Landing (our depot for supplies) to a point on that road where it connects with the Bayou Sara road, and about 1 mile from Placion Church, near Barnes' Cross-Roads. Communications from the telegraph station near the Cross-Roads were conveyed to their destinations by orderlies detailed for that purpose by General Augur. The line was in good working order until June 5, when I was directed by the chief signal officer to turn my wire over to Captain Bulkley, of the United States Military Telegraph, for temporary use, and the same to be worked by his instruments. Up to the time of writing, the wire remains in his possession.

I inclose copies of a few messages only, as it would require too much space and time to give you complete files of all transmitted. The following shows the operations for each day so long as the wire was worked by my instruments:

May 23:

Number of messages ....................................... 10

Number of words .......................................... 370

Average number of words .................................. 37

May 24:

Number of messages ....................................... 14

Number of words .......................................... 461

Average number of words .................................. 33

May 25:

Number of messages ....................................... 18

Number of words .......................................... 580

Average number of words .................................. 32

May 26:

Number of messages ....................................... 6

Number of words .......................................... 136

Average number of words .................................. 22

May 27:

Number of messages ....................................... 12

Number of words .......................................... 421

Average number of words .................................. 35

May 28:

Number of messages ....................................... 20

Number of words .......................................... 813

Average number of words .................................. 40

May 29:

Number of messages ....................................... 18

Number of words .......................................... 700

Average number of words .................................. 39

May 30:

Number of messages ....................................... 28

Number of words .......................................... 1,124

Average number of words .................................. 44

May 31:

Number of messages ....................................... 15

Number of words .......................................... 505

Average number of words .................................. 33

June 1:

Number of messages ....................................... 14

Number of words .......................................... 382

Average number of words .................................. 27

June 2:

Number of messages ....................................... 22

Number of words .......................................... 612

Average number of words .................................. 27

June 3:

Number of messages ....................................... 27

Number of words .......................................... 591

Average number of words .................................. 21

June 4:

Number of messages ....................................... 30

Number of words .......................................... 702

Average number of words .................................. 23