSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT,
Shreveport, June 23, 1864.

Major General J. G. WALKER,

Commanding, &c., Alexandria, La.:

GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you send orders to Brigadier-General Steele to rejoin your command without delay. An effort will be made to intercept him, but to insure his return the course indicated had better be adopted.

I am, general, very respectfully your obedient servant,

P. H. THOMPSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SHREVEPORT, June 23, 1864.

General E. KIRBY SMITH:

General Steele marched on 19th. Orders have been sent to General Walker. They would meet General Steele if sent by way of Burr's Ferry from Houston.

W. R. BOGGS,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.