HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Nashville, May 18, 1865.

Rear-Admiral S. P. LEE,

Mound City:

Govan's rebel brigade, a thousand strong, is to be sent to some point on Mississippi River. To prevent treachery, had not one or two gunboats better be sent with them? There will be three transports. If you think favorably of this, will you please answer, and send the gun boats as near this place as they can get. General thomas is absent.

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

MOUND CITY, May 18, 1865.

(Received 19th.)

Brigadier General WILLIAM D. WHIPPLE,

Chief of Staff:

Telegram received. Will immediately send two gun-bats as near Nashville as possible to convoy rebel brigade to point you may designate.

S. P. LEE,

Acting Rear-Admiral, Commanding Mississippi Squadron.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, May 18, 1865-1 p. m.

Major General J. H. WILSON,

Macon, Ga.:

The recommendation made in your telegram of the 16th in relation to the distribution of the reward for the reward for the arrest of Davis will be observed.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, City, May 18, 1865-1 p. m.

Major General J. H. WILSON,

Macon, Ga.:

General Thomas telegraphs to this Department that you have organized and equipped three regiments of negroes (refugees from Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia,) and applies for instructions. Your action in the matter is approved, and you are authorized to retain and muster them in as three-years' men.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

MACON, May 18, 1865-3 p. m.

General RAWLINS:

Telegram of 1 p. m. yesterday received. There will be great difficulty in navigating the Savannah and Ocmulgee from this time forward, for two reasons-scarcity of boats and shallowness of water-therefore forage at Port Royal will be hard to get at. The Chattahooche to