[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Vicksburg, March 15, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to department headquarters.

This matter requires a thorough and searching investigation which cannot be had now, the Marine Brigade being absent on the Red River expedition.

JAS. B. McPHERSON,
Major-General.

FEBRUARY 16-MARCH 27, 1864.-Operations about Mobile, Ala.

Reports of Major General Dabney H. Maury, C. S. Army, commanding Department of the Gulf.*

MOBILE, ALA.,

February 16, 1864-2 p.m.

Eleven vessels, seven or eight of them mortar-boats, took position yesterday evening for attack on Grant's Pass; opened fire at 9 a.m. All shots fell short. Reported from Enterprise that no enemy is in that direction. Send me four 20-pounder Parrotts and four 30-pounder Parrotts, with 300 rounds for each gun. Send me also 200,000 pounds cannon powder for surplus projectiles, 10,000 pounds rifle powder, and 250,000 caps.

DABNEY H. MAURY,

Major-General, Commanding.

General S. COOPER.

MOBILE, February 23, 1864.

Enemy opened on Fort Powell this morning.

D. H. MAURY,

Major-General.

Lieutenant-General POLK.

MOBILE, February 25, 1864.

Visited Fort Powell yesterday with General Gilmer. Six mortar-boats, four gun-boats, lie off about 2 miles and shell it. Three hundred and seventy-three shots were thrown at the fort during the day, three of which struck the bomb-proof, and two struck the parapets.

No damage; no casualties; firing resumed this morning.

D. H. MAURY,

Major-General.

General S. COOPER.

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*See also Sherman's report of the Meridian expedition, p.173. For reports of Union naval operations, see pp.389,390, Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, December 5, 1864.

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26 R R-VOL XXXII, PT I