WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, April 16, 1865.

General GORDON, Norfolk:

The President directs that the confiscation sales be postponed indefinitely until the organization of the Freedman's Bureau. You will order accordingly and see that it is done.

EDWIN M. STATION,

Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF EASTERN VIRGINIA, Norfolk, Va., April 16, 1865.

Major-General ORD,
Commanding Department of Virginia, Richmond, Va.:

Permit me respectfully to suggest that the Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry Regiment be ordered here to relieve the Second U. S. Regiment, now under marching orders. The colonel of the Thirty-ninth is brevetted and commands a brigade, and the lieutenant-colonel is now on duty here as provost-marshal. I have every reasoned to believe the regiment is the class of troops required here.

GEO. H. GORDON,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 16, 1865.

Rear-Admiral PORTER, or

THE SENIOR NAVAL OFFICER AT HAMPTON ROADS:

To prevent the escape of the assassins who killed the President and attempted the life of the Secretary of State, search every vessel that arrives down the bay. Permit no vessel to go to sea without such search, and arrest and send to Washington any suspicious persons.

GIDEON WELLES,

Secretary of Navy.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 16, 1865.

Major-General HANCOCK, Winchester:

In holding an interview with Mosby it may be needless to caution an old soldier like you to guard against surprise or danger to yourself; but the recent murders show such astounding wickedness that too much precaution cannot be taken. If Mosby is sincere he might do much toward detecting and apprehending the murderers fo the President.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

WINCHESTER, VA., April 16, 1865. (Received 4.30 p. m.)

Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff:

I have this day received a communication form Colonel Mosby, and have had an interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman, of his com-