SPECIAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 132.
Washington, March 18, 1865.

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59. Major General N. P. Banks, U. S. Volunteers, will repair to New Orleans and resume command of the Department of the Gulf.

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By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, Numbers 77.
New Orleans, La., March 18, 1865.

1. Colonel Charles C. Dwight, One hundred and sixtieth Regiment New York Volunteers, is relieved from duty as agent for exchange of prisoners of war for this military Division. He will turn over all the books and papers of his office to Captain William H. Sterling, First U. S. Infantry, who is hereby appointed agent for exchange of prisoners in addition to his former duties. After which Colonel Dwight will proceed without delay to Washington, D. C., in compliance with orders lately received by him from the Secretary of War.

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By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby:

C. H. DYER,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

U. S. STEAMER CHOCTAW,

Bayou Sara, March 18, 1865.

Colonel SHAW,

Commanding at Plaquemine:

SIR: Captain Ratliff, commanding rebel forces east of Atchafalaya, has informed me that there is a party of forty men (more or less), most of them probably deserters from the rebel army, who are engaged in jayhawking through the country, and that he has it from good authority that they are rationed in Plaquemine. I forward the statement to You, as You may deem the matter worthy of investigation.

Very respectfully,

JOHN J. CORNWELL,

Lieutenant Commander, Commanding Second Div., Mississippi Squadron.

[First indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Plaquemine, La., March 20, 1865.

Respectfully forwarded to headquarters Southern Division of Louisiana through General Cameron, commanding District of La Rourche.

J. H. SYPHER,

Colonel Eleventh Regiment U. S. Colored Heavy Arty., Commanding Post.

[Second indorsement.]

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

Respectfully forwarded.

I am satisfied that this party complained of are the Burgess Scouts, stationed at Plaquemine. Verbal complaints of their robberies have