HEADQUARTERS LA FOURCHE DISTRICT,
Thibodeaux, La., January 23, 1865.

Captain FREDERICK SPEED,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Defenses of New Orleans:

The couriers (Eleven in number) coming down from Plaquemine were attacked to-day. Colonel Fiske reports that three of them have come in. Their horses were so poor that the remainder were probably captured. I have ordered the system of couriers suspended by telegraph. Meanwhile the tri-monthly report from Plaquemine for the ten days ending January 20 has not yet been received. If your require it, I will make my report from the last previous tri-monthly. If so, shall I drop the Ninety-ninth U. S. Colored Infantry? I have had no official notice of their departure.

R. A. CAMERON,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding District.

Memorandum of additional guns required in accordance with proposed modifications for the places named.

OFFICE OF CHIEF ENGINEER, MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,

New Orleans, January 23, 1865.

MAJOR-GENERAL COMMANDING:

Fort Grant, Vicksburg, as modified, four rifled siege guns, twenty 8-inch siege howitzers, three siege mortars. Fort McPherson, Natchez, four 8-inch siege howitzers, one 10-inch siege mortar, three Cochorn mortars. Morganza, six heavy field howitzers. Port Hudson, one 8-inch siege mortar, three Coehorn mortars. Baton Rouge, none required.

Respectfully submitted.

M. D. McALESTER,

Captain of Engineers and Chief Engineer.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, La., January 23, 1865.

Major General S. A. HURLBUT,

Comdg. Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, La.:

SIR: I am instructed by the major-general commanding to request that you will cause a salute of 100 guns to be fired from the levee at noon to-morrow, the 24th instant, in honor of the fall of Fort Fisher, N. C., and the sublime heroism displayed by the army and navy in the capture of that key to the city of Wilmington, N. C., heretofore notorious as a blockade-running port of inestimable value to the rebels.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant,

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Numbers 23.
New Orleans, January 23, 1865.

1. Captain Daniel Webster, First Wisconsin Battery Light Artillery, is announced as acting chief of artillery at these headquarters, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

* * * * *

By command of Major-General Hurlbut:

C. S. SARGENT,

First Lieutenant, Second Louisiana Vols., and Actg. Asst. Adjt. General