[First indorsement.]

Referred to Adjutant-General for report.

By order of the Secretary of War:

P. H. WATSON,

Assistant Secretary of War.

[Second indorsement.]

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

May 12, 1862.

Respectfully returned to Honorable Secretary of War. Orders have been sent to these commanders to respect the authority of the Governor.

L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure.]

HDQRS. EXCELSIOR BRIGADE, U. S. VOLUNTEERS, HOOKER'S SECOND DIVISION,
Camp Stanton, March 17, 1862.

Colonel NELSON TAYLOR,

Commanding Third Regiment, Excelsior Brigade, U. S. Vols.,

Hooker's Second Division:

COLONEL: In reply to your communication of the 15th instant, I have the honor to inform you that a package addressed to the commanding officer of the Seventy-second Regiment New York State. Volunteers reached Camp Bradford in December last through some channel unknown to me.

There being no such regiment in his command, and the parcel having lain about some time unclaimed, the contents of this and several others of similar appearance but otherwise addressed to persons officially unknown, by direction of the general commanding the brigade, were used us waste paper.

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

J. L. PALMETR, JR.,

Aide-de-Camp and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

[MARCH 28, 1862.-For Stanton to Ellet, relating to the construction of ran fleet, &c., see Series I, Vol. X, Part Ii, p. 76.]

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Des Moines, Iowa, March 29, 1862.

General L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that the Fifteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, 1,000 strong, left Keokuk, in this State, for U. S. service at Saint Louis, March 19, instant. The Sixteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry left Davenport, in this State, for U. S. service at Saint Louis, March 20, instant. The Seventeenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry is now rapidly filling up at Keokuk.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

N. B. BAKER,

Adjutant-General of Iowa.