You are directed to move forward to a distance that will leave in your rear some forage that can be got by trains from here. He directs that such forage be not used by your command, but preserved to be collected by the trains. He also desires you to move in such manner as will prevent from destruction any forage that is in the line of your advance. Please report as you advance as frequently as convent of your progress.

I am, general, &c.,

W. DWIGHT,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Alexandria, La., May 5, 1864.

Brigadier-General DWIGHT,

Chief of Staff, Department of the Gulf:

GENERAL: Your dispatch of to-night, respecting forage and the measures necessary to be taken to obtain it, is received, and will be made the basis of appropriate orders in that behalf. It is proper to state that as a considerable portion of the detachment under General Lawler's command is not yet returned it may be impossible to put him and the command I design to assign to him in motion so early as daylight in the morning. It will be done, however, rest assured, at the earliest practicable moment. But allow me, general, to urge the importance of your ordering a good regiment of cavalry to report to General Lawler without delay as an important auxiliary in the business with which he is to be charged.

I am, very respectfully,

JOHN A. McCLERNAND,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Alexandria, La., May 5, 1864.

General LAWLER:

GENERAL: I inclose herewith an authenticated copy of a dispatch* just received at these headquarters from headquarters of the Department of the Gulf. The dispatch seems to contemplate two things, among others: First, that you with your command immediately take such a position as may be proper for the purpose of covering forage in our front; second, that all of my command shall move forward far enough to leave some forage in our rear that may be got by trains from Alexandria independently of our own.

Other objects contemplated in the second, third, and fourth paragraphs of the dispatch will be understood and observed without further comment.

The exigency prompting the dispatch is briefly but forcibly expressed in the postscript to the same by General Dwight. You will take with you General Cameron's division, and Colonel Landram with his division will follows so soon as you have taken position, and

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*See Dwight to McClernand, May 5, p.455.

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