GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSOURI, Numbers 17.
Saint Louis, Mo., May 13, 1865.

The following order of the War Department is published for the information and guidance of all officers in this military division:

GENERAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 85.
Washington, D. C., May 8, 1865.

Ordered, That all prisoners of war, except officers above the rank of colonel, who before the capture of Richmond signified their desire to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and their unwillingness to be exchanged, be forthwith released on their taking the said oath, and transportation furnished them to their respective homes. in respect to all other prisoners of war further orders will be issued. The Commissary-General of Prisoners will issue the necessary regulations for preserving the requisite record of the prisoners of war to be released under this order, the record to set forth the name of the prisoner, his place of residence, the organization to which he belonged, the time and place of capture, &c. The oaths of allegiance will be administered by the commanding officers of the prison camps and forts, who will send by telegraph daily reports of the prisoners released to the Commissary-General of Prisoners. These reports will be consolidated for each day and transmitted to the Secretary of War.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

By command of Major-General Pope:

JOS. McC. BELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, Numbers 115.
Little Rock, Ark., May 13, 1865.

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2. Brigadier General John Edwards, having reported to these headquarters in obedience to orders, is assigned to the command of the Second Brigade, Second Division, Seventh Army Corps, and the post of Pine Bluff, and will report accordingly without delay, relieving Brigadier General Powell Clayton.

3. Brigadier General Powell Clayton is relieved from duty at post of Pine Bluff, and is assigned to the command of the Cavalry Brigade, Seventh Army Corps, at Little Rock.

4. Brigadier General John M. Thayer is relieved from duty at the post of Saint Charles, and is assigned to command of the District of Eastern Arkansas, headquarters at Helena, Ark.

* * * * *

By command of Major General J. J. Reynolds:

JOHN LEVERING,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS,

Little Rock, May 13, 1865.

Brigadier General POWELL CLAYTON:

The following telegram is just received from Major-General Dodge at Saint Louis, dated the 12th, viz. *

Respectfully, &c.,

JOHN LEVERING,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

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* See Dodge to Reynolds, p. 417.

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