SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. FOURTH DIV., 17TH ARMY CORPS, NO. 161.
Near Savannah, GA., December 19, 1864.

I. In order to comply with Special Orders, No. 311, headquarters Seventeenth Army Corps, Colonel B. F. Potts, commanding First Brigade, Fourth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, will remain at King's Brigade until relieved by one regiment from each corps of the army. Colonel Potts will leave one regiment, 350 strong, at the bridge to Colonel Beckwith, and when relieved will move the other regiments of his command to this place, as heretofore directed.

* * * * *

By order of Brigadier General Giles A. Smith:

CHAS. H. BRUSH,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. FIRST Brigadier, FOURTH DIV., 17TH ARMY CORPS,

King's Bridge, GA., December 19, 1864.

Captain C. CADLE, Jr.,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

CAPTAIN: The brigade of General Sprague was sent back by General Sherman in person to his old camp. I am not relived by him, nor any

other command, but was ready to move, having everything loaded, and Colonel Beckwith said he would arrest me if I obeyed General Blair's order, and I returned to camp, and will await further orders, or until I am relieved. General Sherman went down to the fleet, and took 150 men to transfer supplies from one vessel to the other. I have unloaded about 200,000 rations to-day at this point, and other vessels are in sight. If I leave here there will be no organization of guards left to guard the supplies.

I am, your friend and obedient servant,

B. F. POTTS,

Colonel, &c.

HDQRS. 17TH ARMY CORPS, DEPT. OF THE TENNESSEE,
Near Savannah, GA., December 19, 1864.

Colonel B. F. POTTS,

Commanding First Brigade, Fourth Division:

COLONEL: The major-General commanding instructs me to say to you that you will start at 4 o'clock this p. m. to the front to report to Brigadier General A. Smith. The honor is fixed at 4 so that you will have the cover of the night to cross your troops over the causeway.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. CADDLE, Jr.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Indorsement.]

KING'S BRIDGE, GA., December 19, 1864.

The major-General commanding the Military Division of the Mississippi was at King's Bridge this morning, and directed me to retain your command on its present duties, and communicated with the commander of the Army of the Right Wing in relation thereto. He further in per-