At this time it is believed that the Twelfth and Thirteenth Regiments of Cavalry (on the plains) and the Fifteenth Regiment of Infantry (in Texas) cannot be relieved.

The attention of Major-General Thomas, commanding Military Division of the Tennessee, has been invited to your request relative to the Eleventh, Twenty-first, and Forty-ninth Regiments of Infantry, now serving in the Department of Alabama.

On the 11th instant General Thomas was ordered to reduce the aggregate force of white troops in the Departments of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia to 7,000 men, and it is very likely that the musters out of the Eleventh, Twenty-first, and Forty-ninth Regiments will fall under that order.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOMAS M. VINCENT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

CIRCULAR WAR DEPT., ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 55.
Washington, December 22, 1865.

REGULATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MUSTERS OUT OF OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE FIRST ARMY CORPS.

I. Muster out of enlisted men.

TELEGRAM.] WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, December 9, 1865.

Major General W. H. HANCOCK,

Commanding Middle Department, Baltimore, Md.:

Until further orders the men of the First Army Corps will be mustered out as their terms of service expire, which is determined by the muster-in roll, and furnished discharges in the usual manner by the commissary of musters.

SAMUEL BRECK,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

II. Transportation of enlisted men.

TELEGRAM.] WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, December 14, 1865.

Major General W. S. HANCOCK, U. S. Volunteers,

Commanding First Army Corps, Baltimore, Md.:

Members of the First Army Corps, on being discharged on account of expiration of term, will not receive transportation allowances from the Pay Department, but will be furnished with transportation in kind by the Quartermaster's Department to the station of the district provost-marshal who furnished transportation to Washington, or a designated State rendezvous, under the regulations promulgated in Circular Numbers 86, series of 1864, from this office.

In all cases quartermasters furnishing transportation will note the fact on the discharge papers of the soldier.

By order of the Secretary of War:

THOMAS M. VINCENT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, December 16, 1865.

Major General W. S. HANCOCK,

Commanding First Army Corps, Baltimore, Md.:

GENERAL: Referring to the telegraphic instructions from this office of the 14th instant, relative to transportation of men of the First Corps after their muster out of service, I am directed to inform you that the evidence as to the 'station of the district provost-marshal" will be the certificate of the company commander, countersigned by the mustering officer charged with the musters out.

The said certificate, when presented to the quartermaster furnishing transportation, will determine the point to which the soldier is entitled to be transported.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOMAS M. VINCENT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.