purchasing commissary for any State (the WEST side the Mississippi River would be preferred), that you assign me to that duty.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THEO. Johnston,

Major, &c.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS, Numbers 148. Morton, MISS., August 6, 1863.

* * * * * * *

III. The brigade of Brigadier-General Maxey, attached to Major-General French's DIVISION, will proceed immediately to Enterprise, MISS.

IV. The brigade of Brigadier-General McNair, attached to Major-General French's DIVISION, will proceed immediately to Meridian, MISS.

V. The Macbeth Artillery, attached to Brigadier-General Evans' brigade, Major-General French's DIVISION, will proceed immediately to Mobile, Ala.

By command of General Johnston:

BENJ. S. EWELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

MORTON, August 7, 1863.

General S. COOPER, Richmond:

Special Orders, Numbers 176, just received, do not give the line between General Bragg's command and mine. Please define it.

J. E. Johnston.

MORTON, August 7, 1863.

General COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector GENERAL:

Reports from scouts on Mississippi River, forwarded by Captain Henderson, state that on 3rd nine transports with troops passed up near Friar's Point, making, since 30th ultimo, seventeen boats with troops which passed up; five others passed up at night.

Generals Prentiss, Ross, and Steele at Helena, concentrating troops to attack Little Rock.

Thirty transports and gunboats at mouth of Red River. Twelve transports down river since 30th ultimo.

J. E. Johnston.

RICHMOND, August 7, 1863

General STEPHEN D. LEE, Columbia, S. C.:

You are promoted and exchanged, and assigned to command of all the cavalry in Mississippi, and ordered to report to General J. E. Johnston.

S. COOPER.

GAINESVILLE, ALA., August 8, 1863

General S. COOPER, Richmond, Va.,:

Troops of Trans-Mississippi Department had abandoned army before permission was obtained to furlough them. They are ordered to rendez-