to the north of Red River and take posts at such place as General Franklin may designate. A battery of artillery will be ordered to report to General Bridge if necessary.

7. Until further orders the Ninety-seventh and Ninety-ninth Regiments of U. S. Infantry (colored) will be under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, chief engineer, Nineteenth Army Corps, and will afford him every assistance in building a dam over Red River.

* * * * *

20. Until further orders the District of West Florida and the District of Key west and Tortugas will report to Major General J. J. Reynolds commanding Defenses of New Orleans.

By command of Major-General Banks:

GEO. B. DRAKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Alexandria, La., April 29, 1864.

Mj. GEORGE B. DRAKE,

Asst. Adjt. General, Department of the Gulf:

COLONEL: I am just returned from our line of vedettes posted on the Natchitoches road. The line is the same occupied by my infantry yesterday. A hostile picket occupies a corresponding line about 400 yards in advance. Both lines are covered by rose hedges. My orderly was struck by a fragment of a shot, but not hurt.

Your obedient servant,

J. A. McCLERNAND,

Major-General, Comdg, Thirteenth Army Corps.

HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Alexandria, La., April 29, 1864.

Brigadier-General DWIGHT,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that my command occupies the line indicated in your Orders, Numbers 29, extract 9, of last night, and is partially entrenched. I would like to have an additional light rifled battery sent me, to command the Opelousas road. If the heavy battery is sent up on the Bayou Rapides road near the sugarhouse, however, as you proposed last night, I could use my light battery now stationed there. Mean time the light battery asked for above is desired for the purpose of commanding the Opelosas road.

Very respectfully,

JOHN A. McCLERNAND,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Alexandria, April 29, 1864.

Major General JOHN A. McCLERNAND,

Commanding Thirteenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: In reply to your communication of this date, I am directed by the commanding general to inform you that the heavy battery has been ordered to the position decided on last night, and